Stow-Away Fishing Kits (Part 2)
by George Hedgepeth
Line - The line carried in a fishing kit should be of good quality and strong. Keep in mind that line will loose strength due to exposure to the sun, and so should be protected from long term ultra-violet radiation by being INSIDE your kit or covered. I am a big fan of the new style braided lines made from high tech fibers like Spectra or Kevlar. They have tremendous strength for their diameter. As an example, Spiderwire braided 50# line has a diameter equal to 10# conventional monofilament line. For general purposes, I use Spiderwire 30# that has the diameter of 6# monofilament. This is quite strong and fine enough to not inhibit fish biting.
I also carry a small coil of lightweight mono as well. This comes in handy for leaders when fish are being very spooky, and for use with small hooks for catching tiny trout, sunfish, and shiners. This is usually 4# test clear, extra limp line.
Lures - Out of the thousands of types of lures on the market, I have found a few that are truly productive and usable for the kind of kit one would tuck away in a pack or vest pocket. These lures must not require long casts and a high ratio reel to retrieve them and make them functional. Lures for this kit must require no more than a hobo reel improvised from a plastic bottle, a simple cane pole, or even a hand line.
Lead headed jigs are a fantastic choice for deep or suspended fish. They can be sweetened with a tough or natural bait to increase their effectiveness, and can have bodies of feathers, hair, or synthetics. A bare jig can even be given a body of unraveled threads from one’s clothing. My favorite commercial jig bodies are soft rubber twist tails. They have a seductive, natural-looking motion when retrieved, and are proven fish catchers. I like the colors yellow, black, and a dullish orange that is supposed to represent a crayfish. I like to carry small, pan fish-sized jigs as well as a couple of larger ones for bass and pike. These same rubber jig bodies can be rigged on a plain hook with no weight (or perhaps just a small split-shot) and fished at or near the surface, especially in heavy cover. This tactic can be a killer and produce hits from shy fish.
Jig heads and rubber twister tail bodies.
These are very productive!
A lure usually found in the north is the Teardrop, a tiny gold hook with a drop of solder added. These also come in larger sizes, and I like both a few little ones (#12 hook) and the larger models (#6 and #4 hooks) in my kits. These are used normally to present live bait to fish down deep. I have had great luck on fish as diverse as Great Lakes walleye and Wyoming brook trout using theses little gems. If you live in an area where these lures are not common, you may find them in national catalogs.
Assortment of reliable, small lures.
Note teardrop jigs in bottom row.
More conventional surface lures to consider are old fashioned, cork bodied poppers. These are sometimes hard to find in sizes appropriate for fish larger than pan sized, but both large and small versions are good choices. They only have to be tossed out, and given an occasional twitch to drive fish mad. Deer hair bodied bass bugs are a good replacement for big poppers if they are hard to find. Also, foam rubber spiders are a good choice for pinfish, and are fished much like cork poppers on the surface.
Dry flies weigh next to nothing, and can be quite effective. Tiny, delicate specialty flies will generally be out-produced by something promising the fish a more substantial meal. Try a big Wooly Booger or grasshopper pattern in a dark color. Nymphs, especially those with a gold bead head, are nice to have along. They can produce big trout as well as smaller baitfish.
Small Spoons and spinners are proven fish producers. However, they need a bit of motion to make them work. They are worth the effort! A hobo-type reel will work well, and even a cane pole with 10 feet of line can be effective if fish are stalked in cover. These can even agitate non-feeding fish into striking if used properly.
On to PART THREE
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