Make Your Tow Vehicle Shine

When I was shopping for new truck, I found a model with everything I wanted at a good price.

Only it was black. Not my first choice.

Black looks great when it is clean and shiny. But it's not easy.

The first thing I did when I got the truck is go to a hand car wash. I had it washed and waxed. It looked great—for a few days.

Then the water spots from a recent rain looked terrible. I was looking for a way to keep it shiny. My cousin recommended a product called F11.

I ordered two bottles (I wasn't sure how much to get, and if it worked, I was going to do both vehicles and the boat.

I followed the simple instructions and the truck looked good. Then a few days later I put on a second coat. And about a week later the third coat.

I ended up using a bottle and a half of the 16 oz size. That is probably more than I needed to do, but I was anxious to have something easy to maintain. And, I kept the application cloth soaked in the product so I wouldn't scratch the paint.

One day I was in a store parking lot (cleaning off bird splatter) and a couple guys walked by and commented on the shine. I knew I was onto something.

At work, people comment about the shine of my truck. I purposely park next to other dark vehicles so they can see the difference.

Sometimes the truck get dusty from daily use. I bought a fine cleaning brush called a California Carduster at Walmart. Just dust off the vehicle with a light touch.

But no matter what, you're going to get water spots from rain or in my case, the lawn sprinkler. It leaves little spots. Sometimes it gets dirty from road grime. But rather than re-apply F11, I rinse off the vehicle at the car wash. (I have hard water at my house so I don't like to use my hose.)

No need to use the soap. If it's really dusty/dirty I use the rinse cycle, wipe everything off but leave it wet. (I use the same soft cloth I used to apply F11.)

Next, I rinse with the spot free cycle. I wipe down with a dry micro fiber towel (it may take more than one towel.) and then buff lightly with another dry towel. I follow the same basic steps as when I applied the F11. That final wipe down brings out the shine. Don't rub too hard so you don't scratch the surface. It's been about 6 months since the first F11 application and I don't plan to reapply F11 for another month or two.

There may be better tips. How do you keep your tow vehicle shiny?

Boat Trailer Bearings/Hubs

I've had bearing issues on my boat trailer.

On the suggestion of a friend, I'm replacing the whole hub assembly on the axles.

There are various sizes, but here is one for heavy duty use. You'll need to know the diameter of your spindle.

Check out this size which fits many boat trailers. I'm going to try to find the sizes of various manufacturers and make a chart of the Vortex hub needed for many boat trailers.

Be sure to get the right size for your trailer! If you click below to go to eBay, you can search for other sizes too.

The one to get is the Lucas Marine Grease-filled hub.

Top 3 Black Friday Ideas

Tackle Junkies Love Black Friday

This is a great time of year to find great deals on new tackle or replacing lost tackle.

New fishing reels on sale for Black Friday

And frankly, some stuff just wears out and needs to be replaced. Here are some deals I like.

Idea one. Get a great rod.

My favorite rod brand is Kistler Rods.

Here is another tip: go to the Kistler website and sign up for the email list so you get notified when new sales come around.

If your family is looking for ideas to get you for Christmas gifts, suggest they buy you a new Z-bone rod.

Idea two.

Everyone needs more tackle. If you are looking for general tackle sales, check out Monster Tackle (Outdoor Pro Shop).

I have bought a lot of tackle from Monster Tackle and they are easy to work with. Plus, some of their non-sale prices throughout the year are less than many other online stores.

Idea three. Get new reels at a good price.

Here's a bonus tip:

How to Catch Bass at Night — 20 great tips

Here are 5 things to know to catch bass at night — plus 15 more tips for success.

When it gets so hot that just picking up a rod from the boat deck can burn your hand, it’s time to enjoy the nightlife.

Getting to your favorite spot before it is too dark can be helpful.

Much like daytime movements, bass position themselves on structure and around cover. 

Their active moods are dictated by light such as moon brightness or ambient lighting from dock lights. 

A full moon doesn’t always mean the best fishing. These are the things to look for first:

1. When there is too much light, such as a full moon, the bass can be anywhere and tend to stay deeper. Fish much of the same deep structure you do in the day. 
2. When it is darker (quarter or new moon, for example), the bass congregate in specific areas—but especially hover around dock lights.   
3. Bass relate better to under water lights than above water lights. Keep an eye out for those. But, what really helps is green lights over white lights. So the best option for night fishing is underwater green lights.      
4. Use the same lure color schemes as in daylight—dark nights, dark lures; bright nights, and bright lures.     
5. Don’t be afraid to go big. Big jigs, 10-inch or longer worms, etc. when fishing in the dark. Go with very small, natural looking lures if you fish right in the lights. (Caveat as usual—these tips are starting points. Change often if they’re not working.)     

This bass fell to a black spinner bait in the pitch dark.

Fishing at night requires some planning and preparation. Things can wrong in a hurry in the dark.

Use these tips to stay safe and have a great experience. Remember, safety is the number one concern.

• Check the weather before you go. Stormy conditions can be more treacherous at night when you can’t see. 

• Scout the lake for possible fish holding locations in the daylight. If your electronics have GPS, set up a path to follow to get to your spots. 

• It is hard to spot obstructions at night. Slow down. And even at a slow speed — barely on plane — hitting a floating log can do a lot of damage and cause serious injury. 

• One of the most common boating mishaps is running into a dock at high speed at night. You lose your perspective of distance in the dark. 

• Even when your eyes adjust to the dark, when you run from spot to spot, the running lights can put off enough light to partially blind you. 

• Always wear clear safety glasses at night to protect your eyes from insects as you drive from spot to spot and to save your eye from snagged lures that can come flying back at you with no notice. You know you’re going to hang up and when you attempt to get the lure unsnagged, you won’t see it coming. Getting stuck with a hook in a body part is bad enough, but it is catastrophic if it’s in your eye. 

• Make sure your navigation and anchor lights are working correctly.   

• Get a good inflatable life jacket and wear it all times; it’s easy to lose your balance and fall out of the boat in the daytime—it’s even more likely to happen at night. 

• A spotlight is very useful for navigating when it is very dark. 

• Keep safety gear such as a throw-able float cushion and fire extinguisher readily accessible 

• Make sure your cell phone is charged and in a safe, waterproof area. I keep mine in a zip lock bag in the glove box. Carry a phone charging cord to plug into the 12V accessory port or a portable cell phone battery booster in case the big engine battery dies. 

• Cell service is not a guarantee on many sprawling lakes so be prepared with another form of signal device. 

• Keep a small portable battery charger in the boat, one suitable for starting cars and big engines. There are many options for under $100. 

• Let people know where you are and when you will be back.  It seems so simple, but it has saved numerous lives when followed.

• Don’t forget to pack rain gear and jackets. Even a slight drop in daytime temperatures can cause a chill. Some lakes are susceptible to cooling air temperatures at night. Especially, lakes/rivers with a big inflow from upstream dams releasing colder water. 

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Sun Protection—Cover Up to Stay Cool Update

Bass Editor Tips for Keeping Cool on the Water

I bass fish many times when it is around 100 degrees (this is Texas after all). In fact, the largest bass I caught was taken when it was 106 degrees and at 2:00 p.m. That was hot.

Cover up to cool down.

The first reaction is to think night fishing — and a lot of us do.

But, the fishing is really good in mid-day in late summer.

So, how do you beat the heat? Sun screen is one option. But the best option for me is to dress up, not down.

The more I cover up, the better I feel. It's still hot, but it doesn't feel as hot as when the sun is beating down on me.

This picture with the bass is from a recent August trip. It was 104 degrees, but we caught some good top water bass in the middle of the day.  

Over the last few years, I've experimented with many ways to cover up. I feel pretty comfortable with how I approach it now. (My goal is all about sun protection, not fashion.)

Sun Protection Clothing Options

I start with light-colored shirts and pants. I add sun sleeves, sun gloves and a sun hood over a visor. The hood keeps the visor from flying off when I'm running down the lake. 

I tried hats with good ventilation, but when I pulled the sun hood over them, it was too hot. And, hats with flaps that covered my ears and neck would blow up in the wind, exposing my skin to more sun.

Neck gaiters almost work to hold my hat on, but occasionally I still struggled to keep the sun off my face. 

Simms Sun Hood

Sun Hoods

When I saw the sun hood (from Simms), I knew it would work. And it does. Very little skin is exposed, but I still put sun screen on around my eyes, nose and upper cheeks because sometimes I pull the front of the face mask down a little. I don't like the face mask over my nose. That is just a personal preference.

Columbia Visor

Wearing a visor rather than a hat is much cooler too. I really like the Columbia visor with Omni-Freeze Zero liner.

Visor and hood shown together

When I found the Simms hood, I thought the camo would pull double duty for fall hunting, but the sun feels hot on the camo side so I just turn it inside out so the lighter color is out when I'm fishing. It feels cooler. Pull the hood over the top of the visor and it really works to keep the sun off.

Cabelas Balaclava

Another option is the Cabelas Guidewear Balaclava. After using many different hoods, I think I like the Cabelas best. They come in three colors and I use the solid light gray color.

Sun Sleeves

Now let's look at sun sleeves. I find it cooler to wear a short-sleeve shirt and use sun sleeves. That provides a little more ventilation to my underarms and back. I have several styles from Columbia and other manufacturers, but one I found online is called Hi Cool. The fabric is very thin but effective. I hardly know I'm wearing them and they are very inexpensive. (You can buy five pair for less than one pair of the others.) However, the Columbia has the Omni-Freeze technology that starts cooling when you really need it. Again, Cabelas is also a player in this field.

Hi Cool sun sleeves

Columbia sun sleeves
note the inside fabric pattern with Omni Freeze

Sun Gloves

Wearing gloves in summer seems counter intuitive. Several decades ago, a friend would go to Mexico bass fishing. He'd tell me the heat was so intense he started taking cotton gloves and cut the fingers tips off and wear those while fishing. It was always the back of his hands and wrists that got super sun burned. If I was clued in then, I should have designed a sun glove.

My first foray into gloves were "fishing gloves" that were smooth fabric. They kept the sun off but made holding the fishing rod slippery. Since then, many companies have improved on the design.

Sun Glove Tips

I'm don't review products that manufacturers send to me, but items I buy and use myself. This is first hand experience and you will notice the gloves are used and worn.

Look for gloves that have some type of grip on the hand side. It makes holding your gear easier. I have Buffs, Columbia and Cabelas brand gloves.

I find that using a slightly smaller size for a tight fit is better than loose on some brands. Loose gloves get caught on everything. Hooks snag easily in the loose fabric. And fish teeth get hooked up in them too. But you need to try on the gloves before buying. With one brand I use men's small and another brand I need men's large. There is no consistency in sizing. 

Buffs

Buffs sun gloves

The Buffs have a little thicker fabric so they feel bulkier. I wear them when the weather cools some. But they are not designed for cold weather fishing. Once they get wet, they cool rather than warm your hands. But they grip better than some others I've tried when wet. I'm picturing used products so you can see I really use them.

Columbia

Columbia sun gloves

I like and use these a lot. They are light weight and comfortable. It is especially important to buy a size smaller than you think. They stretch out as you use them more.

Cabelas GuideWear

Cabelas GuideWear Sun Gloves

I looked at these gloves several times when I was shopping at Cabelas. One day I thought, well at least let me get some and try them. I'm glad I did.

They are now my favorite sun glove. They are comfortable and have good grip. They hold their shape really well and I've gotten some as gifts for friends. 

And, I carry several back up pairs.

I store everything I need in a little duffel bag that goes in the boat every time I go out.

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Jerk baits aren't just for winter

Catching schooling bass

Late summer bass begin schooling to chase shad. It continues into the fall.

Get out the jerk baits. You can catch so many fish in a short amount of time!

Watch the video for some non-stop action.




Our video was from late last summer when it was very hot. Our concept was validated when the B.A.S.S. Elites were on Sam Rayburn in May 2017 — post spawn and very warm weather! They slayed the bass with jerk baits.

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Amazon Has Great Deals on Fishing Rods and Reels

Modifying frogs for best hook up and landing

The best way to modify hollow-body frogs.

Everyone loves fishing with hollow-body frogs. The problem is, most people land a small percentage of fish that strike. You can fix that now.

Modify your frog for better results. Here's how.

We add a larger hook. That doesn't hurt the weedless nature of the bait, but sure helps with landing percentages!

Secondly, we add a spinner blade to the back of the bait for a little flash.

Watch the video to see how it's done.






Amazon has a great selection of fishing reels

Decker Lake (Walter E Long) Frog Fishing

Fishing frogs for bass.

Our favorite lake and the best way to fish it.

Decker Lake is a great frog lake. The best time to fish it is in mid-summer and in the middle of the day. Throw hollow-body frogs.

The hotter and the calmer it is outside, the better the frog fishing.

Other times of the year, early or late is better.

Be sure to check out the frog modification video in another post.

Spinning Reel Product Review

How do you choose a spinning reel? Some of the things I like are looks, number of bearings, how smooth it feels when you turn the handle and of course, price. For my needs, I don't think I need to spend more than $100.

Take a look at the this new reel. The company is Piscifun. The model is Honor 2000.

Honor Spinning Reel and Saex Elite casting reel

Piscifun Honor 2000 Matches Kistler Zbone Rod
and the reel comes with a nice cover

Here are the specs:

• Graphite body
• 10 + 1 Stainless Steel Ball Bearings and Roller Bearing
• One-way clutch
• Sealed carbon drag
• Patented spool design
• Machined stainless steel gear shaft
• S-shape slider so lines lays smoothly
• Direct handle into main gear
• Gear ratio 5.1:1
• 7lb. mono capacity—160 yards
• Weight: 8.5 oz.
• 24.2 in. line take up per turn 

First impressions:

This reel looks really sharp! It matches my Kistler Zbone Rod really well. The reel turns so smoothly. I put a small drop of oil on the shaft. Put it on a Kistler Spinning Rod and took it fishing. I wish I could say I caught a lot of fish on it, but only caught a couple on a tough day of fishing.

I loaded it with 14-pound Nanofil. I used an eighth-ounce Charlie Brewer Slider head and a 4-inch Berkley Powerbait Worm. I was was surprised how far I could cast with the reel/rod and line combo.

Would I buy another? Yes, most definitely.

You can find these reels on Amazon.

The Best Crankbait Storage Option. Carry More Baits and Not Get'em Tangled.

Managing Crankbaits Just Became Easier

One of the things I dislike about using crankbaits

 is how to manage all of those hooks.

It seems I spent more time untangling baits, than fishing.

Until now.

I've tried so many crankbait boxes.
The dedicated crankbait boxes work OK
for separating some of the baits,
but even then the hooks go under the slats
and so it's hard to just grab one and go.
I've tried boxes where you put one bait per slot.
No good. It takes too much space
in the boat to carry so many boxes.

Individual baits stored in a plastic box are easy to get to,
but then you have to carry so many plastic storage boxes.

Big crankbaits are a real pain to deal with.

It gets even worse for big cranks. 

This box takes up so much space.

So it was back to trying

to use the dedicated crankbait boxes.

I bought a bunch of hook bonnets,
but they too had disappointing results.

Another method I tried was using hook bonnets.
As you can see below, they solve part of the problem,
but not the space issue.

And baits with hook bonnets
need more space than without.

Previously, I bought quite a few specialty
crankbait boxes. That helped,
but I still had to carry
way more boxes than I wanted.

Some of you may remember these crankbait storage boxes.
The idea never really took off.

Then I saw a video online about

how someone had put a bunch
of small cranks in a little round container.
I didn't care for the container,
but the elastic band was a brilliant idea.
So, I borrowed the idea and made my own modifications.

Wrapping the hooks
made the baits much more compact.

As you can see,
when you wrap an elastic band
around the hooks, they won't tangle.

Adding elastic bands around the hook
and securing to the bait body
made the crankbaits easier to get out
of the storage box.

But they still take up too much space.
Then it hit me —
the elastic bands do a great job
of keeping the hooks from tangling —
so I don't need all those slots.

I took the dividers out of the
special crankbait boxes.

Rather than go buy more boxes that don't have dividers, 

I removed the slats from all of the crankbait boxes I had.

It was easy to remove the slotted base
of the crankbait box.

I went to the local supermarket and
bought large bags of sturdy elastics.

I wrapped all of my unpackaged crankbaits in very little time.

I was amazed at how many baits fit in a box,

once the hooks are wrapped up.

I sort the baits by size and diving depth per box.
I mix some of the brands because I can see exactly what
I need with out any effort.

You can sort the baits by brand or size. I sort by size mostly.

Here are some of the boxes full of crankbaits.
It works for stick baits as well as top water and lipless baits.

Here are some of the boxes stacked up on my work table.

Now, I buy single-tray boxes only for all of my hard baits.
Crankbaits, jerkbaits, topwater poppers, floating Rapalas, etc.
are all stored this way. I can carry a lot of baits in not much space in the boat.

Thank you for reading.

If you are looking for good deals on some of these products and more,
you can follow the links below to eBay,
Amazon and one of my favorite tackle outlets, Monster Tackle.

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