Tackle Blog

by: Max Baranczyk

My family has a cabin in northern Wisconsin, and this is where it all began. The lakes we fish are deep, clear, natural lakes with populations of smallmouth and largemouth bass. Initially we didn’t have any electronics and usually fished from a pontoon or a 14 foot johnboat. This meant that I had to learn quickly as to where the fish moved throughout the year instead of depending on electronics to find them. I spent a lot of time snorkeling and diving these lakes to find where the fish were. I also read every article that the Linder's and In-Fisherman had on seasonal movements of fish.

Picture this: You've been stranded on an island in the middle of a large wilderness lake teeming with gamefish.

There are no swimsuit models to keep you company. It's just you and your spinning rod. However, you get to choose one small box of tackle to take along. What's it gonna be?

In my thirty years of pouring jigs, weights, and lures I have accumulated quite a few molds. Some I use quite often and some I only use from time to time. But there is one mold that I have used probably more than any other I own. I consider it the "McGiver" of tackle making tools. Without it I'd be like Batman without his gadget belt. it's beauty is it's versatility. Let me go through some of my favorite uses and I think you'll see why you shouldn't be without Do-It's SLIP-6-A mold if you love lure making.

Jig it deep. Retrieve it slowly along the bottom. Bird dog open water with long casts and stop and go action. Or burn it over shallow weeds. Bass, walleyes, pike, stripers, even trout and salmon they catch nearly everything.

Tail spinners have been around since the 1960's when Tom Mann introduced the now famous Little George sported a simple tear drop shape and is still available today in it's original shape.

I can't even begin to tell you the entire history of the spinnerbait. I'm guessing that they have been around for fifty years or more. I know that they have been around during my thirty-two year angling career.

Bass, Pike, Musky, and even Walleye will take them throughout the entire season. Down sized versions will even take Crappies and other panfish.

If you fish salt water or follow the salt water beat, you have probably heard of Butterfly Jigging. Right now it may be the hottest thing out there to take a variety of species of salt water game fish. Originating in Japan this technique involves a lure that looks very similar to a normal jigging spoon, but it acts very different. The jigs used in this technique are travel in a side to side manner very similar to a walk-the-dog surface bait.