12 Jan 18 - Feb 2 , 2018
FRESHWATER
VOL . 37 • ISS . 03
Kittles : Everything You Need For Spring Turkey And Stripers
Located in Colusa , Ca . in the heart of
the Sac Valley , Kittle ’ s is known throughout California for its large inventory outdoor equipment , Sitka Gear and guns .
If you ’ ve ever been to the store you know that it is packed from floor to ceiling with everything from shotgun shells to camo jackets and from black plastic worms to braided line and more ….
Throughout the year there seem to be two major themes at Kittles . In the fall the focus is squarely on waterfowl and big game hunting . Kittle ’ s boasts a large inventory of waterfowl supplies , along with knives hunting clothes , raingear , waders and optics too .
In the spring , it ’ s stripers and gobblers that are in the sights .
Your Dealer for :
The spring striper enthusiast will find everything needed in terms of rods , reels and lines , lures , terminal gear and advice . And , of course , there are the minnows …
Live minnows are a staple of Sacramento River spring striper anglers and Kittle ’ s has an outstanding supply and the gear needed to keep them healthy .
If feeding the bass live minnows isn ’ t your style , the fishing department features a complete line of
trolling lures , topwater plugs , swimbaits , spoons and of course large black plastic worms .
Turkey hunters and aspiring gobbler busters can choose from a solid selection of calls , including mouth calls , friction calls and shock calls . You ’ ll also find camo clothing and gear , turkey specific shot shells and of course turkey killing advice from Kittle ’ s team of experienced sales staff comes free of charge !
There are two ways to access Kittle ’ s huge inventory of gear . You can stop by their store in Colusa , located at 888 Market Street or you can shop online by visiting www . kittlesoutdoor . com .
If you ’ d like to call the folks at Kittle ’ s , the phone number is ( 530 ) 458-4868 .
Braid & A Top Shot : The One Two Punch That Helps Catch More Fish
By Mark Fong
Iused to tell people , “ If you are not using braided line , you are not catching all the fish you could be .” As innovative anglers continue to push the envelope in search of better solutions to common fishing problems , I found myself reexamining my original position .
First let ’ s start by looking at a few of the characteristics that makes braided line so effective . Braid is popular for its strength , low stretch , and thin diameter . Braid provides a sense of directness that is unmatched , creating excellent sensitivity and hook setting power .
However , for some applications , straight braid is not the answer . For many anglers , there is still a hesitancy to use a leader with braid . Most that I talk to indicate it is due to their lack of confidence in tying a successful connection knot .
In the past , I too was fearful that my knot would fail . However , once I started using the Alberto and now the FG knot , I now have no reservations . It took me a few attempts to figure out how to tie the FG knot correctly and efficiently . I suggest spending sometime practicing the FG knot before you get out on the water .
Let ’ s take a look at a couple of applications where a braid to short topshot leader makes sense . I like to use 15 lb . FINS 40G chartreuse braid , for all of my finesse bass applications . It has the equivalent diameter of 2 lb . monofilament and fishes incredible on spinning tackle .
Using the aforementioned FG knot I will attach a 6 ’ to 8 ’ length of 6 lb . Gamma Edge Fluorocarbon line as a leader . Now I have the best performance attributes of both materials . The braid is strong , sensitive , durable and better handling with no line twist .
Because I am using a leader , I can choose a high visibility colored main line which enables me to see bites that I may not feel . Gamma fluorocarbon is abrasion resistant , sensitive , and is nearly invisible to the fish . I employ this setup in even the clearest waters without reservation and with great results .
The topshot is not just for freshwater . It has become my go to setup for catching big rockfish and lingcod . For fishing deep water , braid is the natural choice . I spool all my saltwater reels with 50 lb . FINS Windtamer yellow braid .
However , instead of fluorocarbon I prefer to use 40 lb . clear Gamma Polyflex Copolymer . I like copolymer because it has more stretch than fluorocarbon and is more abrasion resistant than braid . Using a lighter leader allows me to break off when snagged more easily than with straight braid .
Like I have always said , “ If you are not using braided line with a topshot leader , then you are not catching all the fish you could be .”
CONTACT THE FISH SNIFFER ( 800 ) 748-6599
888 Market St . in Colusa ( 530 ) 458-4868 www . kittlesoutdoor . com
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