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Q. Old Master, I am in Southern California and I fish on my boat for Halibut and Sea bass or whatever. I do not have a bait tank, and I noticed people are using live squid and sardines.
Any tips or tricks for someone who does not have a bait
tank?
A. Make a bait tank. It is very easy.
Take a large ordinary garbage pail, put a hole near the bottom and another larger hole
near the top. Have a bilge pump attached to hose and let the water run into the bottom hole.
Put a larger diameter hose in the top hole for the overflow. Every marine supply store sells the parts that
fit in the holes. And get some waterproof goo to seal the areas.
This is the best live baitwell in the world and it'll serve you well.
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Q. Old Master, would you know where
I could find any old black and white fishing videos
or documentaries?
A. The best place I know is at the Anglers Club in
Manhattan, New York City. This is an old and very exclusive club but I think if
you contact them you might get permission to look at their materials.
Here's a link to their
website...
http://www.anglersclubny.org/
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Q. Old Master, what is the best book to buy if you don't fish that well?
A. There are thousands of fishing books
that have been published. So you see, your question is not specific
enough. Fresh water? Salt water? Lakes? Rivers? The best thing to do is to join a local fishing club.
You'll meet the members and learn alot from them. Also, the clubs
usually have a library that contains books that'll be of help to you.
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Q. Old Master, what's the best way to get the
tight coil out of line that's been on a reel for some time. Line is new, just hasn't been used much?
A. The best way to straighten out
the line is to let out all of the line behind a fairly fast running boat
for about 10 minutes. This will usually work. Don't let the
line out from a flexible rod... instead, tie the end to a cleat so as there
is no "give" and the line runs straight out. If this does
not work, dump the line.
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Q. Old Master, why are spawning rainbow trout
so aggressive? I caught two
trout using powerbait.
A. Wouldn't you be aggressive if someone bothered you while
you were spawning? Of course you would.
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Q. Old Master, how do you fly
fish?
A. The best way to learn how to fly fish from the start is to join a fly fishing school.
The best one in the East is the school run by Joan Wulff in the town of Lew Beach,
New York.
The course is given in the spring and takes a few days. It's really worthwhile if you are serious about learning how to fly fish.
The school may be contacted
at...
Joan Wulff
HCR Box 141
Lew Beach, N.Y. 12758
And here are some links that
relate to Joan Wulff..
http://www.royalwulff.com/schools.html
http://www.gearreview.com/jwulffvid.asp
http://www.asf.ca/ConservCentre/HallFame/Awardpages/jwulff.html
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Q. Old Master, how do you work a crankbait in order to catch large mouth bass?
A. Crank bait are intended to be used as follows... cast out, let lure sink a few seconds (depends on depth of water) and then give a slight twitch and wind (crank) slowly and steadily towards you. Some anglers like to give the lure an occasional twitch on the way in but with good crank baits this is not necessary. Just winding in gives the bait the proper action. You can experiment with the rate of retrieve.
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Q.
Old Master, how do I filet a
fluke?
A. The philosopher Confucius wrote,"One look worth a thousand words". He was right. The best way to learn how to filet a fluke is to watch your fellow angler do it. Then you will then find it easy to do yourself.
The main trick to remember is to use a sharp knife and to filet AGAINST THE SPINE as you go from one side to the other. Many years ago I went to the Fulton Fish Market in lower Manhattan just to watch the commercial fellows filet the fish. It was well worth the trip. They are artists and welcome your presence. I bought my first filet knife from one of the men down there and it made all the difference.
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Q. Old Master, do golf balls
make good bait? I've lost alot in the water.
A. Your question is most interesting. You will be surprised to learn that about ten years ago, while fishing in the gulf stream off the Florida Keys, we had schools of dolphin around the boat and they were attacking anything presented.
One of the guys threw in a small black rubber handball which was promptly taken by a dolphin. Since there was no hook attached I did not get to know whether the fish ate the ball or brought it to the nearest handball court!
Why not a Top Flight golf ball?
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Q. Old Master, when do coho salmon start running?
A. Coho salmon runs usually start in the fall of the year. In Alaska, September is usually the start.
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Q. Old Master, have you kept up with new
fishing
lines? The advice you gave on lines used on baitcasting reels is a bit rusty. New lines don't need to be stretched. Doing that and then rewinding serves no purpose. What if you didn't have a boat? Almost all newer mono is okay for baitcasting and is far superior to older type lines especially dacron. Spiderline works great even if you don't like it. Do yourself and your readers a favor and experiment with the new lines.
A. You are correct when you say that spider line works great in bait casting reels. You are also correct in that the newer mono lines are much better than the old ones. But I disagree with your opinion about the non-stretch lines. I feel that dacron, linen, etc. are excellent. The angler just has to have an educated thumb to avoid the pitfalls like backlash.
With these older lines it is best to use the lighter lines (i.e. 8-10 pound test or less).
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Q. Old Master, how many feet of backing
and how many feet of line should I put on a 9' wt fly rod?
A. The amount of backing needed depends on the type of fishing you do. If you are tarpon fishing using the 9 wt rod you will need hundreds of yards of line and a large spool. Same for bil fishing. For ordinary fishing like bluefish or bass, the ordinary spool of fly line is adequate with about 100 yards of backing. Tie that knot line to backing with care!
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Q. Old Master, Do you know how to clean a shark?
A. The best way to clean a shark is to skin it first and then filet the underlying meat in the usual manner.
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Q. Old Master, what is the best way to keep minnows alive
longer?
A. It's important to know that minnows, as with all living creatures, need oxygen. So, keep the minnows in a recepticle that can be aerated... the more air the better. The kind of aerator used in fresh water home aquariums will be fine.
Also, minnows do better when the temperature of the water is cooler. If the water is warm they will not do well. A good trick is to put some ice in a plastic sealed bag and put it in the bucket that contains the minnows. This will help. But the aeration is most important.
Nowadays you can buy a minnow bucket with a built in battery-run aerator. It will keep the minnows alive for several hours when you are on a lake or river. The battery is replaceable and inexpensive.
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Q. Old Master, what type of line should I use for trolling with levelwind counter reels? I'm fishing for walleye in Lake Erie with dipsy divers.
A. Most anglers prefer lines that do not stretch such as dacron or the new synthetic lines (spider wire).
If you intend to troll deeply, you should use lead core lines that are colored every ten feet. Then you'll know where you were when that fish hit.
I prefer plain monofilament lines like Ande tournament lines. A 15 pound test should be right.
It's sometimes advisable to uses a small lead drail to help get line down deep.
I don't use wire lines (monet, brass, etc.) but many anglers do like them. With the kind of reel you are using it would not be good to use a wire line.
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Q. Old Master, what information can you give me on creek
fishing?
A. Depends on the kind of creek we are talking about.
Most creeks are slow running, muddy water in which fish rarely can survive. In the creeks with clean running water small brook trout can be caught using worms (nightcrawlers or plain garden worms).
In larger creeks, use spinning lures to good advantage. Cast across and work it back as the lure goes downstream with the current. I have caught many species of fish using this method... small bass, calicos, bream, sunfish and pickerel. They all fall for the little spinning lures. The best spinners. in my opinion, are Mepps spinners and the CPC spinner.
It's a good idea to find out the kind of fish population in the creek you plan on fishing. Good luck! P.S. - In salt water creeks it's a different ball game altogether.
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Q. Old Master, what are the best fishing lines?
A. There are so many kinds of "fishing line" out there, it's hard to give you a serious answer.
The various kinds of line include linen, dacron, other synthetic non-stretch lines, regular monofilament ( the most commonly used), spider wire, fly fishing lines, floating, sinking, monocore, metal lines (stainless, brass. etc.).
The best line to use depends on the type of fishing you're doing. Trollers for stripers prefer metal lines to probe the bottom. Fly fishermen have individual preferences... wet fly, dry fly of various weights. Big game fishermen (bilfish) vary in their preferences... stretch or non-stretch (dacronvs mono).
As you see this subject is quite complex and must be narrowed down a bit. If you make your question more specific I will be glad to go into it again.
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Q. Old Master, what is the best knot for float fishing?
A. The best knot for all fishing is the uniknot. It has served me well over the years and would be good too use in float fishing. It's easy to tie and holds as well as any knot. It has many applications... hook to line, joining two lines of equal or unequal size, line to swivel, etc., etc.
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Q. Old Master, How do you fillet a fish?
A. That depends on the kind of fish... round fish like bluefish and bass, flat fish like fluke.
Mosts importantly, get a REALLY SHARP filet knife. Next, follow the Confucius saying, "ONE LOOK IS WORTH THOUSAND WORDS", meaning "watch some one do it a couple of times and you'll be able to do it yourself".
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Q. Old Master, My 88-year-old father has a Johnson 10hp
motor that still works great and looks almost new. I'm not sure exactly how old it is, but we used it in Alaska in the mid-1950's. We need to sell it. Where could I find out a fair price to ask for it?
A. It's very difficult to determine the value of something like this. If it is still running pretty good, then It is worth a few hundred dollars. After all, outboards are very expensive now. (My 150 hp engine last year cost me a bundle.)
The fact that your engine is that old is an attractive feature. Many people would be proud to possess one with its history. Others would not offer anything for it. The best thing to do is be honest, advertise and hope that someone like me would be happy to own and use an "antique" that is still working.
I would never ask a marina to give an estimate unless you know the owner real well. Also, you might try Ebay on the WEB... someone on Ebay will probably appreciate it.
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Q. Old Master, I'm looking for a rubber extruded plastic JON boat
for two people. Any suggestions?
A. I don't know of any rubber Jon boat. There are many rubber boats, but the only Jon boat model I know were made of wood or aluminum.
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Q. Old Master, we saw a fish off an island near Lapaz,
Mexico. It was silver and approximately 3 feet long. And fast like a cuda. We were in shallow water and chased it with a dingy. It must have swam 35+ knt. We'd like to find out the name of this fish if possible. Hope you have enough info from my sorry-ass description. Thank You.
A. The fish that you describe could be a big hound fish. These fish are quite common in Mexican waters. My brother and I used to fish for them. They are great fun with light tackle... running and jumping like bill fish.
Occasionally "wahoo" come in to shallow water and it's possible that the fish you saw was one of these misguided wahoo. The waters around Freeport in the Bahamas are loaded with the big hound fish and they afford a nice few hours fishing . These fish are a different species from the small hound fish. They take any kind of bait... pieces of fish, lures, etc.
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Q. Old Master, I want to learn how to construct a cast
net. Do you know where I can get information?
A. The best thing to do is go the the library where I am sure that you will find books on the subject. It's a very complicated subject with nets made of different material... mono linen, braided line, etc. Example... in Mexico, the bottom 1/2 of the net is linen and the top is mono. They don't use drawer vertical strings like we do in the states. Try to get a good book on the subject.
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Q. Old Master, who can appraise vintage Hardy fly gear dating 1915?
A. The Orvis people in Manchester are extremely knowledgeable and very sincere. I would trust their judgment as to the quality etc. of the Hardy equipment. Also there are excellent people in the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum in Livingston Manor who are real experts and very conscientious in giving opinions. I would call the museum first.
Link to Orvis... http://www.orvis.com/store/default.asp
Link to Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum... http://www.cffcm.org/museum/museum.html
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Q. Old Master, I just bought a new boat and I am trying to decide on the appropriate name. Did you ever have boat and what was its name? Why did you choose that name?
A. I have owned 23 boats during the last 70 years. Presently, my two boats are named "HELEN" and "DOTSAHMEAL".
The HELEN is named after my wonderful wife whom I loved dearly.
The other boat is named after my father who, whenever I caught and released a fish back into the water, would say, "Why do you throw it back? Dots a meal for a whole family." After Dad died I thought it appropriate that the boat be called "DOTSAMEAL" and whenever I catch a fish I hold it up and exclaim "Dots a meal, Pop!" before throwing it back. This is a true story.
Another boat that I've owned was named "THREE BROTHERS" after me and my two brothers.
Now it's time for YOU to find a name that YOU like.
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Q. Old Master, how do you rig a rubber worm bass setup "texas
style"?
A. The hook is passed from one end and into the Texas rig. The point of the hook DOES NOT come through the body of the worm. This makes it weedless and apparently does not prevent hook ups when the fish takes the worm. The point of the hook is left just under the surface of the worm. A cone shaped lead can be used ahead of the worm. This is optional... depends on current, depth, etc.
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Q. Old Master, where to purchase fly fishing equipment?
A. The best place to buy fly fishing equipment is at any of the Orvis shops in New York City. In Roscoe, N.Y. there are two fine tackle shops where they'll steer you right. Visit the Catskill Fly Fishing Center and Museum in Livingston manor to get ideas and information. Links to
Orvis is ...
Link to Orvis... http://www.orvis.com/store/default.asp
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Q. Old Master, when wire trolling for stripers, what depths
should the lures be at when they are not on the screen?
A. When trolling with wire you should leave out 10 feet of wire for every 10 feet of depth of water, i.e. in 40 feet of water leave out 40 feet of wire and do not forget to use at least 20 feet of 40 pound mono as leader. This will keep the lure at the right depth.
Some anglers just keep letting out wire until they feel the dragging along the bottom and then they wind in about 20 feet and troll at that depth. You could use an 8oz drail tied to the end of the wire line, then the long leader. Let out line until you feel the drail hitting the bottom then crank in about 20 feet and you'll be in business.
One disadvantage of using a drail is that you will have to hand line that 30 pound striper with the leader cause the drail wont go through the guides.
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Q. Old Master, now that the bass are coming on strong, what pound test wire do you recommend for trolling bunker? What leader length? Also what method do you recommend to connect the wire to the backing... knot, chain or swivel?
A. The wire line should not be more than 40 lb test, preferably monel although many of the great anglers like Eddie Sarubbie of the JO ANN used brass wire.
The leader should be 40 or 50 lb test mono about 20 feet long. A long leader up to 30 feet is useful because the spoon is kept off of the bottom... sort of floating off the bottom away from the end of the wire line.
I prefer a piece of bead chain used to tie the leader to the wire because the bead chain can be wound up through the guides. Otherwise you have to handline the 20 foot of leader up to the bunker spoon. The bead chain is the swivel.
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Q. Old Master, can you explain the correct way to bleed a
tuna? This may clear up a bet.
A. The most important thing about bleeding a tuna is to do it while the fish is alive and kicking.
Make an incision across the "neck" so that you cut through the gills. The gills have a great blood supply and will bleed profusely as long as the heart beats which is why you should do it immediately after the fish is caught so that the heart is beating forcefully.
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Q. Old Master, could you show us in an illustration how to properly tie line to hooks with easy and best results?
A. The illustration below is quite clear as to the method of tying the great all purpose cinch knot. This knot is the finest knot to tie hook to line and line to line. If you can tie this cinch knot you will seldom need any other kind.
The important thing is to pull the knot up tightly... and wet the turns by putting turns in the moistened mouth. Wetting the monofilament before pulling up tightly should be done with all monofilament knots.
Never make less than 5 turns unless you are using very heavy mono (40 lb test). In that case you can use 4 turns. With fine line (6-10 lb test) use 6 turns. Good luck to you.
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Q. Old Master, Where can I buy the spinner called a CP
Swing?
A. The CP Swing is one of the best lures you can have in your tackle box. It can be bought at any tackle store that carries FRESH WATER tackle. It would not be in the salt water shops.
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Q. Old Master, I am thinking about buying my first fly rod
for salt water fishing primary bass, blues & small tuna what would be the ideal weight rod?
A. I think the best rod to get would be a #8 or #9 weight rod. It does not have to cost as much as the new graphite ones do. Start with a less expensive one and then see how you like it. Later you can get a "better" one.
I suggest, also, that you get both a sink tip fly line and a floating line. Best of luck to you.
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Q. Old Master, what is the ratio between the depth of line and the lure?
A. Your question is not clear to me. What do you mean by "ratio" of line depth to lure??? Please restate your question and I will gladly respond. All the best to you.
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Q. Old Master, I'm taking my family to a lake for the weekend and we bought them poles, but how do you
clean the fish we might catch in a freshwater lake in New Mexico?
A. The fish caught in the rivers in New Mexico are usually trout and the trout there are very healthy and not subject to any blight. But you should always be concerned about storing any fish that you intend to eat.
You should:
1. Put the fish on ice as soon as it is off of the hook.
2. Filet the fish after it has been kept cold for about 45 minutes.
I think that making filets is the best way to go, although many folks like to scale the fish and cut across to make "steaks". Personally, I like filets... cleaner and easier to prepare. With filets there is no mess from scaling, etc. Good Luck to you and the family!
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Q. Old Master, do you know of any great bass fly fishing bodies of water in central
Texas?
A. I'm sorry but I don't know of any body of water such as the one you describe. I will research it and if I find the answer I'll contact you. If any of our readers know about great bass fly fishing in central Texas, please e-mail me at OM85@oldmaster85.com.
PS - Come to New York and I'll take you bass fishing!!!
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Q. Old Master, what kind of bait do you use for weakfish?
A. The best bait to use for weakfish is blood worms fished about 2 feet off the bottom. Also good is a strip of squid, either alone or with the worm.
Even better is a bucktail jig or a bait tail jig lead head with a rubber strip. Fish it right off the bottom SLOWLY. The key is to jig very slowly off the bottom. The fish take the lures as good as regular bait.
Big weakfish love to take a small, lively snapper blue fished with a bobber. Watch the weaks come after the snapper. It's a heart stopping sight.
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Q. Old Master, how is the fishing in the area of the outer banks, North Carolina
in the fall (October)?
A. Fishing the outer banks is great because hordes of big albacore roam the inshore waters and take small streamer flies and jigs trolled or cast to them. And these fish are much larger than the albies found in our Jersey and New York waters. Also, lots of billfish and dolphin can be taken from the N.C. waters. In fact, every time my friends and I have fished the outer banks, the fishing has been as good as it gets. So, go there and have a ball. But be prepared for heavy winds and heavy seas. The last time I went there we had to stay on the dock for 6 days because of the foul weather. As in everything else, you have to be lucky with respect to the weather.
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Q. Old Master, what is the best lure to use when you're fishing for smallmouth
in a river?
A. The best lure to use in a river is a large muddler minnow. This is a surface fly that will catch small mouth or large mouth bass (fly rod). A rapala surface lure is also excellent and a surface plug, the"lucky 13", is a marvelous lure for a bait casting or a spinning outfit.
My friends and I recently caught more than 50 small mouth bass using the muddler with a fly rod. Cast it out, let it sit for a few seconds, give it a twitch and lookout!
Small spinning lures like the "Mepps", or the "CPC swing" are dynamite and easy to cast with light spinning tackle. These two lures should be banned in rivers because they are so deadly for trout and bass.
If it's pike you are seeking, the best lure to use is the old reliable "daredevle" red and white spoon or the "Johnson Minnow" spoon.
Good luck and let me know how you make out.
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Q. Old Master, what can you tell me about a "slip
bobber"?
A. A "slip bobber" is a cork float with a hole running down the middle. The line is passed through the hole so that the bobber can slide up and down.
A small split lead shot is crimped on the line at the distance desired. If you want the baited hook to hang 2 feet down from the surface, the shot (or a swivel) is placed 2 feet up from the hook. In this way, the bobber can slide up to 2 feet.
The nice part about this kind of bobber is that you can cast it. A swivel is put 6 inches from the hook so that when you cast, the bobber will be down near the hook and, when it hits the water, the hook will drop and the bait will lie 2 feet down.
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Q. Old Master, how do I spool a new line on a reel?
A. To put new line on a conventional spool (not a spinning reel spool), put a pencil or any long thin object through the spool of line and tie the end of the line around the reel spool using at least three knots to prevent slipping.
Reel the line in, using the thumb to move the line back and forth and wind it on using some pressure so that the line will not be too loose on the reel. Actually, you should run the line out behind the boat while under way so that the line will be wound on the reel under pressure.
With spinning spools the line should be put on clockwise or counter clockwise depending which way the line comes off the spool. I accept the fact that many anglers feel this is not necessary and that the line can be put on the spinning reel in the conventional way not worrying about clockwise or counterclockwise. But the really important thing is to make sure that the line put on the reel is fairly tight. This helps prevent backlashes. Good
luck!
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Q. Old Master, in your opinion, what is the best way to catch bluegill or panfish?
A. The best way to catch bluegills or panfish is to use a small cork popping bug with a feather tail. Cast it out into the weeds near the shore, let it set for a few seconds and then twitch it slightly. Repeat the process and you'll catch the fish... guaranteed.
Most of the "bugs" that are sold have several rubber "legs" sticking out of the sides of the cork body. These bugs work great. The size of the bug depends on the size of the panfish.
You can get the same result by using wet trout flies. The fish cannot resist these tasty morsels.
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Q. Old Master, when fishing with live bait and the fish are not hungry, is there anything you can do to make the
bait more desirable or interesting for the fish?
A. When using live bait, sometimes it is helpful to put a brightly colored feather or rubber skirt in front of the bait. Also, arrange the bait so that you fish it at different depths near the surface with a float or deeper near the bottom with lead). Also try using finer leader material when tying the bait fish to the hook. Don't use wire. Instead use monofilament leaders.
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Q. Old Master, my son is 10 yeas old and he is very interested in fishing of any kind. He has got a science project coming up for school. He has chosen his subject as being: "How can you catch a 10 pound fish on a 6 pound line?". He thinks it has something to do with
setting the drag. If you know of anyone that would be willing to give us some information on this subject, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.
A. Your son is absolutely right. Catching a 10 pound fish with light line is accomplished by setting the drag so that when the fish pulls, the pressure exerted on the line is always less than 10 pounds. The fish pulls hard and, because the drag is loose, instead of the line breaking, it just allows the fish to run off with the line a bit. All modern reels have good drag systems so that adjustments are made easily.
I would like to meet your son. Perhaps I could take him fishing.
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Q. Old Master, I know that you had spent the winter in Florida and have recently returned to New York. How was the
fishing in Florida? Did anyone get a big tarpon? Have you been out in the NY Harbor fishing?
A. The tarpon fishing in Florida was pretty good. The fish did not take flies but they did come after the bait. There's nothing like seeing a huge tarpon come out of the water, spray pouring off its sides, gills rattling as it heads for parts unknown.
Fishing in New York Harbor has been unusually good with stripers in abundance... fish 4-10 pounds. It has been interesting in that they were very, very fussy and would only take very small streamer flies that are fished on a sink tip fly line. Again and again I could not get a fish with the bucktail jigs or metal jigs but they would immediately take the little clauser minnow that was offered. You never know about bass!?!
I must give credit to two men, Joe "Mazz" and his buddy Dr. Mark Sherman. They pioneered the fly fishing for stripers using their homemade clauser streamers that are tied the night before on the bench. They told us about it and now we are all doing it.
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Q. Old Master, what's a good rig
for shore bait fishing for stripped bass?
A. There are many rigs that work but the one I like best is as follows.
Tie a fairly large three way swivel to the end of your line. Then tie 4 or 5 feet of 30 lb or 40 lb leader to the three way swivel and tie a #4 or #5 hook to the end of this leader. Then tie a lead sinker to the other open part of the 3 way swivel with a foot of leader (30 or 40 lb). The weight of the sinker depends on the tide... the weaker the tide the smaller the sinker.
Bait the hook with a chunk of FRESH BUNKER. A single bunker can make about 4 or 5 baits. Bass like the head so don't discard the head.
At another time I will describe a fish finder rig... it also works well.
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Q. Old Master, If you had only three lures
to choose for your tackle box, what would they be?
A. For fresh water fishing the 3 lures that I prefer are...
1. the Jitterbug surface lure
2. the red and white Daredevil spoon (or Johnson spoon in silver or gold finish
3. a small spinning lure such as the CP swing or the Mepps spinner.
In salt water fishing the 3 lures would be...
1. the A27 metal jig
2. a white bucktail lure (in various sizes) (This is a lead head jig with bucktail tied on to it.
3. a surface popper lure that is retrieved on the surface, attracting most game fish in the area.
These selections will vary with different anglers but I think that they are good choices.
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Q. Old Master, I need to know what is the best bait to use when catching fish? I like catching
striped bass and flounder.
A. The best bait to use for striped bass is bunker chunks or clam bellies used as a chum slick or grass shrimp trickled over the stern of an anchored boat to make a chum slick. Fish with a shrimp as bait put over into the slick.
Best bait for flounder is blood worms or mussel. A good idea is to hang a "chum pot" over the side of the boat with crushed mussels in the pot to attract the flounder. Some fishermen use sandworms but I don't think this is as good as the blood worms.
It is a good idea to throw some cooked yellow corn over the side of the boat. It attracts the fish.
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Q. Old Master, How do you get bass to bite
when they're not hungry?
A. When bass are not hungry they can be made to bite by using unconventional lures. Yesterday I was using a metal jig for an hour... no bites. I put on a white bucktail, same area and same tide, and I caught four stripers from 15-24 pounds by casting out and retrieving with slow jerks. Changing colors also helps. As Lee Wulff once remarked, "the fish gets curious and takes the different lure just because it is different".
You might also try fishing conventional lures a little differently... i.e., fishing the lure a little slower, changing the retrieve using different jerk tempos. If you are chumming, use less or more chum. It can make a difference.
Sometimes the fresh water idea of "resting the pool" works with salt water fish that are hard to get. Stop fishing for a little while and when you start again you may be surprised.
My brother firmly believed that if you eat a sandwich and pretend not to be interested, the fish will bite !!!
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Q. Old Master, how long will nightcrawlers last in my refridgerator?
A. Nite crawlers will live at least a week if the fridge is not too cold and if they are kept with enough grass so they have room to breathe. The trouble is that they are not as active as you would like after 3 or 4 days. After a week they lose their tastiness (or so the fish tell me).
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Q. Old Master, what is the purpose of a leader on your line?
A. The leader is there so that when you get a fish near the boat you can lift it into the boat without breaking the thin regular line. Also, some fish have sharp teeth and will bite through the regular line but will not be able to bite through the heavier leader material.
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Q. Old Master, where is the best place to fish?
A. You ask "Where is best place to fish?". Such a general question deserves a good general answer. The best place to fish is in water... any water... salt or fresh. Or even the bath tub or a swimming pool. Good luck!
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Q. Old Master, what is the proper way to attach a hook and bobber to your line?
A. It depends on the depth of water. Usually tie the hook to the end of the line and then put the bobber about one foot less than the depth of water. And make sure to put a very small clinch lead shot a few inches above the hook. This keeps the bait down where it belongs. The hook should be about a foot above the bottom. In very deep water you must use a sliding bobber.
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Q. Old Master, what are the best lures to use in deep clear water, man made lakes on sunny or over cast days?
A. The best lures to use are red and white daredevil spoons, cast out, let sink and retrieved in slow jerks. Also try surface lures like jitter bug and hula poppers. You can use fly rod lures like big white muddler minnows and popping bugs near shore reeds. And try small plastic minnows, retrieved on the surface with a slow tantalizing movement. Lastly, try spinning lures like the cp swing and the mepps spinners. Best of Luck to you!
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Q. Old Master, can you use a bucktail at night?
A. Bucktails are very very effective when used at night as well as using them during the day. I have taken literally hundreds of bass with bucktails. The size of the bucktail would vary depending on the depth and strength of the tide.
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Q. Old Master, what is the best way to preserve minnows
or smelt for later use?
A. The best way to preserve minnows or smelts is to put them in a diluted solution of formaldehyde. This is the stuff used to preserve human tissues in the laboratory and used by undertakers as embalming fluid. It's easy to obtain in any surgical supply or drug company.
You can also preserve them by using a saturated solution of coarse salt (kosher salt). This is almost as good as formaldehyde and it's cleaner. And the bait will be more natural looking. Simply cover the baits with a layer of salt, shake in a ziplock bag and store in the freezer. The baits will keep for a long time.
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Q. Old Master, I would like a picture of a small perch referred to as a "pumpkinseed".
I used to catch them in Oklahoma while fishing for Bluegill. Pumpkinseed's have orange streaks (with some shades of light blue) from the mouth back to the ears. The ones that I caught were only about 3 to 4 inches long. I liked them so much that I always threw them back in hopes that they would live a long time and maybe grow a little more.
Any picture that you could send me would be very much appreciated. Thank you.
A. Pumpkinseed fish are great fish for young anglers and I am glad to hear that you throw them back. Below you'll see some photos that I found. Also, books that feature pictures of freshwater fish have good photos of the pumpkinseed.
pumpkinseed fish... 
pumpkinseed gift... 
(click to enlarge)
pumpkinseed lures... 
(click to enlarge)
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Q. Old Master, what is the size of the largest sturgeon
on record?
A. I do know that many sturgeon weighing hundreds of pounds have been caught. The largest ones were taken in nets in Russia.
Sturgeon are "living fossils" that evolved 250 million years ago and survived the disappearance of the dinosaurs.
The largest authentic record of a white sturgeon is a 1,387 pound specimen taken from the Fraser River in British Columbia in 1897.
Most sturgeon are anadromous fish, hatching in fresh water, maturing in brackish or salt water, and returning to their natal freshwater streams to spawn. They live in brackish or salt water between spawnings.
Atlantic sturgeon may live up to 60 years, weigh up to 800 pounds, and reach lengths of up to 15 feet. A 200-300 pound female Atlantic sturgeon may carry up to 30 or 40 pounds of eggs.
A video about the seven sturgeon species of North America is available at http://www.earthwave.org/sturgeon.htm
Also, for more info, you can contact the IGFA at http://www.igfa.org/
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Q. Old Master, what is the easiest way to keep live herring bait
alive, if you are taking them from a river and using them for surfcasting?
A. The best way to keep any bait is alive is to make certain that the water is fresh and not too hot. Secondly, the water must be oxygenated. Use the same kind of unit that is used in tropical fish tanks.
Don't let the water get foul. If a few bait fish die change the water and keep the oxygen going. Herring must continue swimming if they are to live. It's best to keep them in a round tank so they can swim better. A good trick that I use to keep the water cool is putting bottles of frozen water in the tank. Herring are extremely hard to keep alive, even with care. Good Luck!
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Q. Old Master, I got a Rebel Wee Frog
and when I use it the fishes would just look at it.
A. Your question is not clear. What kind of fish are you going after... saltwater... freshwater? Lake or river? Please send me more details such as the color and size of the lure and I'll be glad to discuss the subject.
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Q. Old Master, why do the smallest ponds always hold the smallest
fish?
A. Because the small ponds have reduced numbers of small bait fish that the game fish eat and because the small ponds have less vegetation (therefore less oxygenation), there is a greater restriction of growth of the fish.
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Q. Old Master, who invented fishing line?
A. The first fishing line was used by prehistoric man. Caves inhabited by primitive man were found to contain a plant fiber similar to sisal. The fiber known as sisal is the common twine that we use today to wrap packages.
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Q. Old Master, when and where did fishing start?
A. I guess that the best way I can answer your question is to say that it started when prehistoric man stood by the banks of a river or a lake or an ocean and saw a finny creature swim by. It got man thinking about the fish in the water and the challenge of catching it. These thoughts were the beginning. The rest is history.
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Q. Old Master, I've caught a few weakfish in past years but only by chance when I was fluke fishing. This season I'd like to take a day or two with the goal of
catching weakfish. What recommendation do you have for the type of area to fish (shallow, deep, rocky bottom, sandy bottom, mud) and what are the best rigs and bait to use?
A. Weakfish are generally caught on the sides of channels. The channels off Staten Island (the reach), the deep channels near the Verrazano Bridge have been marvelous for the past two years. The beaches off Staten Island and Coney island are also excellent.
Two of the best lures to use are a bucktail very slowly jigged off the bottom or a metal jig (like A 27) jigged off the bottom. You might also try a lead jig head with a plastic curved strip cast out and retrieved slowly off the bottom. This has been a standard lure for years.
In Peconic Bay during the past many years, the best way to catch weaks has been to set up a chum slick with grass shrimp and drift a bare hook back into the slick with a single (or two) shrimp. You may need a small lead a foot above the hook if the tide is running. Your boat should be anchored fore and aft so as the slick is steady...Good luck!
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Q. Old Master, how should you keep nightcrawlers?
A. The best way to keep night crawlers is in a box containing moist grass and earth. Keep the box in a cool spot. The fridge is ok but you don't want it to be too cold. The basement is a very good place. Earth and grass should be loosely mixed so that the worms have room to crawl around.
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Q. Old Master, I heard a rumor that you have a beautiful grand-daughter, who grew up in Florida, who loves to fish and who is quite good at it! They say she even battled a tarpon naked at the age of 11. Why are there no pictures of her or her immediate family?
A. I will try to get some pictures of her and put them on our web site. The pictures will not be "naked"... she is older than 11 now. Please excuse the omission.
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Q. Old Master, where is the best place to fish in small rivers
with depths from 3-9 feet?
A. In rivers that you describe, you must look for "pockets" of deeper water like behind a rock in the eddy or areas with faster water such as a small rapids. Rainbow trout love to stay in this kind of faster water.
Under an overhanging bush or tree is a good place to fish. Look for a submerged log and have your fly or bait drift by that area. In the Spring, the inch worms drop into the stream and you should keep an eye out for them. If there is a meadow along the bank, grasshoppers will be blown into the water and it's a good idea to fish close to and under the bank with a hopper.
I hope that these suggestions will be helpful.
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Q. Old Master, what is a good rig to use for trout in lakes
with power bait trout bait?
A. I don't understand your question. What do you mean when you say "lakes with power bait trout bait"? What is "power bait trout bait"?
If anyone knows the answer, please email me at OM85@oldmaster85.com
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Q. Old Master, I am a college student in West Virginia. I have a composites class in which I have to write a five page paper on a composites subject. I would like to do mine on the construction of
fishing rods. The only problem is that this type of information is tough to find, so I thought who else to ask but the "OldMaster" himself... hehehe.
If you could give me any general information on this topic for my paper, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank You.
A. This is a vast subject... dozens of books have been written on the subject of construction of fishing rods.
My advice to you is to write about the evolution of rod making. You could start by talking about the material used in early times such as greenheart rods (in England and Scotland) and bamboo rods (two kinds, hollow and solid... calcutta rods). You could mention the famous early rod makers such as Leonard, Payne, Carmichael, etc. Then mention the famous rod builders of today such as Loomis, Orvis, etc. You can get the names of all of these by visiting any good tackle shop and looking at their inventory. Also check out tackle shops on the WEB. You should mention the transition from wood (bamboo) to metal (Pflueger brand rods made great steel and aluminum rods) and then talk about fiberglass rods (Shakespeare brand rods).
I think that your best bet is to spend some time in a good tackle shop where these rods can be found and where the clerks are usually really nice and are willing to discuss the subject of fishing rods with you.
The transition from one material to another material in the evolution of the fishing rod makes very interesting reading. This information about rod building should be available at your local library. Good Luck with your report!
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Q. Old Master, what's the best bait to use when fishing for saugeye below a dam?
A. I know that there is much difference of opinion but I think the best bait to use below a dam is a lively shiner on a fairly long lead (3-5 feet) with a small lead shot about 2 feet above the hook. Good luck!
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Q. Old Master, what type of rig is needed to troll for rainbows on Eagle Lake, California?
A. The best rig to use when trolling is any shiny spoon (like a daredevil) or a spinner (like CPC) with a trailer bucktail behind the spinner.
If you are in very deep water you should use a lead drail 8-10 feet above the lure; if in shallow water no weight is needed.
The size of the lure depends on the size rainbow that you are seeking. The Johnson Silver (or Gold) Minnow Spoon is very effective and can be made more so by putting the fin of a perch (reddish) on the hook... the wiggle drives the rainbows wild. Use worms on the bottom to catch the perch in the weedy part of a lake... cut off the anal fin and you're in business. Also, Johnson Minnow has a good weed guard. By the way, pickerel and pike eat Johnson Minnow Spoons for breakfast.
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Q. Old Master, I am going fishing for flounder
and I was wondering what is the best bait to use? I am set up with a 6'6" ugly stick medium action and a Penn 940 baitcaster with 17 lb. test. Any suggestions? Thanks.
A. When you go flounder fishing at this time of year it will be in the heart of the season so you should do well.
Your rod is fine. The 17 lb test line is really much too heavy for flounder. 10 lb line is more than enough and will be easier to handle. The reel is good. I use the same kind for most of my fishing.
Don't use more lead than is necessary. Usually, 2-3 ounces is enough. I paint my lead a bright yellow. It's a habit with me. My buddies over the years did this and convinced me that the flounder are attracted to the yellow color. They also put corn over as chum and when the fish are cleaned they always have the yellow corn in their gut.
The best bait for flounder is blood worms or mussels... the more yellow the bait the better. I always grind or pound up some mussels and put it in a chum pot over the side under the boat. It's best to anchor the boat fore and aft. This keeps the boat in place over the chum.
Best of luck and remember... throw the shorts back.
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Q. Old Master, I am a storyteller and am writing a story that involves fishing around the year
1806. Can you tell me what kind of pole and fishing line would have been used at that time in history? Thank you so much!
A. I assume that you are referring to lake and stream fishing (as opposed to ocean fishing).
The rods in use during the early 1800's were usually bamboo, either the hollow type or the solid bamboo called "calcutta".
The hollow bamboo rods were simply tall thin shafts, of varying length, thickness and "whippiness". Similar to a buggy whip, these rods were used for trout, bass, pickerel, etc. The ferrules and reel seats were usually made of German silver and hand fitted.
The solid bamboo rods were much stronger and less flexible. They were used to catch big fish like salmon and ocean gamesters such as tuna, sharks, etc.
In Europe anglers crafted their rods from "greenheart", a strong, straight shaft, much stronger than bamboo but not nearly as flexible. They were much less efficient for delicate casting but were great as a heavy rod (called a "club") and they were used for big fish like the giant halibut in Alaska and the Great Lakes.
The lines for fresh water fishing were made of varied materials. Wound horse hair was a common material for the line. Cotton was also used but was inferior because of its weakness. Sometimes oiled silk line was used.
Linen was considered the best material because of its strength and the strength could be easily measured. It was wound in multi-strands. Each strand was tested as 3 pounds... a 6 thread (strand) linen line was 18 pounds test, a 10 thread line was 30 pound test, etc. One drawback to linen was that it had to be washed after every use. If left unwashed on the reel it would rot. Except for this handicap, it was the perfect line... flexible, strong and non-elastic.
An interesting side note... leaders were made of "catgut" and had to be kept in air-tight tins with a little water.
Most anglers felt that good line and well kept leaders made the difference between success and failure.
I hope that this background on fishing materials of the early 1800's is helpful to you as you write your story.
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Q. Old Master, what are you fishing for these days? And a second question... what's the
biggest striper you ever caught? The truth now!
A. These days the yellow tails are running... the dolphin are thick but still two far off shore (20 miles)... kingfish are very scarce... trout and redfish are abundant but hard to catch.
Regarding your second question... you ask about the biggest striper that I ever caught. I don't like the idea that you confine my answer to the truth, but here goes.
The largest bass I ever caught weighed 42 pounds and was caught from a boat off Montauk in the rip. The owner of the boat insisted on trolling with wire lines. I refused to do that.
When his wire line was caught on the bottom and the this so-called "angler" was trying to get free, I tossed out a heavy bucktail with a pork rind strip and a kindly striper grabbed the lure. I brought the fish in after about 20 minutes.
This fish won the first prize in the 'TOURNAMENT OF THE FULL MOON".
P.S. - I am ashamed to tell you that my "buddy", the boat owner, entered MY fish under HIS boat and name and collected the plaque. It takes all kinds doesn't it? Needless to say, I have never spoken to the bum since.
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Q. Old Master, what are the best soft plastics
to use for strippers in northern New England?
A. You use the word "stripper". Do you mean "striper"?
The best soft plastic for a "stripper" is a subject that I cannot discuss here. After all, this is a family web site.
The best soft plastic for a "striper", the fish, is a bait tail with a soft plastic tail. Fish it off the bottom with a slow retrieve.
The stripers love it. I don't know too much about the strippers' yen for plastic.
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Q. Old Master, what is the best way to catch and keep
nightcrawlers?
A. Go out on a lush grassy lawn after dark, preferably after a light rain. Use a searchlight to scan the grass and you'll see the small part of the nightcrawler sticking out of his hole. With a sudden motion, grab the worm and with very light pressure pull it very slowly out of the hole. If you pull too hard it will break.
Remember, if you shine the light on it too long it will pull back into the hole, so put the light on it for just a moment and then make your move quickly.
Actually, the best kind of lawn is the green of a golf course but if you choose to hunt your nightcrawlers on a golf course take a gun with you to defend yourself against the rabid golfers who for some reason might resent your intrusion.
The nightcrawlers will keep best in a container with some grass. Keep them in a cool place like the refrigerator and don't let the little woman of the house catch you!
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Q. Old Master, in what year did we humans start using fishing
reels?
A. The use of fishing reels, as such, did not appear in literature until the 17 century but the use of devices to catch fish originated with primitive man.
Lines made from strong fibers like manila (rope fibers) were used with success. The fibers were wound around various objects to hold the line. Even today, you'll find fishermen in many third world countries using round cans to hold the line. This is the forerunner of the spinning reel.
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Q. Old Master, what are some locations of productive wrecks to fish in Florida?
A. One of the best wrecks in the Florida waters is the Eagle wreck off Islamorada in the Florida Keys. It can be found on most charts. It's great for all kinds of game fish, sails and dolphin as well as occasional permit and jacks.
Maps showing the location of the various wrecks in these Florida waters can be obtained at any dive shops in the Keys.
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Q. Old Master, what is the conversion chart for pike? We've got one 40" length - 21" girth.
A. I'll gladly try to answer your question but I don't understand what the question is. Please be more specific. What do you mean by "conversion"? Conversion to what???
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Q. Old Master, when was the first fishing rod
invented?
A. The first fishing rod was used in ancient times. Drawings seen on walls walls of caves in Egypt, show a simple narrow piece of wood with a string attached and a fish on the end.
Anglers in the 10th century used a whip like device made from the branch of a tree. Also in the 10th century, the Chinese were using rods made of bamboo. By the 12th century, anglers were using rods that were usually made of greenheart wood.
These methods continued to be used by later rod makers until the age of plastics arrived.
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Q. Old Master, I would like to know the best way to hook a
sturgeon, the best bait and their habits.
A. I have never fished for sturgeon. I have seen many of them in a migration up the lower Hudson River in New York. Some anglers have fished for them in the Hudson without success.
Some of the western rivers are said to have sturgeon. You might inquire from the outfitters in the western "trout" states.
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Q. Old Master, what is a pipe jig? Also, which color teaser is good to catch cod?
A. A pipe jig is a tube of metal with a hook at one end and a hole to put the line in at the other end. Some anglers bend the tube so that it looks like an eel. It is dropped to the bottom, then SLOWLY RETRIEVED up about 20 feet. Then the process is repeated.
Some anglers retrieve it with quick jerks. I think this is wrong. I never saw an eel "jerk". They move slowly and twisty.
Some pipe jigs are made of a solid piece of lead or block tin. These work better in deep water or when there is a strong tide or current.
Regarding the best color teaser for cod... I think that a bright red or green is the best attractor but, just between us, the really best way to catch cod is to put a juicy piece of clam on a hook and let the hook lay about one foot off the bottom. Putting a second hook two feet off the bottom also helps catch those cod swimming a little higher. Cod really don't care about the color of their food.
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Q. Old Master, I've had occasion to cast a line only to find the whole rod and reel
cast into the ocean. Is it the boat captain's fault or mine? AND HOW DO YOU GET IT BACK?
A. It is obviously the boat captain's fault. He should have recognized the kind of klutz he had for an angler and should have tied a long string to the rod before letting the angler make the cast.
Getting it back? You take the 4 week course in scuba diving offered by the local dive shop. Then you take a course in navigation so you can find the exact spot where the loss occurred. Now you're ready to recover the rod and reel. Oh yes, one thing more, check to make certain that your life insurance policy premium is paid up to date.
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Q. Old Master, can you explain the origin of the gisenterhaben?
A. The origin is as follows.
Once there was a fine old captain of a boat (the Flamingo). He had a unique technique for catching bluefish. He carefully cut up pieces of bunker and threw them out into the chum slick.
After watching the bluefish take a few bunker chunks, he put his hook into one of the chunks. In other words now the "Hook goes inter the chunk". The fish grabs the chunk. End of story.
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Q. Old Master, Could you please tell me who invented the fishing
hook? And what country are they from?
A. I don't think any one person or one nation "invented" fishing hooks. It's a well known fact that prehistoric man made hooks out of various animal bones. The American Indians did the same. Almost every primitive society made hooks out of animal bones.
Once metal was discovered, especially copper, hooks were fashioned from the metal. Early Egyptian diggings uncovered such copper hooks. I wonder if any of those anglers were "fly fishermen"!!!
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Q. Old Master,
what is the best water temp and best spot in a lake to fish for
pickerel in New Jersey
in the spring. We have a lake that has very big pickerel but they are hard to
find. I caught one 30" and 31" my dad had a 37" and 38" so I hope you can help me. Thank you.
A. You are lucky to have access to a lake with big pickerel.
I have found that pickerel are not found in parts of the lake where there is a "favorable " temperature of the water. Pickerel are found around weedy sections of the lake especially around stumps. Again and again I have caught big pickerel in water fairly choked with weeds that come almost up to the surface and stumps.
Frog imitations like jitterbug lures, crazy crawlers and large spinner blades with a trailed feather behind the blade all work well.
One of the most successful and least known lures for pickerel is a silver or gold colored Johnson Spoon, a minnow to which is attached the red caudal fins of a perch. Perch are almost always found in pickerel lakes. Catch one with a worm, then cut away the caudal (red) fin and put it on the spoon hook. Cast it out, retrieve slowly watch the wiggle and BE READY!
Cloudy days are best for pickerel. Alternate the gold and silver spoons and ALWAYS have a red and white daredevil spoon handy because it is the old reliable pickerel lure.
I purposely omitted mention of live bait like shiners. That's too easy. Tight Lines and watch those teeth when you remove the hook !!!
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Q. Old Master, I seek the Old Master's knowledge on the best target species to seek when I leave my humble surroundings in New Jersey and make my way to
Islamorada in Florida at the end of April during Easter.
A. The "best" target species?? It depends on your level of expertise.
Islamorada features many great fish (sailfish... wahoo... cobia... barracuda). These are taken off shore in the ocean. It requires going out on a charter boat at a cost of about $600 or $700 a day. Chances of getting sails, wahoo and cobia are slim. Barracuda are easier but not as much of a challenge.
On the offshore reef, yellow tail fishing is usually excellent. Also, mangrove, snappers and grouper are there in great numbers and are easily taken by the good boats of Islamadora.
In the back country and on the "flats" the great challenge is bonefish and redfish but these are very hard to come by. You must take a small skiff and have a guide and that'll cost you about $300 a day. You might fish for many hours and not catch one but sometimes you may get 1-3 fish a day if you're lucky.
There are avid anglers who think that the only fish worthwhile going for is the mighty tarpon. These can be taken in the spring and summer from a small skiff with a guide in back country or around the Keys bridges.
The best bet for you if you are an average angler is to go on the reef (80-90 feet) and the nearby patches (20 feet of water). Here you will undoubtedly be able to have plenty of action with yellow tail, jack crevalle, snappers and grouper and an occasional Spanish mackerel.
Another good bet is to get a guide in a skiff and get out to the gulf (back country) for mackerel and sea trout. They are there in great numbers this time of year and can be taken with spinning or fly tackle.
Good luck to you!
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Q. Old Master, How do you make and work those surgical tube lures for
barracudas?
A. The tubes for barracuda are usually best when they are about 8-10 inches long... color red or green or amber (natural color of the rubber).
The one end should be cut across at an angle of about 45 degrees. This is the hook end. In order to give the tube lure action it should be CURVED by inserting a soft (malleable) copper wire. Just bend it in a graceful wide C curve. Tie the hook to the end of the wire. Make sure that only half of the hook sticks out of the slanted end of the tube. Attach a swivel to the other end of the wire and tie the line to the swivel.
You can troll at a speed that makes the lure "swim". You can correct the swimming movement by bending the wire inside of the tube. Increase or decrease the curve to get the right action of the lure. You can also cast out the lure and wind it back in fast. Don't worry, the cuda will easily overtake it . The trick is to get the RIGHT BEND so the lure has a swimming, curvaceous movement like an eel. This lure works!!! Trolled or cast out, it's a winner for barracuda!
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Q. Old Master, what did you use to catch those great big wahoo
that I heard about?
A. The best bait for big wahoos is a live speedoe trolled slowly or drifted in the chum slick while anchored.
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Q. Old Master, do you enjoy the off season
of fishing as much as the real season?
A. I certainly enjoy the "off season" as much as the regular season... in fact, more so because the fishing pressure is decreased... less boats, better weather, bait more available. Try fishing the "off season"... you'll like it!
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Q. Old Master, I love catching False Albacore
on a fly rod. We catch them in the NY area from a boat but within a few miles from shore. Is there a season for False Albacore? Where's the best place in Florida to catch them? And when? Are the fishing methods similar in Florida?
A. There is generally no special season for False Albacore but in the northeast the best time to get these fighting fish is in the fall... September, October, November. This year was a banner year for large catches in the waters off of the New York Harbor, Staten Island, and the Rockaway jetty areas. The fly fishermen had a ball chasing the fish in these areas.
False Albacore are wonderful fish to catch on a fly rod. There is no place especially for albacore in Florida waters. They are caught almost any place in the ocean in the waters near the reef off the Keys. They are also taken in the deep waters of the gulf stream.
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Q. Old Master, what is the best way to clean a northern pike
without the "Y" bones? Also I was wondering about the best way to cook pan fish (crappies).
A. I always filet Northern Pike. The Y bones are thus avoided.
As for crappies... the best way to prepare them is to clean the fish in the usual manner or filet the fish if it's big enough. Then put the fish in beaten egg, roll in flour or bread crumbs and deep fry in hot oil. MMMmmmm.... makes great eating!
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Q. Old Master, and great sage, I seek of thee wisdom of your experience and success:
I know by the photos and commentary at your Web Site that, while you are a much accomplished angler, you, too, are a man of much family and, therefore, conflict. You see, I also am obsessed with both my fishing and family and yet have not found the balance that you, oh great master, seem to have discovered.
So, I must ask for guidance and direction in my quest for fishing satisfaction and family peace by shouting: Help!!!
How does one so great as yourself find fishing joy and keep PEACE in the home????
Thanks.
A. What makes you think that I have found family peace easily. It took many years of careful conditioning and much psychological maneuvering before I was able to fish and still have "peace" at home.
I would advise you to buy the little woman a gift each and every time you go fishing. The value of the gift should be in direct proportion to the number of hours you will be gone. And if you contemplate an out of town trip you had best start looking at diamonds, emeralds, etc.
Some anglers go to the extreme measure of taking the wife along. This is a sacrifice not many anglers can endure, especially in the case of female anglers who fail to appreciate the benefits of a good fishing trip.
Should these measures fail then I would urge you to read the latest edition of the bestseller "Wife Beating As An Alternative Method Of Securing Peace In The Household"
Good Luck!
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Q. Old Master, I'm leaving next week for Drake's Bay, Costa Rica and would like some help on the tactics of teasing
Roosterfish close enough to the boat so that we'll be able to toss flies at them.
Also, I've been told that Roosters are very skiddish and are reluctant to eat flies. Any suggestions to help me get my first Rooster on the fly! Thanks for your help. I'll be sure to send you a picture if I'm lucky enough to
catch one.
A. Rooster fish are great fish to catch but I am afraid they are almost impossible to take on a fly.
I have had most success with big rooster fish (20-40 lbs) using live bait, cast out and allowed to "drift" without any weight. The time I caught one on a fly, I used a very large streamer, a variation of a striped bass fly (lefty deceiver type). It's absolutely essential that you use a sinking line about 250 grains, cast it out or let the line flow out with the tide and then strip it back and keep your fingers crossed.
The trick is to fish in an area where these fish are found instead of just flycasting endlessly. A good local guide will know where these fish hang out and it's there that you'll have the best chance of getting one to take the fly.
My friend used a large clauser streamer with large lead eyes and caught a couple of nice fish at inshore Costa Rica... a white and light green pattern as I remember.
Good luck and let me know how you make out.
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Q. Old Master, I need info on the Flounder and its habitat
A. Your question about flounder is very broad and I will try to answer it in a broad sense.
Flounder are flat fish that are found in waters around the world, mostly in the northeast ocean, though some are found in the southern waters, but scarcely.
Flounders are great eating. "Sole" is a general term. Yellow and gray sole are particularly fine fare and are served in the best restaurants.
Fishermen seek and find flounder in the shallow bays around New York. They take any bait offered such as blood and sandworms. Mussels are ground up and used as chum as well as bait for the hook.
Anglers do best when anchored and the baited hooks are placed and kept on the bottom with lead sinkers.
Great South Bay in New York is a favorite flounder fishing area. It's best in the early Spring and in the Fall. There are many open party boats sailing from the Long Island area ports such as Freeport and Babylon.
I hope this is the kind of info you are seeking.
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Q. Old Master, I travel quite a bit to N. & S. Carolina as well as the east and west coasts of Florida. I even manage to get to Cancun Mexico at least once a year.
I always seem to have a problem finding a boat and a captain that is set up for tourist type fishing (trolling with 50 -80 test where the mate hooks a fish and you hall it in from a chair like you're pulling your boat onto a trailer at the ramp). I live in New York and though I do troll I prefer to use lighter tackle and fish stand up gear. I also love to bottom fish.
When traveling I find it almost impossible to find boats that are prepared to do the type of fishing I prefer. Do you have a resource to find what I'm looking for or do you possibly have a treasured list of boats and captains that you prefer to fish with that you would be willing to share? Thanks.
A. You are so right. I think the best way for you to get the kind of fishing you like is to contact Bud and Mary's Marina in Islamorada, Florida. Several boats from that marina go to Cancun after the winter season. You can get the names of these captains from the marina. They will fish the way you like.
Two of the best captains are Alex Adler and Skippy Nielsen. They are really masters of the kind of fishing you seek. Right now the sailfish are abundant off Islamorada. Recent catches of 2-5 sails a day are fairly common.
And, remember, you must clearly tell the captain the kind of fishing you want to do before chartering.
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Q. Old Master, Where can I find the most information about fishing tournaments
or derbies?
A. Well, the best place to find info about tournaments would be from the various sport magazines such as FLYFISHING IN SALTWATER or SALTWATER SPORTSMAN.
In places like the Florida Keys there are small newsletters that feature tournaments. Usually, these newsletters are free and are placed in the local marinas and tackle stores.
Freshwater tournaments are also advertised in the local tackle shops.
The BILLFISH FOUNDATION of Cape May, New Jersey, as well as the various tackle shops in Cape May, will supply you with the dates of their local tourneys.
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Q. Old Master, where can I find maps or locations of
saltwater wrecks in Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties in Florida?
A. Most marine supply stores sell navigation maps published by the U S Coast Guard (not by private companies).
These official charts (maps) will indicate the types of wrecks that you seek. Some charts cover vast areas. The ones that you are seeking are the those of local areas around harbors, light houses, rock jetties, etc.
Reliable tackle shops offer for sale assorted charts indicating wrecks, rock piles, etc.
To summarize, you'll find what you are looking for in good marine supply stores or good tackle shops.
Below are a few links that might help you...
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/~nmr/ http://acc.nos.noaa.gov/Naut/NautUSA/NautFL.html
http://www.bluewaterweb.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/noaa/florida.htm?E+mystore4
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Q. Old Master, I like to catch stripped bass, but my wife is a terrible cook. what should I do??? What is the
best way to cook it??
A. Well, one option is to take your wife out to a good seafood restaurant.
Seriously, the best way to prepare a striped bass is to put it into the microwave as thin slices, put on some lemon juice, lots of butter and a little onion. Cook at full power for three minutes then turn the pieces over and cook for 2 minutes.
Add salt and tarter sauce for full flavor. The fish will be delicious. Enjoy!
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Q. Old Master, are you aware of any clubs for disabled
fisherman?
A. "FISHING HAS NO BOUNDARIES" is a non profit volunteer organization founded in 1986 in Hayward, Wisconsin.
They sponsor fishing events for disabled people without restriction regarding type of disability, age, race, etc. and have chapters around the country.
For their events schedule and membership info, write to:
FISHING HAS NO BOUNDARIES PO BOX 175 HAYWARD, WISCONSIN 54843
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Q. Old Master, my son Gregory & I were flyfishing for salmon in Alaska... he got a strike & was fighting his fish when I also was so blessed with a "strike"... we both fought "our" fish... and proud fishermen we were... until, alas, when we beached "our" salmon, we discovered that it was indeed "our" salmon... we had hooked & fought the same fish!!! Question: Old Master, what is your
oddest catch?
A. My oddest catch? Well, I guess that the one that takes the prize was when we were catching blues and bass using bucktail jigs... fish from 3 to 10 lbs. I felt a strong tug and naturally leaned back and struck.
A few minutes later I pulled in the fish. It was a 5 lb bluefish SHAPED LIKE AN HOURGLASS. The entire middle of the fish was constricted by a plastic type rubber band that had apparently gotten wrapped around the fish when it was small and as the fish grew the band did not yield so the fish was actually "squeezed in half" by the band. My hook had gotten caught under the band.!!!
The fish seemed to be perfectly healthy except for its unique hourglass figure. It was well fed and had fought like crazy. It looked really weird. Below you'll see my feeble artistic attempt (using the Windows Paint program) to draw a sketch of the fish.
Anybody else out there have any weird (but true) fishing stories?
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Q. Old Master, what kinds of bait are best for trout fishing in Southern California and what test pound line should I use?
A. The best artificial bait for trout in southern California is a streamer fly fished down and across. My favorites are mickey finn and black ghost. Others prefer the muddler minnow.
The best dry flies are the royal wulff (fished in fast moving waters or shallow riffles), light cahill and, of course, the large salmon fly.
If you prefer to use live bait, go with grasshoppers or hopper lures.
You also ask what test line you should use. Answer is... spinning line 6-8 pounds and fly line 5x tippet or, in a big stream, 4x (if fish are fussy go to 6x but be gentle or you'll lose your fly.).
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Q. Old Master, I'll be fishing at Sanibel Island in Florida in March. What and where should I expect to catch fish. Also, I'd like to use a fly rod. What type of tackle would you recommend and what type of flies should I be tying?
A. Sanibel Island is a great place to fish for snook and tarpon (in season). The snook and tarpon will take almost any moving lure that's presented.
Snook will take a small bucktail jig cast very close to the mangrove (under the mangrove, if possible). If you tip the jig with a piece of fresh shrimp, the snook will really come out from under the mangrove and take your lure. Best color for the bucktail is white or bright yellow. Snook that are out in the open near oyster bars and rips will take a mirrolure or a top water popping plug... any kind as long as it pops and makes a fuss on the surface.
For small tarpon, small poppers on the surface work fine.
A word about flies - any salt water streamer will take snook and tarpon... lefty deceiver... clauser minnow in the chartreuse and white color. It's the PRESENTATION that counts, not the particular type of fly. The fly must be put in front of the tarpon and worked slowly as the fish comes for the fly. Flies put to the side or rear will be ignored. The size fly you tie will depend upon the size fish that are around. Naturally, a hundred pound tarpon (and there are lot of them out there) takes a different size lure. When the school tarpon (10-15 pounds) are around they will gladly take a small clauser streamer or a small popping bug.
I didn't mention using bait! A live kicking shrimp will do the job when all lures are ignored. Cast a shrimp under the mangroves and LOOK OUT!!!!
The bottom fishing around Sanibel is excellent. Snappers, groupers, blue runners and lady fish afford marvelous fishing. Jigs tipped with shrimp is the way to go.
I, personally, think that spinning outfits are by far the best for catching fish but the fly rodders do well with outfits varying from 8 weight to 12 weight depending upon the size of the fish around.
Best of luck.. let me know how you make out.
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Q. Old Master, I want to go fishing on a pier
around West Palm, Fla. Do I need to get a license and where do I go for it? Also, what do you recommend for bait this time of year in that location? What fish are abundant there now?
A. Yes you do need a salt water license in Florida but not if the pier belongs to a friend or if you are a senior citizen resident. You can get the license in the auto vehicle registration office.
The best bait to use is live shrimp or live pilchers that can be bought at most tackle shops.
This time of year the best fishing bets are for snappers, blue runners, porgies and grunts... all bottom feeders that hang around piers. You can also try to get snook, but this requires a great deal of expertise, usually fishing at night, drifting large shrimp from the pier.
The wisest thing to do is to talk to the fellow anglers on the pier. That's how you get to know how to catch fish anywhere. If snappers are biting, use pieces of fresh shrimp If you use whole shrimp, the snappers will steal the bait almost every time. It becomes expensive. Good Luck!
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Q. Old Master, my father-in-law insists that there isn't a fly called a
"grouse and claret" and it is called a "mallard and claret". Can you please give me your opinion?
A. Both flies exist. They are both traditional wet flies that date back to the time when fly tyers only had natural materials to work with.
"Claret" refers to the body color (pig's wool or seal's fur).
"Grouse" is the wing slip that is tied over the body. The markings of the grouse wing-slip were probably used to resemble a sedge (or caddis) wing,
"Mallard" is a bronze mallard breast feather slip. Mallard fibres are darker and more uniformly marked.
Both types of flys are associated with Irish trout and salmon wet fly fishing.
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Q. Old Master, I'm trying to settle a bet for my dad, hopefully you can help. What is the size of the
largest yellowtail ever caught?
A. I can't tell you the "world record" for the largest yellowtail but the largest one I ever saw caught weighed 6 pounds. Some liars that l know tell me that they caught tails up to 7-8 pounds.
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Q. Old Master, what is your best sporting
fish? Why? And what is your best eating fish? Why?
A. Naturally, every angler has his own choice as to favorite "sporting fish".
My choice is very difficult to make... salt water? fresh water? fighting qualities? ease of getting fish to bite?
All of these questions are involved. For example, striped bass are great because they come to a fly but this can be considered a defect because they are relatively "easy" to fool. A wise old trout will laugh at your attempts to catch it. So now the question becomes... Do you prefer a ladyfriend who is "easy" or one who is resistant to your efforts?
I have a lot of trouble making a definite decision. I know you will not accept that as an answer to your question so I'll tell you the following... For me the greatest sporting fish is a rainbow trout taken from a fast flowing white water run, after watching the fish sip a succulent fly, then come up and take my offering. This choice is a purely personal one, and I respect your own preference for whatever your reasons.
My choice of favorite eating fish is easy... flounder... good old "lemon sole"... fried, broiled or baked. A close second would be a six inch brook trout taken from a cold stream and pan fried... yummy, yummy!
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Q. Old Master, what is best technique for catching fresh water
bass in the rivers?
A. OK... here's a short tutorial on river bass fishing.
There are two kinds of bass in rivers... large mouth bass and small mouth bass.
LARGE MOUTH BASS - The best lure to use for large mouth is a "jitterbug". Cast it out and wind it in slowly. The tantalizing chugging motion and noise is irresistible to the large mouth bass.
When using a fly rod the best type of fly is one made of deer body hair. Cast it out near some reed and retrieve it with short twitches, halting now and then. This is best used on quiet water preferably at daybreak or at dusk. These deer hair bugs are deadly. Baitcasters prefer small floating minnow imitations of which there are many.
SMALL MOUTH BASS - Small mouth bass are suckers for surface flies cast out near the shore line and retrieved with irregular twitches. The Royal Wulff, deer hair flies and small jigs (spinning lures) with twisty plastic tails are the way to go. But I have to tell you that if you ask one hundred bass fishermen you'll probably get one hundred and ten different opinions about this subject.
I should add that the universal spinning lure for both large and small mouth bass is the "mepps" spinning lure. It is unquestionably the best. Spinning lures in the rivers are so effective that I think they should be declared illegal!
I have omitted all mention of live bait. This is a subject that demands a large book to address properly. We're talking about worms, grubs, minnows, etc.
One last note... small "rapala" plugs are also exceptionally fine lures of both large and small mouth bass especially when you get to know the rhythm of the retrieve. Once you get that rhythm... look out!
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Q. Old Master, I like to eel fish
alot but I have a hard time picking them up and holding on to them. Any tips, please? Thanks.
A. Holding on to eels can be a tricky business. But it's easy if you know how.
Here's how... Grab the eel in the middle of its body, lay it across the backs of the 2nd and 4th fingers and bend the 3rd finger down on the eel. When you press the 3rd finger on top, you will have locked the eel between the three fingers and the eel will not be able to slide out.
Test this out by using one of the fingers of your left hand as an "imitation" eel. Now place that finger of your left hand over the back of the 2nd and 4th fingers of your right hand and then bend (press) the 3rd finger of your right hand over that left finger to lock that finger (our imitation eel) tightly in.
This method is what the eel people use. I guarantee it. Good Luck!
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Q. Old Master, is there a way to fish with more than one fly tied to the leader?
A. There is a simple way to tie more than one fly to a leader... Make a "dropper loop" above the terminal end of the leader and then cut the loop near the leader. If the loop is two inches long, when you cut it as described above you will have a 4 inch length. You can now tie the "dropper fly" on. Using this method you can make 2 or 3 dropper loops and tie on 2 or 3 extra flies. All the best to you!
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Q. Old Master, when do Whiting appear in our waters?.
A. Whiting, known as "frost fish" usually appear when the weather is really cold... late December and January.
Fishing is best from the local piers. Some Sheepshead Bay boats land fine catches all winter.
Whiting fish are frequently washed up on the beach where anglers who are walking the beaches hear the "flip-flop" and rush over and pick up the beached fish.
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Q. Old Master, what is good for Grey Trout
around Pamlico Sound?
A. The best lure for grey trout around Pamlico Sound is a shiny spoon that is either cast or trolled slowly from a boat. In very deep water you should use a drail (about 4-6 oz) to get the lure down. Some anglers swear by a bucktail jig cast out and worked back with short jerky retrieves. The fish like to hit near the surface.
P. S. - If you are fly fishing, the best all around fly, in my opinion, is a large Royal Wulff Coachman, fished high and dry... skating helps. Good Luck to you!
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Q. Old Master, my 2 1/2 year old put a potty insert on his head this AM and said, "Look, I'm a fisherman!". On the serious side, when should I really take him out fishing?
A. I have taken many a child under 3 years out fishing. Naturally, I would not take him/her out on a rough sea. That would only make the child afraid.
Gradually get the child interested by putting him in a boat at rest or by strolling near the lakeside where he can see small fish being caught (goldfish, carp, etc.).
Get him interested in making doughballs and putting them on a hook. Kids love that stuff and it serves as as a springboard into the sport.
Try to catch a fish and let him hold the rod. That's the BEST way to get the child interested. If you're not a regular fisherman, it may get you hooked as well!
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Q. Old Master, is there anything I need to bring on a charter fishing
trip besides food and drink?
A. Assuming that you want to do serious fishing with good equipment, I suggest that you augment the tackle that the charter boat provides with the following.
In the area of "equipment"... always bring your own SHARP HOOKS for the type of fish that you seek. Bring a small can (or small tube) of LUBRICANT for the reel. A good pair of cutting and grabbing PLIERS will come in handy.
Sun GLASSES and CAP are standard gear. If needed, take a SEASICKNESS PILL one hour before leaving. There are many types on the market. A couple of BANDAIDS and some SUNSCREEN ( 45 strength) will be good to have with you.
I always bring an extra rod and reel just in case I have an accident or a backlash. Remember, the boat usually supplies tackle, etc. but it's really not a very good quality. Also, a good HOOK REMOVER is appropriate so as you won't have to bother others for the same. I know you'll need one because you're going to catch alot of fish!
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Q. Old Master, where can I find a "mold" for pouring my own 4 ounce bank style sinkers? I have searched & searched and just can't find it anywhere. I'll appreciate any help. Thanks in advance.
A. I believe that the Cabella fishing catalog offers various molds. Also try Altenkirk's, a great tackle shop in Shinnecock (Hampton Bays), Long Island. Mr. Altenkirk is a good friend. Tell him you know me. I'm pretty sure that he can help you. Good luck to you and let me know how you make out.
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Q. Old Master, what's the best lure to use in fresh water (Western PA) to catch a muskie?
A. The best lure for muskies (in my opinion) is a large green pikey minnow trolled slowly or retrieved slowly after a fairly long cast. The choice varies tremendously but I think most anglers will agree that the pikey minnow is the best lure.
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Q. Fish Master, I am writing on my grandfather's behalf. He checked out your website and thought it was neat with the pictures and all.
He would like to know where are you currently fishing? My grandfather fishes daily in the
NY Harbor for strippers, blues and snappers. He caught over 950 fish this year. Hope to hear back from you soon.
A. Wow... your grandfather sure caught a lot of fish...
950... Wow!
I have been having great striped bass and bluefishing in the waters off of Sandy Hook and off of Staten Island. There are enormous schools of bass starting their migration down along the Jersey coast stretching from the Highlands to the Manasquan Inlet.
And look for the birds. That's how you know. This is the time of year when grandpa can have a ball using spinning, bait casting or fly tackle.
950 fish??? WOW!!! Tell me where he fishes!!!
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Q. Old Master, you know anything about a lure called "Fishin Worms", a twister tail type rubber. Also...
Brooklure split bamboo fly rod. Got one at an estate sale, and am interested in history and value. Thanks.
A. The worm you mention is just another one of hundreds of twister tail worms found in any tackle shop. They are excellent lures for bass and lately the twister tail is used in salt water lures attached to a lead jig.
The Brooklure split bamboo rod is one of many older rods. It is not like the classic rods made by Leonard or Payne but, while it does not have a great deal of monetary value, it is something any angler would be glad to own because it is a reminder of the days when building a split bamboo rod was truly an art form. It is the kind of rod that requires real expertise when fighting a fish... unlike the modern graphite rods that forgive the careless moves made by the angler. With this bamboo rod a wrong move will result in an unforgiving <<CRACK>
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Q. Old Master, this is Andrew again. My Grandfather likes to go to Robbins Reef Light
and he uses popping plugs to catch bass. Have you ever been there?
A. Andrew, I'm glad to hear that someone had the good sense to fish the Robbins Reef Light. We always had fine fishing for stripers there The best part was that very few people fished it.
The water around the light is pretty deep and does not present a hazard. You are right. Using popping plugs is a good idea. The bass there just love to come up and smash a plug on the surface.
Keep up the good work and remember to release bass under 28 inches. Release some keepers too unless you are going to eat them. Nice to hear from you again. All the best to you and your grandfather.
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Q. Old Master, how did you start in the sport of fishing and why do you love it so much?
A. I became interested in fishing during the years when my parents lived on a farm in the Catskills. A small brook ran behind our house and I spent hours watching the tiny fish swim around near the bank. My older brothers made sure that I soon learned about using a cane pole and then a fishing rod and reel. When we moved to the city it was flounder fishing from a row boat and on and on it went.
The only reason I can give to you to explain the charm of fishing is this... When I am fishing, whether from land, on a boat off shore or on a quiet river, the mind is at peace and I am unaware of all of the problems of the day. The only thing that matters is catching the fish. THE WORLD CEASES TO EXIST. Crazy?? Maybe.
After 75 years, I can honestly say that the thrill is NOT GONE!
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Q. Old Master, I'm a "city boy" and I hafta learn how to relax. I've enjoyed myself during the few times that I went fishing. My question is... Is fly fishing an
expensive sport? Also, how far from New York City must I travel to do some fly fishing? Thanks.
A. Like any other activity the cost of fly fishing varies tremendously. The new breed of fly fishermen is somewhat snobbish and will be caught using a fly rod that costs 400 to 600 dollars and a reel costing 200 to 400 bucks. The line costs 30 to 50 dollars and little extras run up to 20 to 50 dollars. But it is also true that very good serviceable tackle can be had for one quarter of the above cost.
You also ask the question about how far from NYC you must go for decent fly fishing.
You could travel WEST for two hours to experience fine trout waters in the Poconos.
If you go EAST the state maintains a wonderful trout river on Long Island... the Connetquoit. There are about 30 "beats" (a fly fisherman's private little area of the river) and the river is full of trout that have not yet learned to beware of trout anglers.
By traveling NORTH to the Catskills you'll be where some of the greatest trout rivers in the world are found... i.e., the Beaverkill, the Willowemoc and the lower reaches of the Delaware. Best of luck to you!
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Q. This is OldMaster85. I think I'll ask myself a question. The question is: "How can you take a
good photograph of a fishing fly?"
A. Simple! Just put the fly in your scanner. I recently purchased an HP scanner and I really LOVE it. Here is a scan of a striper fly that I put into the scanner.
Nice, huh? Who says old guys can't have fun with the new technology?
Seriously, make a senior citizen happy... buy him/her a computer and get a good computer teacher to help them get started. It's unbelievable how it can effect a senior's life. Think about it.
PS - Many thanks to my sons who "forced" me into the age of technology by buying me this computer 6 months ago. I would never have believed that I could do this. But I CAN!
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Q. Old Master, I got your e-mail address from an article in a N.J. newspaper. I am starting to learn fly fishing and would like to know if you could recommend any
books, videos or schools in New Jersey. I am an absolute neophyte and would appreciate any info. Thank you.
A. Dear friend, the best way to get into the ''fishing scene" is to join a fishing club where you can meet men and women like yourself who are interested in fishing. Books, videos, etc. are great AFTER you have started to understand fishing. Videos tend to be specialized like "How to do this" or "How to do that". Even clubs are specialized.
The Atlantic Salt Water Fly Rodders Club in New Jersey is one of the best fly fishing clubs around. I would strongly suggest that you contact John De Filippis at 732-295-4936. He is the president and a wonderful guy. He can help get you into that club and help you get started. The club has a great fishing library for the members. Joining that club will help you in many other ways. Feel free to mention my name.
Fishing will enrich your life in many ways. Good luck and keep in touch.
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Q. Old Master, what do you think is the best lure
for stripers and the best for large mouth bass.
A. For stripers over 25 lbs the most effective lure is the bunker spoon trolled with wire lines... the choice from Montauk to Martha's vineyard.
For large mouth bass, the best, in my opinion, is the jitterbug on top and the pikie minnow or mirro lure (red and white) under the surface.
Allow me to add a comment about using metal jigs. Metal jigs, like the A 27 and Hopkins, should be cast out and let sink. You should then jig up and down and retrieve with irregular movements.
When bass are on the surface any popping plug will do the job if worked properly.
Best lures for spinning and fly fishing is a different subject. I'll gladly comment on that if you're interested. Just let me know.
Remember that every angler has his/her own preference. Be tolerant. You really have to find out for yourself... and be sure to share what you learn with all of us here at the OldMaster85 web site.
Naturally, my choice is best!
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