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I don't targe species that require a leader, but the pickerel in my local lake are hitting big time this year biting off a lot of angler's lures - even a Zara Spook in my case! The pick went over 30" before it cut the line at the boat. Never saw the one that consumed the Spook.

I finally got tired of losing so many lures to pickerel. A few days ago my Zara Spook-like surface lure was gone in a second along with 3 - 5" swimbaits! So, I searched my wire leader selection (not used in over 10 years) and found one only 6lb test in diameter with a duo-lock snap-to-loop at...

This year has been very instructive on many counts. 1. Contrast is key When I think of all the lures I've caught fish on over the last 4 decades, I gotta believe that they just don't fit into the environment fish call home. We've heard the term natural as it is applied to lures. But in the...

That's what I mean!

Done the coil for large gap hooks and 8" worms - still use it. But for small jigs, the GK is for me.

....but then when you want to change lures, a chunk of the plastic stays put, ruining the lure. The wire grip does no damage and is a permanent attachment taking less than a few minutes per jig. I add the wire to about a doz. jigs of each weight and hook size at home - never in the boat.

The wire L also does great for spinnerbait and jig trailers: Wrap the wire completely around once. It doesn't affect the up & down of the body & tail action.

24g plastic-coated floral arrangement wire for hook sizes #6 and larger; smaller 26g for 1/32 or light jigs with small hooks #8 or smaller, The wire cost $1.77/ 270 ft. at Walmart. I remove the collar from jigs by crushing it with pliers and then cutting it off with wire cutters. No point...

Who doesn't get irritated when a soft plastic lure slides down the jig hook? This solution puts an end to that....and no, fish could care less. Spoon Minnow with wire in place: another example

Heat the ends slightly: hold together for a few seconds I use a battery-powered solder gun to smooth the seam to strengthen it or sometimes roll the seam over the flame until it melts slightly. Without doing it, the parts will separate after a few fish. A hybrid...

Mini-stick wacky rigged con'd This stick was thin before I dipped it in hot plastic (left and middle); original shape from mold (right) Two grub bodies joined: Taper tails added to grub body

Last summer I discovered a shape that blew me away: curly tail grub minus the tail !!! A large pickerel attacked the lure at the boat, ripping off the curl tail. Being the curious bloke you all know and love, I figured: why not cast what's left and see what happens? Turns out It opened another...

Never caught a walleye. Like yellow perch, I bet it's as good to eat.

There are different types of suckers. That one is a white sucket. A smooth drag and medium action rod did the trick. I don't know where John caught the cat.

Reminds of this 10# white sucker I caught on a Crappie Magnet tail/ grub body hybrid. Man do I miss John. We had some great discussions via email and he loved catching fish on my innovations. Shot of a catfish he caught:

...range in size from 4" - 5 lbs. Most are panfish, but all attack certain action-shapes predictably just like sunnies attack bread and bass go after cookies. * Funny though, two 4" turtles swim over to join the fun when fish are smacking the top for bread. Guess both species have a thing for...

Nice observations Hawn. Here are a few responses to various comments - again my opinion that strives to simplify and expand lure choices. " Observing the action in the water the preferred full ties impede twitch darting action somewhat but maybe the constant pulsation of the fine fibered fur has...

Note the motion of the minnows in the video. At times suspended but always interrupted by a nervous darting action with fins flicking. The gills and fins (pectoral and tail fins) are in constant motion as the fish backs up or goes forward adding to its finesse shape and motion - motions natural...

Duffy, you are one of a few angler posters who identify with everything I shared! Very well written! Thank you so much! Rather than blindly cast lures recommended by the media, you and I try to understand what really provokes those bullies-with-gills-and scales to attack and IMO, it ain't...

Criteria that leads to strikes: Recent and past observations in my pond gave some ideas regarding fish strikes Here are a few: There's a pond that I fish once the water temperature is above 45 degrees and once it's warm enough, sunnies come to me to eat bits of bread. What I've noticed recently...