Fishing Swivel

The fishing swivel is perhaps one of the most misunderstood saltwater fishing tactics. Designed to prevent your line from twisting in the water, the swivel is a must for many styles of fishing. As an example, catfish are notorious for twisting, which makes fishing swivels on trotlines a smart choice to allow the line to turn freely. Since line twists can weaken the line and can cause knots during casting, a swivel can allow the line to untwist during retrieval and prevent undesirable tangling.

But with so many options, it can be hard to choose. Here are three main swivels to consider adding to your tackle box:

1. Barrel Fishing Swivel

Made of two separate round, eyelets connected by a barrel fitting, the barrel swivel is designed to provide smooth, consistent rotation. Snap and swivel combinations allow lures or leaders to drag through weeds and grass without the chance of loose or floating debris spooling your presentation. Shop Owner Snagless Snap Hyper Swivel & Barrel Swivel.

2. 3-Way Fishing Swivel

A popular and versatile choice for many fishing scenarios, the 3-way fishing swivel features heavy duty barrel swivels that is perfect for bottom fish rigs and droppers. The three-way design allows two separate lines to be connected to a mainline which makes it easy to change out lures, leaders and other fishing rigs. Shop Tsunami Stainless 3-WAY Barrel T Swivel.

3. Ball Bearing Fishing Swivel

Ball bearing fishing swivels are mainly used for lures or trolling bait. They are highly recommended by off-shore anglers because of their internal ball bearings that allow the swivel to turn freely under the most extreme pulling tension. Shop Tsunami Ball Bearing Swivel.

The fishing swivel comes in a wide variety of sizes ranging from a few millimeters to several centimeters and are typically a flat black or brass color. Swivels with snaps allow anglers to change out lures, leaders and other fishing rigs.They can be used to attach multiple pieces of tackle to a main line. For example, connecting both a leader and hook and an additional separate line and sinker.

Quality Fishing Swivel Options at Fishermen’s Source

Hooks and weights of all sizes, bobber stops and swivels, beads and wire leader … for any angler, the terminal tackle list can go on and on. But now you can see why using swivels on fishing leaders is a necessary accessory.

Keeping it all organized? That’s another challenge.

But you guessed it, we can help you with that, too! Our Tactical Anglers Assault Pouch is perfect to carry your favorite tackle anywhere you fish. It’s reinforced to withstand saltwater conditions and comes with double compartments and drainage holes.

Call us at 800-388-4149 to find out more about terminal tackle and shop your fresh and saltwater fishing tackle today.

Winter Fishing

Wintertime is here. Some regions throughout the US have warm weather for fishing all year, but most anglers know what winter fishing brings: a fight against the snow, wind and freezing rain. The water is cold and fish are lethargic making them tough to catch. But just because the weather is cold, that doesn’t mean your fishing season is over, it just means it’s time to slow down and prepare.

Here are six winter fishing tips to help you score big no matter how cold it gets.

6 Winter Fishing Tips

1. Slow Down for Winter Fishing

One of the key things to remember about winter fishing is to slow down your presentation to allow them more time to react to lures. As water temperatures drop, the fish’s metabolism slows down. Take your time.

2. Know Where to Fish in the Winter

No matter what fish you’re targeting, you need to know where to go. Find your fishing mecca online through the Department of Natural Resources Division of Wildlife and Fisheries in your area and catch some up-to-date reports on what species are biting best.

3. Watch the Forecast

While many of us are limited to fishing on the weekends and around work schedules, a quick look at the forecast can narrow down which days are going to be more productive. For example, weather fronts can affect activity levels of freshwater fish; in general, they are more active before a front and less active right after it. Plan your winter fishing trips just prior to the passing of a cold front when the fish are at their highest feeding levels.

4. Choose the Right Time

During the winter months, some of the best catch times are between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Take the opportunity to sleep in on the weekend and enjoy a relaxing afternoon of fishing.

5. Select the Best Lures

For winter fishing, choose a smaller lure size (two-to-four-inch range). Since fish don’t feed as often in the colder months, they tend to target smaller prey that is easier to catch and digest. Present something small and slow to mimic the natural feeding habits. You want a subtle bait that stops and suspends well. A great example of this is switching to a smaller suspending version of a bait you may already be familiar with, the Sebile Stick Shad.

For another example, a popper will get a lot of crazy action in the summer months but may not be very effective in the winter. The colder the water, the less action you want with your lure. Opt for a medium suspending jerkbait or blade bait to make your quest to catch fish in the winter a little easier.

6. Stay Safe and Have Fun

Be mindful of weather conditions and dress in layers. Think base layers, middle layers, a shell jacket, insulated socks and boots, face mask, hat and a pair of gloves to keep your hands dry and warm.

Remember to tell someone where you’re going and when they can expect you to return. With some careful planning, you can have some of your most fun and successful fishing adventures in the winter.

Contact the Fishermen’s Source experts at 800-388-4149 to find out more about winter fishing today.

Bass Lures

When determining which bass lures are going to work best, it’s important to look at a waterway in three different depths. Whether you’re fishing a lake, pond or river, the lure you use will differ based on how deep you’re fishing.

Surface: When you’re fishing three feet deep or less, use topwater lures or floating divers rated for 3′ to surface. During the warmer months and lower light conditions (early and late in the day or cloudy days), most bass will spend their time near the surface. During these conditions, anglers should select surface baits to attract bass that are actively feeding.

Bottom: When you’re fishing three feet of the bottom or less, use sinking lures or weighted jigs to reach the proper depth. Best used during the colder, winter months, these lures can be very effective for those fish who like to hide among boulders, brush or timber. This is the most common spot to catch bass.

Middle: Middle bass lures are for everything in between the surface and bottom waters. This depth can be fished with a wide range of floating deep divers and suspending swimbaits. It is most productive during the late summer and fall when bass spend most of their time in the middle waters as they travel between feeding and resting.

Based on their versatility and proven ability to catch plenty of fish at any water level, here are the top 10 bass lures you’ll want to add to your tacklebox collection.

Top 10 Bass Lures
Bass Lures for Surface Waters:

1.Popper bait- This cylinder body has a concaved or flat face that allows the bait to splash water and make noise when it’s twitched. Best used when the surface of the water is calm. The Yo-zuri 3DS Popper is an excellent example of these lures available in a wide variety of colors.

2.Propeller bait– Just as it sounds, propeller baits have a propeller on the front or back (or both). This bait churns the surface making a lot of commotion which makes them a good choice to use on a windy day.

3.Pencil- These spook style lures utilize a walk the dog style motion across the water’s surface to entice feeding bass to strike. Along with this, the Yo-zuri Sashimi Pencil draws a fish’s attention through the use of color changing technology.

Bass Lures for Middle Waters:

4.Diving Crankbait- Categorized by depth ratings to help you determine how deep the bait travels, a diving crankbait is a good choice for middle waters.

5.Lipless Crankbait- This sinking lure typically has loud rattles to attract bass that are in aggressive feeding moods. The Yo-zuri Rattl’n Vibe uses a series of small BB’s for weight as well as generating that fish catching rattle! The weight also makes them versatile enough to be effectively fished in middle and deep waters.

6.Spinnerbait- Spinnerbaits are great in waters with grass or timber since the blades are designed to protect the hook point from snags. Standard spinnerbaits such as the Terminator’s are light weight, usually under 1/2oz but if you are looking for something a tad heavier the Sebile Pro-Shad models are available in a heavier 1oz version.

Bass Lures for Bottom Waters

7.Plastic Worms- One of the most versatile and attractive lure for bass is the Gary Yamamoto Swim Senko soft plastic worm. Most bass will grab this lifelike worm as it’s sinking but also when it’s sitting on the bottom in between rod raises.

8.Jig- Most often used with fishing short-range flipping and pitching techniques, it’s all about the weight of the jig. Once you get the jig to the bottom, you need to be able to drag and hop along imitating a crawfish. Though categorized as a bottom water lure, many bass will take the jig while it’s sinking. With the re-release of Sebile’s Vibrato jig series, a wide array of new colors has been introduced in weights from 3/8oz to 1oz.

9.Craw- Capture the hogs while they’re hungry! Crawfish is one thing they never stop eating since they’re active throughout the year and can be found anywhere from the shallow weeds to the deepest rocks. Yo-zuri’s new Crayfish bait replicates the natural movement of this prey with soft plastic claws that move naturally as the lure is retrieved.

10.Swimbait- Generating strikes in deep waters, the swimbait has a natural roll that gets bites even in the toughest conditions. A reliable fish magnet, the Sebile Stick Shad swimbaits were just rereleased in brand new colors and weights ideal for bass fishing!

Top 10 Bass Lakes
Now that you have the bass lures, you need to know where to use them! Bassmaster Magazine recently published their top ten best bass lakes based on information gathered from fisheries departments, B.A.S.S. Nation directors, council and Facebook fans as well as Elite Series pros.
Here are the top 10 best bass fisheries from 2016:

1. Toledo Bend Reservoir, Louisiana/Texas (185,000 acres)
2. Santee Cooper Lakes, Marion and Moultrie, South Carolina (110,000 acres and 60,000 acres, respectively)
3. Clear Lake, California (43,785 acres)
4. Lake Erie, New York (30-mile radius from Buffalo)
5. Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California (1,100 square miles)
6. Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota (132,000 acres)
7. Lake Berryessa, California (20,700 acres)
8. Rodman Reservoir, Florida (13,000 acres)
9. Falcon Lake, Texas (83,654 acres)
10. Lake. St. Clair, Michigan (430 square miles)

Fish the Winners: 5 Saltwater Lures That Will Fool Just About Any Fish (Even in Fresh Water)

Saltwater lures

We know you have your favorite lures, but some saltwater lures have been known to catch fish pretty much anywhere in the world, including in fresh water. Who knows, you probably have some of these in your tackle box already. If not, swap out the old and add these five super baits to the mix and you’re guaranteed to fool fish in any water.

5 Saltwater Lures That Can Be Used for Fresh Water Fishing

If you enjoy both saltwater and freshwater fishing, make sure to keep these versatile lures on hand.

1. Gold Spoon

Dating back to the mid-1800s, the gold spoon is one of the simplest and oldest lure designs out there. They can be used to catch saltwater fish species such as redfish and mackerel, but since they’re so easy to use, they transition easily for fishing in freshwater lakes or rivers for large- or smallmouth bass and northern pike.

Gold spoons have been known to work well in Florida freshwater lakes where you may find a golden shiner population.

2. Spook

The Spook is designed to twitch across the water. This side-to-side technique, known as “walk the dog,” and vibrating external system has been proven irresistible to gamefish that eat bait on the surface such as large- or smallmouth bass and tarpon.

Fishermen’s Source spook lure, the Tactical Anglers CrossOver Stalker Lure, features a strong steel thru-wired and a thick plastic body mold.

3. Curly Tail Grub

Compared to a regular plastic bait, the all-natural and biodegradable “Gulp Curly Tail Grub” has 400 times more scent dispersion that attracts more hard-fighting fish! With a baitfish profile, its simple design is effective for fish in a wide variety of water conditions, tough enough to handle toothy critters and can be used to enhance other lures. Try adding it to spinnerbaits or chatterbaits and watch it come to life.

4. Artificial Shrimp

Resembling a real crawfish, the soft, plastic artificial shrimp is a slow sinking jerkbait that is irresistible to a wide range of game fish in different circumstances. As with most saltwater lures, shrimp lures come in a variety of designs, sizes, weights, colors and even scents.

5. Bucktail Jig

It’s tough to beat a good, ol’ fashioned bucktail jig. Because of the simple design, a bucktail jig can easily mimic a freshwater baitfish just as it can a saltwater shrimp offering anglers a wide range of versatility to fish in both shallow and deep waters.

Shop Saltwater Lures from Fishermen’s Source

At Fishermen’s Source, we all take pride in our tackle the way you take pride in your passion and bring you only the best of the best. If you’re still looking for more lure action, check our buyers guide to get the inside scoop on reels, jigging, line capacity, saltwater lures and more!

Call us at 800-388-4149 to find out more about versatility in your lures and shop your fresh and saltwater fishing tackle today.

Traveling with Fishing Gear? Important Reminders for Traveling Fishermen

Traveling with Fishing Gear

When planning a fishing trip, you really only have two options. Either book a fishing charter that provides used equipment for you or bring your own trusted gear that you can rely on. If this is your first time traveling with fishing gear, packing can be a bit tricky. If you’re already a seasoned traveling angler, you never know, you could always learn a new trick to make things easier on your next vacation.

Top Tips When Traveling with Fishing Gear

So, you’ve picked out the best lures and tackle for your trip. Your rod and reel are customized to suit your every need…now you just need to toss it all in the bag and go hit the water, right?

Before you head to the airport, make sure you have packed all your fishing gear accordingly.

Carry-On

When it comes to TSA and airline policies, everyone has their own set of rules. What you’re allowed to take on the plane is ultimately going to be at the discretion of the gate attendants.

For carry-on gear, it’s best not to pack any lures that you couldn’t stand to lose, just in case the TSA confiscates them. Seven inches or less is the TSA regulation for tool size allowed in a carry on. Use common sense when packing: this does not include your knife, pliers or anything they may construe to be a “weapon.” Although you are usually offered the option to mail things back to your home, you still won’t be able to use them on your trip, so plan carefully ahead of time.

Most carry-on luggage has a max length of 24 inches and be aware that a tackle box is considered a bag. So, if you’re planning to carry on other luggage, be prepared to check it at the gate to be packed below and possibly pay an excess baggage fee.

Checked Baggage

The best way to pack fishing rods whenever you travel by car or plane is to disassemble them and pack them safely in a hard-shell case that supports a padlock. Since airlines often require that fishing rods be packed in hard cases anyway, it’s wise to protect your investment with the proper rod storage case.

Many airlines don’t have an issue with taking a fishing rod as checked baggage. Depending on the airline, the max length can be between 80-102 inches; some airlines waive the oversize baggage fees for fishing gear, but not always.

Check out this handy chart that allows you to search your airline’s policy for traveling with fishing gear. And contact them ahead of time to find out their specific regulations. Note that rules and regulations also differ for domestic vs international travel.

Traveling with Fishing Gear, Simplified

You’ve done your research, the airline ticket is booked, now it’s time to start counting down the days until that long-awaited fishing adventure.

And start thinking about packing.

At Fishermen’s Source, we offer lures for specific regions and easy-to-transport travel rods that break down into three pieces. Take a look at the Tsunami Classic and Tsunami Travel Surf rods online to learn more.

We take pride in our tackle the way you take pride in your passion, make sure you pack your gear properly. Call us at 800-388-4149 to find out more about traveling with fishing gear and shop your fresh and saltwater fishing tackle today.