Now Planting TROUT BY THE THOUSANDS Through Spring !
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12 Feb 2 - 16 , 2018 Nor Cal Trout Anglers Challenge VOL . 37 • ISS . 04
For most of my fishing career when it came to plugging for trout with minnow plugs whether fishing a lake or river , I considered myself a Rapala man . If I wanted a floater I went with a traditional
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ROOSTER TAIL SPINNERS IS EASY AND PRODUCTIVE
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CAST AND RETRIEVE
Without a doubt , the most popular way to fish a Rooster Tail is to employ the cast-and-retrieve method . It ’ s so easy , just tie a Rooster Tail on the end of your line , cast into a lake or stream and reel / retrieve your spinner back to you .
In lakes , most anglers searching for fish , cast-and-retrieve spinners while working their way along the shoreline or from a drifting boat .
The most common method used in rivers is to cast your Rooster Tail out , across and slightly upstream ; allow it to sink near bottom while reeling up any slack line , then pulling back on your rod tip slightly , causing the blade to start its spin before beginning a slow retrieve . The current will sweep your spinner downstream as you reel it back . Once your spinner swings in near shore , it ’ s time to reel in and cast again .
Choose different colored Rooster Tails for changing light and water conditions . If one color is not working try a different color .
Spring Frog
Yo-Zuri Minnow Baits Entice Big Trout
Bleeding Frog
For more tips and videos on how to fish Rooster Tails go to yakimabait . com
Rapala balsa wood minnow and if I wanted a suspending bait , I ’ d tie on a Rapala Husky Jerk .
Over the past few years I ’ ve started relying more and more on offerings from
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Yo-Zuri . Sure my tackle kit still sports Rapalas , but the contingent of Yo-Zuri ’ s seems to grow every season .
Yo-Zuri is known for turning out some of the highest quality hard plastic baits available for everything from bluegill to blue marlin .
For trout fishing I find three models particularly interesting , the Pin ’ s minnow series , L Minnow series and Yo-Zuri / Duel Hardcore Shad series .
Floating Pin ’ s Minnows are shallow runners that feature a very tight hard wiggling action . These plugs are very aerodynamic and cast long distances with ease . I have some in the 2-inch size and several in the 2 3 / 4-inch size .
Moving on , the L Minnow is a sinking bait . It has a chunkier body than the Pin ’ s Minnow and since they are heavier they cast even better . The wobble on these baits is wider and I suspect that they give on more vibration . Since they sink you can count them down and probe deeper pools by Cal Kellogg
and runs than you can with a Pin ’ s minnow or floating Rapala . I ’ ve got L Minnows in both the 1 3 / 4 inch and 2 5 / 8 inch sizes .
The Hardcore Shad is a diving / suspending bait that is best known as a bass tempter . I ’ ve got a few of these in the 2-inch size specifically for working deep slow flowing pools in rivers and deep near shore water in lakes . For triggering strikes from large fish , all these baits are fished in the same super aggressive manner . You don ’ t want to toss them out and crank them back . Instead fire them up and across the current , start the retrieve and then punctuate it with lots of pauses and hard rips .
You really can ’ t be too aggressive or move the bait too quickly . Think about that cat chasing the yarn . He can get after it way faster then you can move it away . You ’ re trying to do the same thing with the trout . Trigger that predatory instinct and make them pounce !
For more information about Yo-Zuri ’ s entire line of high quality baits and gear , visit them online at Yo-Zuri . Com .
Check Out The Cousins Tackle CPX Rod Lineup
Since their debut last season , Cousins Tackle CPX Saltwater Rods have taking Northern California by storm . Designed for the West Coast Angler by master rod builder Wade Cunningham , each CPX rod is performance tuned using specifically engineered moderate action blanks created to fish in concert with today ’ s high tech non stretch super braids . Whether you are targeting salmon off the Marin Coastline or white seabass in the waters of Southern California , there is a CPX built for the way you fish . Constructed with high performance composite blanks , Fuji Aluminum Oxide Guides and Graphite Reel Seats hand wrapped cork tape , each CPX rod is handmade in the USA and finished with three coats of UV Resistant slow cure finish and carries a 3-year warranty with Cousins Tackle Factory Service Plan . Cousins Tackle Factory Rep , Tony Andreini , checked in to lend his insight into a few of the most popular models in the Nor Cal market . CPX 799 – 7 ’ 9 ” Med & Hvy Bait - “ This is the perfect all around rod for Nor Cal saltwater anglers . It is a great sturgeon rod . In addition , it is well suited for live bait , rock fishing and salmon trolling .” CPX 804 – 8 ’ Light Bait - “ The 804 excels as a live bait rod for stripers and
by Mark Fong
halibut . If you are fishing shallow water locations like the Berkeley Flats or the Alameda Rockwall with 4 to 8 ounces of weight , this is the rod for you . Don ’ t overlook this rod for fly lining live anchovies either .” CPX 806 – 8 ’ Light Bait - “ This is a spectacular salmon trolling rod . Private boaters who troll the flats for halibut also really like this rod . It will troll anything from 8 ounce all the way up to 2.5lbs .” CPX 809F – 8 ’ Med & Hvy Bait - “ The 809F is an ideal all around rockfish and lingcod rod . It ’ s great for 6 to 8 ounces swimbaits and for jigging irons . If you like to trap rig , this rod will handle that too .” To learn more about the entire Cousins Tackle lineup of fresh and saltwater rods , visit their website at www . cousinstacklestore . com .