Salt

FISHING WITH SHRIMP 101

Shrimp is one of the most versatile and effective baits for saltwater fishing because of how great it is at attracting a wide variety of species. Whether you prefer to fish with live bait or artificial lures, shrimp can be a solid option for your next day of saltwater fishing.

Live shrimp is considered to be one of the ultimate baits for saltwater fishing. Its natural movements and scent are irresistible to many fish species. Rigging live shrimp is simple - thread the hook through the shrimp's head, leaving it free to move its body naturally in the water. Live shrimp can be fished in multiple ways, such as on the bottom, under a popping cork, or free-lined.

Artificial shrimp lures offer convenience and versatility. They come in various colors, sizes, and styles, allowing anglers to experiment with different presentations. Soft plastic shrimp can be rigged weightless or with jig heads, enabling different retrieval techniques like swimming or dragging along the bottom. Plastic shrimp are durable, easy to store, and can be fished repeatedly without needing to rebait.

When it comes to what species shrimp will work well for, here’s a few of the more popular options out there:

SPOTTED SEATROUT

A prime target for shrimp, whether live or artificial. Seatrout are opportunistic feeders and readily strike shrimp presentations

REDFISH

Live or dead shrimp is a go-to bait for these hard-fighting inshore predators

FLOUNDER

These ambush predators can't resist a live or plastic shrimp, especially when you work the bait slowly along the bottom.

SNOOK

A favorite prey item, shrimp is a top choice for tempting these powerful inshore gamefish.

TARPON

Tarpon will readily strike a well presented live or plastic shrimp. Whether you're fishing from the surf, a pier, or a boat, shrimp should be a go-to option for your saltwater fishing adventures.

Fun Fact: The world record tarpon was 286 pounds 9 ounces

Walleye

How To Target Walleyes In The Fall

One of the best times throughout the entire year to target walleyes is during the fall. As water temperatures cool in the fall, walleyes start feeding heavily to build up their reserves for winter. This makes fall an excellent time to target big, hungry walleyes. Look for them in areas with lots of bigger baitfish around. The walleyes will be keying in on the larger prey to pack on weight.

Focus your efforts on main lake basins, points, saddles, and underwater humps or sand bars in 20-40 feet of water. Walleyes will position themselves to take advantage of baitfish migrations, so find areas where schools of baitfish are concentrated. Pay attention to windblown areas, as the wind will often push baitfish and walleyes to one side of the structure.

If you’re after a trophy walleye (who isn’t?), you'll want to upsize your bait and tackle with a few different styles of fishing.

One great way to get walleyes this time of year is by trolling crawler harnesses or jerkbaits. If you’re using live bait, try using some of the bigger minnows, worms, leeches, or other bait you can find in your area. If you’re using lures, don’t be afraid to go up a size bigger than you’d typically use. The bigger profile can be extremely effective in triggering strikes from large walleyes looking to bulk up.

Another way to catch trophy walleyes in the fall is by jigging. You can use your favorite walleye jig head tipped with large live bait or artificial bait, using an aggressive jigging stroke to call in active walleyes. Don’t be afraid to mix it up and use a jigging spoon, too; these can work really well.

Low-light periods like dawn and dusk are generally the best times to try for walleye but don't overlook midday once water temps dip into the 50s. The walleyes will be actively feeding all day. During midday, it’s best to focus your efforts on the deeper water areas and try the shallower spots during the mornings and evenings.

Bass

HOW TO TARGET BASS IN CREEK CHANNELS WITH STANDING TIMBER

Creek channels with standing timber can be one of the best places to find big bass. Although this method can be intimidating at first (nobody likes losing their favorite lure on a tree), the risk can be well worth the reward.

Fishing this way starts with finding the best place to cast. Bass will position themselves near or around standing timber in creek channels to ambush prey. Look for isolated trees, brush piles, laydowns, or standing timber near creek channel bends, ledges, or where the creek channel swings close to the bank. These areas provide ambush points for bass to attack baitfish moving up and down the creek channel.

Using the right gear is important when fishing in this type of area. Because of the cover you’re fishing, your gear is going to need to be strong and accurate. Try fishing with a 7’ medium-heavy rod, a baitcasting reel, and 20-pound braided line. This setup lets you cast super accurately while also giving you all the strength you need to muscle fish out of the timber.

Once you find your spot, it’s time to start casting. When fishing standing timber, accuracy is going to be key while casting. Not only can a missed cast spook nearby bass, but it can also get your lure presentation hung up in the timber. You’ll want to use lures that can be worked slowly and vertically. Jigs, Texas-rigged plastics, or even small crankbaits can be extremely effective because they let you pick apart each area methodically

When you find isolated trees or brush piles, make multiple casts from different angles to thoroughly cover the strike zone. With laydowns or standing timber, cast past the cover and slowly work the lure back, making sure to deflect it off the wood and leaves.

Standing timber in creek channels is a great place to try for big bass all year round. In early spring, when the water is cool, bass will position themselves on the first piece of cover they encounter when migrating up the creeks. As summer arrives, they'll move deeper, seeking shade and cooler water around isolated pieces of timber along creek channels and ledges. In fall, creek channels become transition areas as bass follow baitfish from the mouths toward the backs of creeks. Key on any remaining shallow cover in the backs of creeks

Universal Fishin' Tips

AN OVERVIEW OF ROD ACTIONS

Choosing the right rod action is important for ensuring effective bait presentation and increasing your chances of success on the water. But what is rod action? Rod action refers to the location and degree of bend along the rod blank when pressure is applied.

Pro Tip: Rod Action & Rod Power are two different terms. Action refers to where the rod bends when pressure is applied, while power refers to how much force is needed to get the rod to bend in the first place.

Here's a breakdown of the three most common rod actions and the baits they excel with:

Fast action rods bend primarily in the top third of the blank, providing a stiff backbone and responsive tip. These rods excel with techniques that require precise lure control, such as:

• Topwater baits like buzzbaits, frogs, or walking baits

• Jerkbaits

• Single hook presentations like Texas/Carolina rigs or jigs

The fast action allows for accurate casts and solid hooksets, making them ideal for both casting and spinning setups.

Moderate action rods bend deeper into the blank, typically around the top half. This action provides a balance between power and flexibility, making them suitable for a wide range of lures and bait presentations such as:

• Crankbaits

• Spinnerbaits

• Swimbaits

The moderate action allows for longer casts and better absorption of headshakes, reducing the chances of losing fish. These rods can be used effectively with both casting and spinning setups.

Slow action rods bend significantly along most of the blank, creating a deep parabolic curve. This action excels with:

• Treble hook baits like crankbaits or spinnerbaits

• Finesse presentations like drop shot or shaky head

• Light line and lure applications that you’d use for panfish or trout

The slow action allows for smooth casts with lighter lures and better shock absorption when fighting fish. Because of their ability to cast light presentations well, most anglers use slow action rods when fishing with a spinning reel. However, there is a use case for slow action rods in scenarios where you are using smaller baits on a baitcaster (think certain BFS scenarios).

Panfish & Trout

USING INLINE SPINNERS FOR TROUT

One of the best lures you can use to catch lots of trout is an inline spinner. These are a versatile lure option for many different water conditions with their various color and size options.

When picking the right color spinner to throw, it’s important to consider the water clarity where you’re fishing. In clear water conditions, natural colors like gold, silver, and copper tend to work best as they mimic the appearance of baitfish. However, in stained or murky water, bright colors like chartreuse, pink, and orange become more visible, giving you a better chance of the trout seeing them and biting.

The size of the inline spinner you choose should correspond to the depth you plan to fish. Smaller spinners (sizes 0-3) are ideal for shallow water, while larger sizes (4- 6) are better suited for deeper areas. Heavier spinners with a denser body, like the Panther Martin Classic Regulars, sink quickly and allow you to cover deeper water effectively. Another important consideration to make is water current. If you’re fishing a river or stream with a high current, you’ll want to use a heavier spinner to make sure it gets down deep enough for fish to notice it. On the flip side, you can use a smaller spinner if the current is weaker.

Trout often hold near structure and cover, and spinners can be a great choice for picking apart these areas.

Cast around submerged logs, boulders, undercut banks, overhanging trees, and drop-offs, as these provide ambush points for trout to lie in wait for prey. Bladed spinners can work really well in these scenarios since the blades create flashes and vibrations that can get a trout to come out and eat.

When fishing around cover, vary your retrieve speed to trigger strikes. A steady, moderate retrieve works well in open water, but slowing down or adding pauses near the structure can entice reluctant trout to strike.

If you make sure to use the right color based on water clarity, the right size and weight based on water depth and current strength, and cast in areas with ideal trout structure, chances are you’ll be able to have a solid day of trout fishing with inline spinners.

Pro Tip: Inline Spinners can be a great choice for catching panfish too!

Product Spotlight

Z-Man Hellraizer Topwater

Available @ Karl's

An original, ‘self-walking’ topwater lure, Z-Man’s 5-inch HellraiZer slashes, sputters and carves the surface unlike anything you’ve seen before. Designed by ChatterBait inventor Ron Davis, the HellraiZer is power-driven by an exclusive, weighted tail blade. A simple, straight retrieve effortlessly planes the lure to the top, where it delivers its crazed fleeing action at slow or fast speeds.

MTB KEEPERS

Want to be featured in the next Dibble? Follow the steps below and check out if you've been chosen!

Step 1: Catch a fish using one of the baits you have received in your MTB

Step 2: Share a picture of your fish on Instagram using the hashtag #MTBKeeper

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