Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 31
A blade bait caught the interest of this smallmouth bass.
Blade baits
Blade baits can be fished in a similar manner as jigging
spoons, but blade baits may be cast and retrieved slowly and
allowed to touch bottom between rod pumps. You should
be able to sense the blade’s vibrations during the retrieve. If
it’s not vibrating, either the hooks are fouled or the lure has
probably picked up some weeds or, in the case of Presque
Isle Bay, some zebra mussels, which should be removed.
Attach the blade bait with a round bend crankbait snap.
In addition to nickel and gold finishes, I also like colorful
blade baits, such as a fire tiger pattern or one with reflective
chartreuse prism.
Tubes and grubs
Unless it’s very breezy, I employ ¼-ounce leadheads for
tubes and action-tail grubs. When using soft plastic, I advise
adding a scent attractor, reapplying about every ten minutes;
either crayfish or baitfish scent works. I work tubes with a lift
and drop retrieve, resting the tube on the bottom for about 5
seconds. For grubs, make a long cast, count the grub to the
bottom and begin a slow steady retrieve, keeping the bait
within inches of the bottom.
Personally, I prefer tubes, but other anglers I fish with
have equal success utilizing grubs. Color choices are almost
unlimited, but I recommend dark green shades for tubes and
smoke/silver flake or watermelon for grubs in April.
Hair jigs
Hand-tied hair jigs are classic for coldwater smallmouth
bass but are often overlooked by Erie anglers who rely
heavily on plastic. Jigs may be tied with deer hair, rabbit fur,
marabou plumes or similar craft hair materials. They all
produce when fished properly. For undulating action, the
hair or feather body of the jig should extend at least 1 inch
beyond the hook bend.
Natural colors are fine for the hair, as are dark dyed hair.
Other days, an all-white, gray or chartreuse fire tiger jig will
out fish darker colors. Some favorites are a solid grey or black
PFBC website: www.fishandboat.com
This colorful marabou hair on a jig-spin was just the ticket to hook
a smallmouth bass on Presque Isle Bay.
mixture of bucktail and hackle feathers on a ballhead or
chartreuse marabou tied on a jig-spinner head. Compared
to the retrieve of a tube or grub, the hair jig should be fished
slower with the occasional wrist flick. Generally, a 3/16-ounce
head performs best in Presque Isle Bay.
To satisfy your ice-out itch, make plans for an early
smallmouth bass angling venture on Presque Isle Bay. But as
anxious as you may be to fish, exercise good boating safety
decisions based on the rapidly changing weather and wind
conditions of Lake Erie.
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater • March/April 2013
31
http://www.fishandboat.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013
Straight Talk
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission 2012 Annual Report Summary
Contents
Penns Creek Early
Tying the Baetis Thorax Dun
Your Fishing Field Guide
Central Pennsylvania Limestone Streams
Southeast Best Family Trout Waters
2013 Adult Trout Stocking Program Changes
Laurel Highlands Trout Trail
Soft Plastics for Trout
Notes from the Stream
Early Trout on Lake Wallenpaupack
More for Less: Rigging a Small Economical Boat for All-Around Fishing
Ice-Out Smallmouth Bass of Presque Isle Bay
Call to Action: Restore the Susquehanna River
Thinking on Crappie Terms
Pymatuning Reservoir Walleye Comeback
Choosing and Installing a Bow Mount Trolling Motor
The Wooden Canoe is Alive and Well
Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission 2012 Photography Contest
Spring PLAY Newsletter
Eastern Sand Darter
Evaluation of Pennsylvania Catfish Spawning Boxes
Reflecting on the Water
Currents
Angler’s Notebook
Fishin’ from the Kitchen
Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - CT1
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - CT2
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Straight Talk
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission 2012 Annual Report Summary
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Contents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Penns Creek Early
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 7
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 8
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Tying the Baetis Thorax Dun
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Your Fishing Field Guide
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 11
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Central Pennsylvania Limestone Streams
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 13
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 14
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Southeast Best Family Trout Waters
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 16
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 17
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 2013 Adult Trout Stocking Program Changes
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 19
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Laurel Highlands Trout Trail
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 21
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Soft Plastics for Trout
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 23
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Notes from the Stream
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 25
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Early Trout on Lake Wallenpaupack
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 27
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - More for Less: Rigging a Small Economical Boat for All-Around Fishing
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 29
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Ice-Out Smallmouth Bass of Presque Isle Bay
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 31
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Call to Action: Restore the Susquehanna River
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 33
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Thinking on Crappie Terms
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 35
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Pymatuning Reservoir Walleye Comeback
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 37
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Choosing and Installing a Bow Mount Trolling Motor
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 39
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - The Wooden Canoe is Alive and Well
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 41
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission 2012 Photography Contest
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 43
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 44
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Spring PLAY Newsletter
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 46
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 47
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 48
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 49
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 50
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 51
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Eastern Sand Darter
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 53
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Evaluation of Pennsylvania Catfish Spawning Boxes
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 55
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Reflecting on the Water
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Currents
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 58
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 59
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 60
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 61
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - 62
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Fishin’ from the Kitchen
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Mentored Youth Trout Fishing Day
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Cover3
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - March/April 2013 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20240102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20231112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20230102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20221112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20220102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20211112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20210102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20200102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20191112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20181112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20180910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20180506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20180304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/201780102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20171112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20161112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20151112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20141112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20131112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20130102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/pafishboat/20121112
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com