Gearing for Spring - Hook, Line, and Sinker

This is probably the top necessity for my tackle box - a snelled hook, a small sinker, swivel, and a small bobber that is just enough to keep the gear afloat without giving too much resistance when a fish comes along to bite and start swimming away. Likewise, the sinker should just be enough to do the job, while not giving the fish too much to think about when they are biting.

I use this setup extensively, sometime with a bobber for bass or for hunting the sides of weed beds with a worm or minnow, and often with a bobber just to cast and let the worm sink to the bottom, then holding my rod high to discourage snags, and giving a slow and steady pull to let the worm jump off the bottom before letting it settle back down and reeling in the excess line created by the pull.

This method works great for bass and pickerel. I've often found a hotspot while trolling, and then hanging around that spot casting worms. It also works well around beaver huts and weedbeds, or when you are getting busy with BBQing supper on the houseboat. Throw out a line with a bobber and watch for those bass to come along.

With this combo, you are always ready to fish. I've dropped the weight and just let a minnow swim around on the hook by a beaver hut with great results too. Change up your methods and try different techniques to hook those fish.

One tip, if casting with worms, check your worm after every 5th cast or so and make sure it isn't about to rip. Often I've watch worm land in one spot and hook in another because the casting was too hard on the worm's body. I like to leave a lot of the worm to trail behind the hook so it looks like a leech swimming through the water. Cast as smooth and gentle as you can and your worm will last a long time, with a few adjustments on the position of the hook. When I get back into fishing, I'll make a video of the worm hooking method I use. Fishing season is only a couple weeks away!