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By: Mark Romanack Larger salmon plugs such as the Mag Lip 4.0 and 4.5 are ideally suited to plug wrapping. A practice of using a herring strip to create a fish attracting scent stream in the water. Mag Lip is designed to handle the weight of the herring strip and still deliver its signature “skip beat” action. The Yakima Bait Mag Lip plug is one of the most productive hard baits on the market. From the Pacific Northwest to the Great Lakes region, everywhere anglers target salmon, they depend on the Mag Lip family of baits to catch them. Part of the success Mag Lip has enjoyed boils down to the many sizes this plug is produced in. The Mag Lip is available in a 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 and 5.0 sizes. Each of these Mag Lip sizes features the famous “skip beat” action that drives fish wild. The Mag Lip is designed to wobble aggressively and then without warning dart to the side momentarily before recovering. This “hunting” style action sets the Mag Lip apart from all other plugs, triggering savage strikes when other lures fail. SIZE MATTERS In late summer and early fall when salmon are staging in preparation for spawning runs, the 4.0 and 4.5 sizes come into their own. This is the time of year that salmon have reached their maximum size and the same is true of the common baitfish species salmon depend on. The 4.0 and 4.5 Mag Lip does an excellent job of matching the hatch. STAINED WATERS As salmon are staging near river mouths, they encounter stained water created from nutrient rich river run off. Stained water calls for using larger plugs that give off more vibration and are easier for fish to spot. BAIT WRAPPING The practice of wrapping a Mag Lip with a strip of herring is hugely popular in the Pacific Northwest and has even caught on in the Great Lakes. This practice creates a natural fish attracting scent stream in the water. The Mag Lip even has grooves molded into the sides of the bait that are designed to hold the thread used in plug wrapping. The Mag Lip 4.0 and 4.5 sizes are the perfect choice for plug wrapping. These larger plugs do an excellent job of carrying the weight of the herring strip without giving up any of that “skip beat” action that triggers explosive strikes. Both fresh and brined herring strips work well for plug wrapping. A good trick is to wrap up a few plugs with herring strips the night before fishing and place them in the freezer. In the morning, toss those wrapped plugs in a cooler and use them as needed during the day of fishing. Herring strips that have been brined hold up a little better than fresh herring. To add a little more enticement, many anglers squirt a few drops of herring oil onto their wrapped plugs every 15 to 30 minutes while fishing. Mark and Jake Romanack of Fishing 411 TV use the Mag Lip often to target Great Lakes chinook salmon like these couple of brutes. TUNED AND READY TO FISH Every Mag Lip comes out of the package tuned and ready to fish. According to the Precision Trolling Data phone app, the Mag Lip 4.0 reaches a maximum diving depth of 21 feet when fished on 20 pound test monofilament. The 4.5 Mag Lip dives to 24 feet on 20 pound test monofilament. Mag Lip can be fished as flat lines, in combination with planer boards, on downriggers or in combination with lead core or Snap Weights to gain more depth. SUMMING IT UP In short, the Mag Lip catches fish and is built to take the punishment salmon dish out. For more information and to check out the newest colors, visit the Yakima Bait Company web page https://www.yakimabait.com/ to see the latest and greatest from Yakima Bait Company.

By Andy Martin (original article 2011) Within a couple of minutes after his plug disappeared in the dark green water of the Chetco River, Rich Ariza felt a violent jerk on his rod. The tip dipped down, lifted up again, then buried over. There was a big splash right in front of the boat. Line began to scream off of Rich’s reel. The scene repeated itself over and over for Rich and his son Johnny, who fished with me early last fall. In the first couple of hours of fishing, the two hooked six salmon, and landed three in the 30- to 40-pound range. During that time, the pair learned several of the do’s and a few of the don’ts of running plugs for salmon. Here are 10 keys to catching more salmon on plugs. 1. The set up Perhaps the biggest mistake I see people make when pulling plugs for fall kings is completely missing the fish when they come through a likely holding area. On many rivers, some of the best pools for salmon are located in the deeper water just downstream from a faster riffle. Salmon will often hold at the top of these pools, right where the deep water begins to shallow up. I’ve seen many boaters drift into a pool and by the time the anglers get their plugs out, they are already downstream of the fish. Remember, if you let out 50 feet of line, that’s nearly the equivalent of three boat lengths. A good set up is vital to catching more fish. Slow the boat down as quickly as you can when you come down a riffle to a hole, and get the plugs in the water so they are working as soon as they hit the seam where the river slows down and begins to deepen. If you wait until the boat gets to the spot you think the fish may be, it may be too late, as your plugs will be well downstream from that point. Ideally, you want to have the plugs fishing well ahead of where the fish are, and slowly slip down to the sweet spot. 2. Wait, wait , wait It happens all the time. An angler is holding his or her rod and a big king smacks the plug. For many beginning salmon fishermen, it’s the hardest strike they’ve ever felt. They immediately jerk back, and the fish is gone. Wait until a salmon is taking line off your reel before setting the hook. By then the fish is already hooked and you have the highest odds of landing it. Even after a couple of really hard whacks, a salmon can still spit the plug. Often a salmon is still swimming upstream when it grabs a plug by its back. Kings will usually chomp on a plug several times and then clamp down and turn, burying the hooks in their jaw as they change directions and run downstream. Many guides will urge their customers to use rod holders when fishing plugs. If you don’t use the holder, at least rest the rod against the gunnel as you hold the rod across your lap. Then make sure you wait, wait, wait. 3. Keep ‘em fresh Starting the day with a fresh sardine wrap and then replacing the wraps every 45 minutes to hour will result in more strikes. Salmon will hit plugs without a bait wrap - it happens all the time on the Kenai early in the season before bait is allowed - but adding a sardine fillet will increase the number of fish you hook. The fresher the fillet the better. I usually launch a few minutes early and wrap four plugs, two to begin fishing immediately, and a few more for back-ups once a fish is hooked, or when it’s time for a refresher. Don’t wrap the plugs too early. You want them to be juicy and fresh when they hit the water, not dried out. As soon as the bait wrap turns brown, replace it with a fresh one. Adding scents such as krill, herring oil, anise or sand shrimp oil can also help attract more fish. If you are switching back and forth from back-bouncing or divers to plugs, put on a fresh wrap before putting the plugs back out. There have been numerous times when I’ve been fishing a hole and then put on fresh wraps and hooked up almost instantly. On a typical day with two customers, I’ll often use a whole tray of sardines, getting two to four baits from each fish. 4. Sticky sharp You’d be surprised how many anglers run plugs with dull hooks. A plug out of the package has super sharp hooks. But once it’s been used a few times, or caught a few fish, the hooks will dull. The sharper the hooks, the more fish you’ll hook, and land. I touch up the hooks on my plugs every day with a few swipes against a file. If you replace hooks, use a similar size to ensure the plug will run the way it was intended to. Aside from the sharp hooks, I make sure the plugs are clean. At the end of the day, each plug gets a scrubbing with toothpaste and a toothbrush to get all the oils, unwanted scents and dried bait off. 5. Wall of death Although it’s not quite as important as it is when running plugs for steelhead, you should have all your salmon plugs out the same distance. Line counter reels will take all the guess work out of this, but you can also count passes on the level wind. Before I started using line counters, I’d let out anywhere from four and a half passes to seven passes. A pass is simply left to right, or right to left, one time across. Four and a half passes is around 35 to 40 feet, while seven is usually a little more than 50 feet, depending on line diameter. Of course, in deeper water you may have to let out a little more line. By having all the plugs out the same distance, you ensure you are maximizing your presentation. There are also times when a salmon sees the first plug and moves to the side instead of hitting it, only to run into the next plug and strike it as its first reaction. 6. Tipping plugs The last few years “tipping” plugs with Berkley Gulp! worms has gained in popularity. The added action of a worm twirling around behind the plug seems to produce a few more hookups. Buzz Ramsey of Yakima Bait Co. has found tipping plugs to be particularly effective. Some anglers also add a small hoochie or squid to the rear hook. I was on the Sixes River last December and nobody was finding many fish. I remember using stretchy thread to add an orange and green Gulp! crawfish to the rear hook. One of my clients nailed a fish on the first pass with the crawfish-enhanced FlatFish. The other two fish we landed that day also came on the tipped plugs. 7. Slower is better When running plugs through a likely salmon hole, slow it down. Slower is better. When you quickly move through a pool, a fast presentation may not get any of the fish to bite. But a slow, methodical pass down the slot will often lure the aggressive and territorial fish into striking. Salmon don’t like a 5- or 6-inch lure dancing in front of their face very long. If it stays there, they will often try to remove it. I like to watch the rod tips and make sure the plugs are working, and then stroke enough to barely hold the boat in place and drop down a foot or so every 10 or 15 seconds, sometimes even slower. The slower you go, the deeper the plugs will dive. If there are a lot of fish in a run, I want to spend as much time there as I can. 8. Seams, pockets and drop offs Any place you have a sudden change in depth or speed you have a chance of finding salmon. In long runs, salmon will often hold behind large boulders, changes in depth (which create a slight current break) and along the seam between the fast water and slower water. Some of the obvious salmon spots are along steep banks and rock walls, opposite the gravel bars. Salmon like 5 to 10 feet of water where the current is slow enough they can comfortably hold. In faster stretches, salmon may still be there, holding behind large rocks, logs or along the underwater eddy created by a sudden increase in depth. 9. Getting down In water more than 10 feet, you may need to add a diver, dropper with weight or use a deep-diving plug. The last few years, Yakima Bait Co.’s Mag Lip, which is a modified Flat Fish, has been hot for deeper, faster runs. The Mag Lips dive to 18 feet, and the “skip-beat” has proven to trigger strikes. If I’m using a T50 FlatFish or a K15 Kwikfish in fairly deep water, I’ll place an 18-inch dropper four feet above my plug and use two or three ounces of lead to get it down. Back-bouncing plugs takes a little getting used to for some people, but is effective for pulling fish out of the deeper slots. 10. Rower’s rod Little is more exciting than rowing and hooking a big king at the same time. To get a third rod out while fishing two people up front, I’ll let a plug out and then sit on the rod butt with the rod resting against the gunnel just in front of the oar lock. I’ll point the rod straight out the side to keep it away from the front rods. I can also quickly reel with the rod in this position. Having three lines instead of two obviously increases your odds of hooking up. --------- Andy Martin is a full-time Oregon, California and Alaska fishing guide. His home waters are the Chetco, Elk and Sixes rivers. He can be reached at (541) 813-1082 or via www.wildriversfishing.com.

Trolling Tips for Lower Columbia by: Bill Herzog for Salmon, Steelhead Trout magazine Ten percent catch 90 percent of Lower Columbia spring Chinook. Jarod Higginbotham of Yakima Bait tells us how to join the 90 percent club. When I was hosting Northwest Wild Country radio show in Seattle nearly twenty years ago, we invited newly minted head of sales and marketing manager of Yakima Bait, Jarod Higginbotham, to come into the studio for the show. My first thought when he barely fit through the studio door was “his poor mom” and “we ain’t got no chairs in here gonna fit that boy.” Those who know Jarod, and there are many here in the Northwest, call him the “World’s Largest Nine-Year Old” for good reason. He’s probably too big to play offensive tackle for the Seahawks and his sense of sideways humor is just as grande. His knowledge of trolling for spring Chinook is nearly as vast as he is. I’m proud to call him my great friend, and he agreed to share some of his salmon trolling experience for Lower Columbia River April kings. I spent an afternoon interviewing him recently in his office at Yakima Bait in Granger. When you put two people with uber-nutty minds in the same room, it can be difficult to stay on subject…when the topic wasn’t flying off the rails, here’s what “Lil’ Jer” had to say. Pay attention. Start by giving us some basic first thoughts before you get to the water. “It seems obvious, but the separation is in the preparation. There is very little luck when trolling for springers. Luck in the springer fisherperson’s world is prep meeting opportunity. A guy once said, “all my fish are caught in my garage” is never more true. I spend more time getting ready for a springer trip than actually fishing. “Again, this is obvious to most of us but prep your gear before you launch. The best springer anglers are always ready to drop ‘em at the first hint of daylight. Even if you are not a guide, do as the best guides do and talk to your people on board about what you expect them to do during the day before you hit the river. Explain to them how to work and stay on top of the gear, how to react to a salmon strike, their job when a fish is hooked. You are the main roper in the rodeo.” Let’s talk about that prepped gear. Rods, reels, lines first. “Keep all your gear the same. If even one person is using a different outfit, it may be a damned good outfit but if it’s different, that person won’t be fishing the same as the rest. Every rod in the water has to be fishing at its optimum or that’s just one less chance at a fish. “Start with fresh line. Its stronger and you know it’s the same diameter on all reels. A line that is a different brand or has a lot of use won’t have the same diameter. That and the exact same amount of line on each reel so line counters all match perfectly. It sounds ticky-tack but when you have seven rods out and I’m watching the fish finder and yell out, ‘put em at 34 feet’ they are all fishing ideal depth. All the same knots, too. “About that gear…lines. Always braid. You won’t find any guide or open division springer troller using mono anymore. Mainline is 65-pound Power Pro. Reels are Shimano Tekota 500LC line counters, rods are all 1265 E6X G Loomis, 10’ 6”, 10 to 40#. The best use the best, so there you go. We use heavy mainlines with heavy bumpers so when—not if—you find one of the zillions of trees, buoy lines, etc., laying around in the lower river when you have to break off you only lose a lighter pound test leader not fifty bucks in terminal gear.” About that terminal gear. Whaddya got on there? “First, slide on a large bead on the mainline. This prevents the angler from reeling up the slider/swivel into the top rod guides and breaking the inset. Then slip on a slider/dropper, a VIP Line Lock slider that prevents line twist, tie off the mainline to a 6-bead chain swivel, then a sixteen inch, 50-pound bumper to another bead chain swivel and large duo-lock clip. On the dropper put on a large swivel on the duo-lock, then a 14” dropper to another clip for the lead ball. The dropper and the bumper are different lengths so the don’t tangle. As far as weight, standard issue round lead balls, 6 to 12 ounce, weight determined by trolling speed/depth/current. Trolling is always done with the river current and tidal flow. All leads must match (same) so they do not tangle, all rods have the same line angle. Now for the good stuff! (Edited for family reading, as Jerod did not say “stuff” in the interview. It was several eloquently connected descriptive expletives punctuated with tear-inducing laughter, all carefully chosen blue nouns and brown adverbs, highlighting the stunning quality and effectiveness of the product) … “A must for early season trolling is the triangle, in-line Fish Flash. Yakima Bait makes them in four sizes, a #4 (smallest), #6, #8 and #10, the medium (#8) and large (#10) the best for lower Columbia. Colors? Green and chartreuse every day. If those colors don’t produce, try chartreuse and green! Seriously, other combos work well, like UV ‘moon jelly’ and fluorescent red, but for kings its very hard to beat some sort of green.” “Leaders are all tied with 25-pound Maxima Ultragreen, 36 to 48”, shorter leaders in dirtier water. In the middle of the leader always place a bead chain swivel, this not only totally eliminates line twist but makes a smoother roll on the cut plug herring at slow trolling speed. Fluorocarbon is not necessary. For herring trolling we use a 4/0 lead and a 3/0 stinger hook tied tandem to fit like a green label herring. If the water is clearer (rare) or salmon become finicky, we use two tandem 3/0s instead. Leaders are all tied to six-bead chain swivels and large duo-lock snaps for fast change and easy storage on leader boards.” You gave a few hints in there on how to. Details! “I mentioned trolling with the current and tide. Always. A wounded or distressed bait fish does not go against the current. Line angle…standard 45 degrees. Springers travel and bite best in 30 feet of water or less. Target areas with current breaks, the edges, the ends of points or islands. If you can find spots that are 1 to 3 degrees warmer, stay in that area, as salmon will gravitate to the slightly warmer water. And remember, sand warms more quickly than rock, so stay sandy! “Fish s-l-o-w!!! Watch your gear in the water before letting it down. And let it out s-l-o-w to avoid tangles. You really want a tight spin on your herring, too. Aggressive springers will always right on the deck. Rarely do you get one that’s suspended. Knowing that, your gear must literally bang the bottom. The biggest key to find travelling/pausing springers is look for the humps in the sandy bottom! Moving salmon will lay immediately behind those humps, mini current breaks. Let your lead ‘puff’ the sand. Now pay attention, this one is golden…allow your lead to ‘tick’ the humps. (We both broke into a really bad ‘Tick The Humps’ rap right there, off the rails again.) Salmon will lay on the other side of the hump. When you see your bumping lead stop and it drops over the edge, get ready, as a smokin’ strike will happen now! “About that strike…no reaction is the best action. You hear different opinions on this one, but this is the correct reaction to a salmon trolling bite, especially with herring. Leave the clicker on, leave the drag as loose as possible, just tight enough so line does not slip off the spool when trolling. When it eats it—you’ll know, it’s pretty violent- leave it in the holder until it begins to smoke away! And DO NOT set the hook! Allow the rod to fully load and the fish to turn so the hook(s) find purchase. This is plenty of power to drive hooks home. Setting the hook only results in the bait or lure being pulled out of the fish’s mouth. Bites in the early season are few and far between as a rule, actually hooking and landing a prized springer is better than the horrors of a blown bite…and cheaper than $100 bucks an hour for therapy!” Sounds like bait over lures for what’s on the end of the leader. “Well brined, firm, tightly spinning green label cut-plug herring is always the first choice. Salmon immediately out of the ocean, travelling hundreds of miles and not spawning for half a year are still feeding. They want meat! However, our Spin Fish in either 3.0 or 4.0 work well when bait is hard to find or, sometimes springers just want that “kick tail” action. Spin Fish work like bait because you can put any bait you want in the hollow, two-part chamber. (See the sidebar for Spin Fish stuffin’s) Rig those on a thirty-six”, 25-pound test leader with tandem 3/0 hooks.” Colors of Spin Fish? “Like Buzz Ramsey says, let the fish tell you what they want. I would say the Top Three colors are Double Trouble, Mad Clown and Doctor Death, the old steelhead color. Salmon love metallic pink, it seems. We’re working on new colors, really excited about the Mexican Hat and the Smooth Goat. They’ll be killers!” Any other tips? I’m sure you have several more. “A lot of common knowledge stuff. Trust your electronics! If you are marking salmon, don’t leave fish to find fish. And if you don’t find fish, move around until you do. Stay dialed in, don’t be a lazy troller! The anglers that do best in these really difficult early season fisheries are constantly adjusting their gear to stay on the bottom…not dragging the deck, but ‘tickling’ it, so to speak. It’s a marathon down there, remember, rarely a hook-fest. There’s a huge difference between one and zero when trolling for early season lower Columbia spring Chinook. “Be sure to check/change your gear every 15 to 30 minutes. A fresh, tight bait gets springers, not a blown-out poorly spinning herring. Check for grass too, same 15 to 30 minutes. One little piece of the oh-so-common grass will foul a bait, lure or Fish Flash. Always keep your boat super clean, prevent any negative smells from possibly getting to any part of your gear. I gas up my boat the day before. And no smoking in my boat—no cigars, cigarettes or laughing lettuce…nothing.” Some last thoughts? “Early season springer anglers are, well, just ‘different’. Hard Core! I love it, as many do because its so difficult. You’re grinding, some, heck, most days dawn till almost dark. Not to mention these are the finest eating salmon, no, check that, finest eating fish on this green Earth. Best of all, the camaraderie in the boat, the time you get to spend with special people. Can’t wait!” Thanks for your time, man, and save me a seat! - Sidebar - Lil’ Jer’s Cosmic Funk Bait Recipe for Spin Fish You know a lot of time on the water and trial and error that Jerod put in for this recipe. You need: - 1 can of tuna in oil, drained - 1 tsp non-iodized sea salt - 3 tsps Shane Magnusen’s Sand Shrimp Formula - 3 tsps same Salmon Formula - 1 to 2 tsp Pro Cure krill powder Fill Spin Fish cavity. Set in the water and brace yourself…

By: Bill Herzog It’s 2023…do you know where your Rooster Tails are? If you are as passionate about the grab a trout executes on a spinner as I am, then you have them in every zippered pocket in your pack, vest or wader pouch. “Executes” may be the perfect word for how large trout treat a well-presented spinner. A recent early spring trip to Western Montana featuring Rooster Tails of various sizes and colors proves still (in this era of almost daily constant improvements on a better mouse trap) a tackle bag “must have” for trout. Western Montana has been ground zero for trout fishermen for a hundred years, I can vouch for that with a few thousand of my closest friends. I go there not only for the spun-out trouting but to get away from the hordes of anglers in my part of the Northwest. The numbers of people out this early in the season was surprising. We primarily fished Rooster Tails because of the many types of water they can be oh-so-effectively used on. Lakes, from shore is where the R.T. works best. Even if you are in a boat, unless the lake you are on features a relatively even depth. Position yourself near shore or right above drop offs. On drop-offs from shore, the classic presentation is long casts, allowed to sink until bottom is reached, then immediately begin reeling/retrieve, close to the bottom, reeling just fast enough to make the blade slowly thump and rise along the drop-off. Trout will be right on the deck, looking for insects/small fish to move out of the weeds. That is just Trout Lake Spinner Fishing 101, regardless of what style of spinner is your thing. Every lake we found on this Montana adventure had identical features, that is sharp drop-offs close to shore. And what do ya know? Trout feed primarily on those drop-offs, as we were there not long after ice out and the warmer water is always in the shallows. Beautiful, big, Westslope cutthroat in particular. Early morning on the clear, vodka clear, holy-smoke-I-ain’t-never-seen-no-water this clear-no-nope, a brass blade (brass gives off 60% light) with a brown body/brown and yellow tail in 1/8th oz. worked in each cutthroat lake we fished. Most were 14 to 21”, fat and tropical fish colored. Trout at ice out are, well, let’s not call them stupid hungry and fall down easy to hook compared to all other times of year, just “aggressive”…Wherever you target trout in the early season, their behavior will be the same under identical lighting/clarity/depth/water temperature. I will be straight, we brought-and-used-other types and styles of trout lures. Oh, you have heard of them. We’ve all bought some, own some. I’m glad we do this. Without other types of trout lures to compare, the real commander and chief would only be an anecdote. To see how the Rooster Tail stands out, all you need to do is fish one in the same waters as other lures. Results talk. Success when fishing small spinners depends on, like so many other techniques that is, matching size/color body/color blade finish to water/light conditions and often species of trout. While there are literally hundreds of spinners, countless styles/color/sizes, we stuck with two sizes and a few standard color schemes that produced almost too well in previous trips in early spring no matter where we find trout. Note that early spring trout rivers are usually at their lowest of the year, rivaling fall. Before warmer weather comes, before snowmelt, rivers will be low and cold. Under these colder (35 to 41 degrees) flows, fish will be looking to feed but still shivering a bit. A bright, flashing blade can excite trout to move to strike, when more subtle presentations may not. Some blades/body/tail combos that worked more than well in the clearer, low flows: On rivers/early morning low light- silver blade/all yellow or silver blade/all black. For clear lakes/mid-day on rivers- brass blade/all brown, or brass blade/black body. These combinations on size 1/8th oz and 1/6th oz covered all conditions we ran into and seem to produce steadily under cold, clear early spring conditions. Early season trout in low water seek out and live in choppy riffles, from 2 to 4 feet were target areas and what do you know, a spinner performs at its best when glided over riffles and flats, the buoyancy of the blades mimic Teflon over tackle-eating large rocks. Rigging the Rooster Tail: Single Hook Many of the rivers we fished in Western Montana feature single hook regulations. Wherever you go, so many streams and lakes have “special regulations” which mean single, barbless hooks, no bait or scent. Where legal, we usually keep the factory small treble on the lures. When we changed to singles, here’s how we made the modifications. Start by removing the treble-carefully-from the spinner shaft. Place a #3 small split ring on the wire loop. Then, place a #10 small swivel on the split ring. Last, place a #6 (on the 1/8th oz) and a #4 (on the 1/6th oz) siwash hook on the swivel. Use adequate magnification, especially if you are of a certain age and do not do “tiny” anymore with a neutron microscope. Now you have a lure that is not only legal everywhere the hook turning on the swivel makes for a very high percentage of solid hookups. And storage is easier, we’ve all tried to pull one spinner rigged with trebles out of the box and have the rest hanging on. Single hooks, not so much. Rods, Reels and Lines for Small Spinner in Rivers and Lakes ​ Spring means fish waiting to eat after basically surviving through winter. Eastern Washington, Oregon and especially Montana where I love to go in the pre snowmelt of spring means encountering trout from six inches to six pounds, with potential to hook something larger. Rods seven to eight foot, rated for 4 to 8 or 4-to-10-pound lines with fast tips are ideal. Rods must be long enough to generate enough tip speed for casting distance, light enough to load the rod yet just enough backbone to set a hook and deal with a larger than expected trout. Spinning reels in sizes 1000 hold plenty of 10-pound braid. Nanofil by Berkeley is the finest line I’ve ever used for light gear spinning. It’s a soft white, very visible to the angler but not too garish. No stretch braid casts farther, transfers the vibration of the blade in 3D and hooksets are lethal at any distance. Double Uni-knot six feet of 8-to-10-pound mono or high-quality fluorocarbon to the braid, tie that to a small #7 swivel. Use 2 to 3 feet of leader from swivel to your spinner. Tie directly to the top wire loop on the lure. A snap swivel can hinder the blade rotation, the swivel will prevent line twist. You may add weight to this rig. Small split shot(s) immediately above the swivel can add casting distance and get the Rooster Tail down quicker on lake drop-offs or deeper runs on rivers. Always use smaller shot, as they go through the water easier and additional shot can be added for a gradual weight increase. I fish this rigging, from rods down to Rooster Tail, wherever I go from ice out through early spring. We used this same rigging our entire time in Montana last April. How did we do, just trusting a nearly 80-year-old lure with our vacation time? Case in point, I present to the jury, our day floating one of the most popular trout rivers on, dare-I-say, oh, the entire planet? The Madison River has always been more than generous over decades for us, today-no exception. There is a wee deal called the “Madison Grand Slam”, that is catching a brown trout, a rainbow trout, a cutthroat and a whitefish in the same day. Takes a bit of luck to pull this off, but you must be using something that grabs the attention of all those species. The Madison is nicknamed, “The Fifty-Mile Riffle” well, nice shootin’ Tex on that nickname. Being one continuous riffle this place is tailor fitted to a spinner. That is featuring 2 to 4 feet of water in nearly 90% of the river. Unplug your steelhead brain before you trout fish, as any spot deep enough for them to be, well, cast there! The attraction radius of a flashing blade in that clear water is around 10 feet, so sweeping the wide, shallow runs was more than effective. A presentation either slightly above, or directly across from your position, either floating with current or wading stationary is the most productive. Presenting a spinner always works best when allowed to “float” with current downriver. Wounded small fish or whatever the trout think the spinner is do not go upstream. Starting in the early-early, under low light, there is simply no color/blade combo of Rooster Tail more scrumptious than a silver blade (yes, real silver plate that reflects 90% of light, making every revolution a bright pop of brightness) with all yellow body/hackle tail. A 1/8th ounce version caught the first player, a 16-inch Westslope Cutthroat, a now rarity on the river. Next up, a magnum Rocky Mountain Whitefish, eighteen inches of non-trout that fooled me into thinking it was a nice brown. I hook some trophy sized whitefish in the Yakima River above my house on Rooster Tails every year, and they are always the largest in the river. Two down, two to go… A tough bite today, but a color change in the brighter afternoon sun kept our lures in the “attraction threshold”, that is cutting down the flash of the blade and toning down the body/tail colors. Late afternoon produced the last two trout, ironically the two most numerous species, the brown and the rainbow. Only a few browns hooked today, one landed was only 14”, but they all don’t have to be giants…like the one that hit the R.T. so hard it almost got the rod from me and shook the hook…couldn’t move…it…at…ALL. It was a giant brown that – surprise- dropped the barbless hook after two alligator head shakes. Never saw it, but it felt and acted like a small Chinook. Last but not least, at days end a 21” mini steelhead took the spinner just off the rod tip and just kept jumping. We caught plenty of trout, of course, but sprinkled throughout that day was a rainbow, a brown, a whitefish and a cutthroat. Madison River Grand Slam. All on a Rooster Tail! Not too shabby for a lure entering its ninth decade.

By Mark Romanack Arguably the most popular artificial lure of all time, the Yakima Bait Rooster Tail Spinner has been catching fish for generations. The Rooster Tail in-line spinner comes in six different versions, dozens of different sizes and literally hundreds of different color options. It’s safe to say that no matter what species of fish an angler is interested in catching, there is a Rooster Tail Spinner perfect for the job. ORIGINAL ROOSTER TAIL The original Rooster Tail is the in-line spinner design all other spinners are compared to. The modified willow leaf blade design makes this spinner perfect for both trolling and casting applications. Dressed with a hand-tied pulsating hackle, no tackle box is complete without an assortment of original Rooster Tail Spinners. Available in 10 sizes and hundreds of color patterns, the Rooster Tail is the original multi-species spinner. Offered in both single hook and treble hook designs, the smaller models are ideal for stream trout and panfish applications while the larger sizes work great for steelhead, bass, northern pike, brown trout and musky fishing. JOE THOMAS ROOSTER TAIL The Joe Thomas Rooster Tail is similar to the original Rooster Tail with some beefed up features that make it the ideal in-line spinner for targeting smallmouth and largemouth bass. Used commonly in place of traditional spinnerbaits, this unique spinner comes in 1/2 and 3/4 ounce sizes perfect for buzzing over the top of weed flats or slow rolling near bottom structure. The JT Rooster Tail comes in eight color options picked by legendary bass fisherman Joe Thomas to tackle clear, stained and dirty water conditions. When the traditional spinnerbait bite goes sour, tie on a Joe Thomas Rooster Tail and get back in the game of catching bass. ROOSTER TAIL MINNOW The Rooster Tail Minnow incorporates the iconic Rooster Tail modified willow blade and hand-tied hackle with a realistic fish shaped body. Perfect for casting applications, the Rooster Tail Minnow is available in 1/16, 1/18, 1/6 and 1/4 ounce versions. Choose from 15 fish catching colors perfect for trout and panfish. SUPER ROOSTER TAIL The Supper Rooster Tail is a Rooster Tail perfect for finesse bass fishing applications! The iconic Rooster Tail modified willow blade is incorporated into a finesse style spinnerbait that features a double hook and hand-tied pulsating hackle. The Super Rooster Tail comes in 15 fish catching colors and three sizes including a 1/8, 1/6 and 1/4 ounce version that are perfect for shallow water casting applications that require fishing in cover. The double hook design fishes clean through grass, wood and other submerged cover. The perfect choice for clear and shallow water fishing conditions, the Super Rooster Tail is deadly effective on both smallmouth and largemouth bass. SONIC ROOSTER TAIL The Sonic Rooster Tail incorporates a French style blade, brass body and hand-tied pulsating hackle into a classic in-line spinner design. Available in 1/16, 1/8 and 1/4 ounce sizes and 20 different fish catching colors, the Sonic Rooster Tail is a true multi-species spinner ideal for a host of casting applications. VIBRIC ROOSTER TAIL The Vibric Rooster Tail features a wire shaft that passes through the blade, creating a blade that will rotate sending out flash and vibration at the slowest possible retrieve or trolling speeds. The off set body design of the Vibric Rooster Tail does an excellent job of eliminating line twist problems and helps this lure cast like a bullet. Available in 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 ounce sizes, anglers can choose from models that feature a hand-tied pulsating hackle or models with an undressed treble hook. The smaller sizes of the Vibric Rooster Tail are perfect for stream trout and panfish, while the larger sizes produce consistent results on steelhead, salmon, brown trout, bass and northern pike. SUMMING IT UP The Rooster Tail family of in-line spinners are designed to catch all species. North, south, east or west, the Yakima Bait Rooster Tail Spinner has something for every angler and every angling situation.

Most anglers agree that flash in the water does an excellent job of attracting fish. Some might even say if “flash is good” then the more flash the better. I’m in the not so fast category when it comes to generating fish attracting flash. Unfortunately, weather conditions are often what control water clarity. When it has rained for several days straight or winds have whipped the lake into a mud bath fishing success routinely drops off dramatically. Using Fish Flash in heavily stained to dirty water conditions makes a huge difference triggering strikes in these tough conditions. “Fish aren’t going to strike at baits they can’t see,” says Romanack. “Fish Flash does a great job of improving the visibility of trolling gear even when fishing in dirty water conditions.” ATTRACTOR SIZES Ways we expand flash in dirty water is by using larger attractors like the Big Al Fish Flash. Fish Flash comes in several sizes including four, six, eight and 10 inch models. In dirty or heavily stained water the larger six, eight and 10 inch models produce the best results. In lightly stained to clear water, the size of the Fish Flash must be reduced to avoid creating too much flash. In this instance a smaller four or six inch Fish Flash is a much better option. LEADER LENGTHS Another rule of thumb when fishing with attractors like the Big Al Fish Flash is to understand that in dirty or stained waters, shorter leaders are required. On average a three to four foot long leader is ideal when fishing in dirty water. In clear water leader length must be extended to avoid spooking fish. In this case it helps to extend the leader out to six or seven feet to create some separation from the flash and the terminal tackle. TARGET SPECIES We have successfully demonstrated that Big Al Fish Flash works well on coho, king and Atlantic salmon, steelhead, brown trout and also lake trout. Our team has also enjoyed excellent success using Fish Flash to target walleye. RIGGING OPTIONS One of the easiest ways to use Fish Flash is to rig these attractors in-line directly in front of popular trolling lures such as spoons, plugs and spinners. Because Fish Flash spins on it’s own axis they have very little resistance in the water. A Fish Flash can be used in combination with downrigger lines, long lines and also when trolling with sinking lines such as lead core. Some more creative ways of using Fish Flash include attaching these attractors directly to the back of diving devices such as the famous Dipsy Diver, Jet Divers and Tadpole Divers. A leader is then attached to the back of the Fish Flash and the desired lure is added at the terminal end. Another creative way of rigging Fish Flash is to add one or even two attractors directly to a downrigger weight. A few inches above the downrigger weight a line release is added. This option puts a lot of flash in the water, but separates the flash from the terminal tackle. COLOR MATTERS Adding flash is a great way to attract fish into the trolling gear. The simple rules day. Switching out Fish Flash colors just like an angler would switch out lure colors is a good strategy for finding the colors fish are most attracted to on any given day. Many anglers who have regular success using Fish Flash recommend color matching flashers to terminal tackle. For example, if you’re running a plug that is primarily chrome and chartreuse in color, a similar colored Fish Flash is a good option. Color matching helps determine which color shades are most effective on any given day. WRAPPING IT UP Adding flash is a great way to attract fish into the trolling gear. The simple rules of the road outlined here will help increase your catch, no matter what species is on the menu.

by: Mark Romanack Those of us who enjoy chasing salmon and lake trout have come to the conclusion that laying hands on frozen, fresh or cured bait for trolling with meat rigs is becoming increasingly difficult. Limited supplies of whole and cut herring commonly used by salmon fishermen for bait has thrown a monkey wrench into the pans of countless anglers. Without access to critical natural baits, the options for targeting salmon and trout during the spring, summer and early fall get a little dicy. Some soft plastics on the market claim to replicate “cut bait”, but most of us who have tried these products are scratching our heads in frustration. Using other more readily available bait fish is also an option, but most of these bait fish simply don’t work well in combination with commercially produced “meat heads” designed to give the bait the ideal rotation in the water. CUT PLUGS A better option are “cut plugs” or “rotating plugs” designed to duplicate the action of a fresh or frozen herring cut to rotate enticingly in the water. There are a number of these plastic plugs on the market, but one stands head and shoulders above the rest. The Yakima Bait Spin Fish is a cut plug, but it also is engineered to feature a two piece design that makes it possible to fill the plug with chunks of fresh bait, cured baits, canned tuna fish or scent products like Pro Cure’s Super Gel. The result is a cut plug that looks like and smells like real bait rotating in the water. The action, flash and scent stream that the Spin Fish creates in the water does the best job of replicating real bait fish, making it the best option when supplies of herring are scarce. RIGGED AND READY The Spin Fish comes factory rigged with a two hook harness tied on premium fluorocarbon line. This harness is tied long for clear water applications or anglers can simply cut down the leader when fishing in off color water or when it’s necessary to speed up the plug rotation a touch. For those who enjoy tweaking their tackle, anglers can tie their own harnesses using lighter line and smaller hooks to create a move lively action on the Spin Fish. FISHING SPIN FISH CLEAN Many anglers have great success trolling the Spin Fish clean without the aid of any attractor directly behind a downrigger, diving planer or sinking line such as lead core. Varying the lead behind the downrigger, diver or sinking line influences the rotation greatly. It’s important to vary lead lengths to determine the rotation fish prefer on any given day. FISH FLASH AND THE SPIN FISH Many anglers prefer to team up the Spin Fish with another popular Yakima Bait product known as the Fish Flash. Fish Flash is a triangle shaped flasher that spins in the water on its’ own axis. The result is a ton of fish attracting flash with very little drag or resistance. In clear water it’s best to rig the Spin Fish 60 or even 72 inches behind the Fish Flash. In stained or off color water, a shorter 40 to 50 inch leader between the Fish Flash and Spin Fish works best. This set up fishes nicely off from downriggers, diving planers, in-line weights and also sinking lines. SPIN FISH AND ROTATORS Many believe that the Spin Fish is most effective when fished in combination with a paddle style rotator. Both eight and 11 inch paddles are popular among chinook and coho anglers. A leader about 40 inches in length between the Spin Fish and the rotator is considered about perfect for getting the desired rotation at trolling speeds ranging from 1.8 to 2.2 MPH. This trolling speed is on the “slow side” of normal for salmon trolling and it’s one of the primary reasons that more anglers have not discovered how effective cut plugs can be on salmon and trout. A Spin Fish and rotator combination fishes productively on downriggers, diving planers and all the common sinking line types. This opens up the option of presenting Spin Fish at a host of depths and also makes it possible to fish out away from the boat with the help of planer boards. HOT COLORS Spin Fish comes in a host of fishy colors. Some of the favorites among salmon fishermen include the Double Trouble, Metallic Silver Chartreuse Head/Glo Body, Silver FireTiger, Silver Scale and Silver Clown Shoes. SIZE MATTERS The Spin Fish is available in four sizes including the four inch, three inch, 2.5 inch and two inch models. The three and four inch sizes are the top picks among salmon anglers and the trout fishermen favor the two and 2.5 inch models. SUMMING IT UP The lack of fresh, frozen and cured cut bait has really put a monkey wrench in the plans of salmon trollers who like to use meat rigs. Thankfully, the Spin Fish closely replicates this presentation and doesn’t require access to whole or cut herring. Easy to rig, easy to stuff with bait, canned tuna or scent products and easy to fish clean or with a host of attractors, the Spin Fish is at home on angler boat targeting salmon and trout.

One of the most popular and productive trolling lures created in the last few years has been the Mag Lip® from Yakima Bait Company. The Mag Lip looks a bit like a FlatFish, but it has been engineered to dive and it has an incredibly enticing swimming action when trolled, featuring a unique skip-beat action that attracts vicious strikes from fish as they follow the lure. The first members of the Mag Lip line-up were larger, intended for salmon, steelhead, lake trout and other bigger fish. Yakima Bait has recently introduced two smaller versions of the Mag Lip, a two-inch and a two-and-a-half-inch version, intended for trout, crappie, perch, and other panfish. “The Mag Lip has quickly become one our favorite trolling lures” said Fishing 411 TV host Mark Romanack. “The new smaller sizes are perfect for trolling for trout and other smaller gamefish.” The 2.0 and the 2.5 Mag Lip are quickly gaining popularity as a trolling lure wherever rainbows and other species of trout live. The new, smaller Mag Lip comes in over 20 different colors to give anglers what they want based on where they fish and what they are fishing for. “The nice thing about Mag Lips,” Romanack said. “Is they swim straight right out of the package. They are easy to use. No tuning is required. Just tie one on and you’re fishing.” Yakima Bait Company has also recently added two new smaller sizes to another trolling lure they introduced two years ago. The lure is called the SpinFish™ and its biggest feature is that the body pulls apart in the middle, allowing for bait to be added. Two new sizes, a two-inch and two-and-a-half-inch version of the SpinFish, are now available giving anglers another productive trolling lure for trout and other species of fish. As the name indicates, the SpinFish spins as it is trolled through the water, but it isn’t just a spin, it has a wounded baitfish motion that is deadly on all kinds of freshwater fish. The new smaller 2.0 and 2.5 sizes of SpinFish come rigged in the package with two single hooks tied on 20-pound fluorocarbon leader. “We added a little bait and trolled the new smaller-sized SpinFish in some of the lakes we fish regularly,” Isbister said. “And we were amazed at how deadly it was. We caught rainbows, cutthroat and even some lake trout.” Dan McDonald, president and CEO of Yakima Bait, said the company added the smaller sizes of the Mag Lip and SpinFish because they recognized the need in the market by anglers looking to have simple, productive lures they can just tie on and go trolling and have a decent expectation of catching fish. “Anglers really like the design and the action of the Mag Lip,” McDonald said. “And being able to add bait right into the body of the SpinFish makes for an incredibly productive combination.” Yakima Bait Company also makes the popular Rooster Tail spinner, FlatFish, Spin-N-Glo and Hildebrandt line of quality blades and spinnerbaits.

By: Mark Romanack It seems that for every species of sport fish, there is a lure that is legendary for catching that species. When it comes to trout, the iconic Yakima Bait Rooster Tail Spinner is that lure. In part, Rooster Tail Spinners are effective on trout because they come in so many sizes, colors and configurations. No matter if you’re casting for brook trout in a tiny backwoods creek or targeting trophy steelhead in a raging river, Yakima Bait has a size, color and style of Rooster Tail for every trout fishing situation. ORIGINAL ROOSTER TAIL The Original Rooster Tail in sizes 1/6, 1/8 and 1/4 are the work horse baits for trout fishermen north, south, east and west. The modified willow leaf blade and the pulsating hackle team up to make this spinner the one all others are compared to. Available in countless colors and also UV finishes, the Original Rooster Tail is to trout fishing what the spinnerbait is to bass. Besides the standard colors, the Rooster Tail is also available with red treble hooks, in single hook configurations, with hammered blades and also with hammered copper blades! In short, no other trout spinner even comes close to the fish catching powers of the Original Rooster Tail. Put your trust in the Rooster Tail Spinner by Yakima Bait Company. Millions of other anglers already have. ROOSTER TAIL MINNOW Available in 1/16, 1/8, 1/6 and 1/4 sizes, the Rooster Tail Minnow features the legendary Rooster Tail blade teamed up with a realistic fish shaped body and ultra premium finishes. SONIC ROOSTER TAIL The Sonic Rooster Tail incorporates the “French” style blade with a brass body and pulsating hackle. Available in 1/16, 1/8 and 1/4 ounce sizes, this classic spinner comes in 20 different fish catching color patterns. VIBRIC ROOSTER TAIL The Vibric Rooster Tail shaft passes through the blade creating a spinner that spins at even the slowest retrieve speeds. The off-set body helps to reduce line twist and the Vibric Rooster Tail is also available in 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 ounce sizes to cover everything from stream trout to steelhead, dolly varden and bruiser browns. There is even an “undressed” version of the Vibric Rooster Tail for traditionalists. STREAM CASTING TIPS When casting Rooster Tail Spinners in rivers and streams, cast downstream and across the current. When the spinner hits the water, give the rod tip a little forward sweep to get the blade moving and then proceed with a slow and steady retrieve speed. Most strikes will occur as the current is causing the spinner to sweep across fish holding structure. Try to target submerged logs, boulders, undercut banks or slightly deeper depressions in the bottom that provide trout a place to hide and wait in ambush. FISHING LINE MATTERS Using low visibility monofilament, co-polymer lines and fluorocarbon line in the four to eight pound test range typically allows the Rooster Tail to enjoy the most action and the most stealthy presentation. Because these lines have a modest break strength, it’s important to inspect the terminal end of the line and cut and retie the spinner often to avoid break offs. SWIVEL TRICKS To avoid line twist issues, a small swivel rigged in-line about 12 to 18 inches in front of the spinner is recommended. This rigging method reduces hardware on the spinner, eliminates line twist and makes for a very stealthy presentation. ROD SUGGESTIONS The rods used for targeting trout vary a great deal. Ultra light sticks are needed for light spinners and casting situations that require pinpoint accuracy. In larger streams, beaver ponds or natural lakes longer steelhead style rods can be a huge advantage as the extra length yields much longer casts. Also, when targeting trophy sized trout, the longer steelhead style rods do a better job of fighting powerful fish. SCENT HELPS Every trout fisherman worth his “creel basket” knows that trout respond especially well to fishing scents. Rooster Tail Spray Scent is the ideal scent for adding to spinners that feature pulsating hackles. Made from a water soluble oil that puts out a powerful scent stream without gumming up marabou, feather, hair or synthetic hackles, the Trophy Trout, Trout/Kokanee and the Garlic Nightcrawler formulas are all great scent options for trout fishing. SUMMING IT UP When it comes to trout of all species and all sizes, no other spinner has earned the respect of more anglers than the Rooster Tail. Available in a fishing tackle retailer near you, the Rooster Tail Spinner is the only spinner you need to catch trout day in and day out.

By: Mark Romanack There are lots of ways to catch a steelhead during the winter months, but nothing is more productive or exciting than back-trolling plugs. Plugs allow anglers to fish a multitude of lines/lures at the same time, creating a presentation that is impossible to compare with “rod in hand” river fishing methods. Most river guides will back-troll with four or even six lines/lures at once. With so many lures in the water, it’s a foregone conclusion that eventually a steelhead will become frustrated and strike out of pure anger. When a steelhead slams a wobbling plug, the rod bucks wildly, the fish goes airborne in an attempt to shake the hook and the atmosphere in the boat is nothing short of chaos. In short, back-trolling plugs such as the iconic Mag Lip series of wobblers is not only productive it’s one of the most exciting ways to target winter steelhead. WHAT IS BACK-TROLLING For those who have not experienced the art of back-trolling, this unique presentation uses a drift boat, jet sled or small skiff to slowly snake wobbling plugs downstream in a highly controlled manner. The presentation starts by anchoring the boat upstream of a stretch of river water that’s deeper than the surrounding water. Winter steelhead tend to concentrate in the deeper areas of the river. Runs that feature four to 10 feet of water are prime spots to find steelhead holding in the current, waiting for food to wash within reach. The boat is positioned with the bow pointed upstream. An electric anchor winch is used to hold the boat stationary while plugs are played out downstream of the boat. Depending on the water depth, the plugs will be set out 30 to 70 feet behind the boat. Once the reel is engaged and the rod placed in a strategically placed rod holder, the force of the current will push against the diving lip on the plug and cause it to dive. Rod holders are in turn used to position a bait straight out the back on opposite sides of the boat. Rod holders are also used to position another pair of rods/lures out to the side of the boat. To stagger the distance between lures, rod holders are pivoted and in many cases anglers use varying rod lengths to further spread out their baits. Once all the rods are set and the plugs are wobbling in the current, the anchor is lifted and the boat allowed to start drifting downstream. In some cases anglers set the anchor so it barely touches the bottom, allowing the boat to creep downstream slowly. In other cases, oars are used to hold the boat in the current and also to sweep the boat back and forth across the run while at the same time the boat is slowly slipping downstream. The modern “back-troller” employs technology to control a winter steelhead boat. An electric motor that features an auto-pilot style GPS navigation system mounted to the bow is used to hover the boat in place. Some manufacturers of these electric motors call this “spot locking” and others call it the “anchor” mode. In both cases the electric motor compensates for the current and holds the boat in place while plugs are deployed. The thrust of the electric motor can in turn be reduced, creating a situation where the boat slowly slips downstream. Meanwhile, the angler uses a key fob provided with the electric motor to steer the boat left or right creating the unique plug fishing presentation known as back-trolling. As the boat is moved back and forth and also allowed to slip downstream, the wobbling plugs are slowly allowed to work their way downstream. As this “wall of plugs” is slowly allowed to slip downstream, steelhead are typically pushed downstream. When the boat approaches the tail-out portion of the run, steelhead tend to panic and smash the plugs out of pure frustration. THE PERFECT PLUG RODS Back-trolling plugs is a game that is typically played using four to six lines. Varying lengths of baitcasting rods from 8’-6” to 10’-6” are generally used to further spread out lures and cover more water. A plug rod must feature a soft action tip, yet have enough backbone to handle heavy fish. Most major manufacturers of fishing rods produce “species specific” graphite rods designed especially for the iconic presentation of back-trolling. When back-trolling Mag Lip and other plugs, strategic rod placement helps to cover more water and eliminates a hooked fish getting tangled in another line. Most plug fishermen will run a four rod spread, but some use three rods per side or six plugs in their approach. BACK-TROLLING REELS The reels used on back-trolling rods are baitcasting models that are capable of handling at least 200 yards of 12 to 14 pound test monofilament. Low profile, round frame and even line counter style baitcasting reels are commonly used for back-trolling plugs. Any reel used for back-trolling steelhead must feature a velvety smooth drag system. River steelhead are powerful fish and the only way to control them is with a flawless reel drag. BACK-TROLLING LINES Monofilament is the traditional line used for back-trolling, but a growing number of anglers are using a host of other line types including co-polymers, fluorocarbon lines and even low stretch super braids. While anglers don’t agree on the best line for back-trolling, most do agree that the line needs to be a high visibility color. The ability to easily see the line as it enters the water, makes it easier to steer the trailing plugs into fish holding cover such as submerged wood, boulders, undercut banks or obvious structure edges. A high visibility line is ideal for back-trolling, but at the terminal end a four to six foot leader of invisible fluorocarbon line is required. To add a fluorocarbon leader, first thread a small bead onto the main line, then tie a small barrel swivel onto the leader material using a Palomar knot. Finish the rig by tying the main line to the other end of the barrel swivel again using Palomar knot. Finish the rig by adding a small cross-lok style snap to the terminal end using an improved clinch knot. This set up insures that if the plug gets snagged, the lure can be broken off without also losing the leader. Because the improved clinch knot is weaker than the Palomar knot, this rigging option helps keep “on the water” retying to a minimum. The bead prevents the angler from reeling the barrel swivel into the rod guides and damaging the rod. PLUG OPTIONS While just about any wobbling plug can be used for back-trolling steelhead, the Mag Lip series of baits produced by Yakima Bait Company are hands down the favorites on both the west coast and also in the Great Lakes region. Mag Lip is produced in several sizes, but the 2.5, 3.0 and 3.5 sizes are the most popular among back-trollers. The “skip-beat” action these plugs display right out of the package, makes them an obvious choice for winter steelhead fishing. As the Mag Lip is wobbling, the plug wanders from side to side and occasionally the plug will dart quickly to the side and then recover. This darting or skip-beat action drives steelhead nuts and generates intense strikes that other plugs just can’t match. Mag Lip come in over 50 different color patterns. A few of the consistently productive steelhead colors include Metallic Gold/Flame, Double-Trouble, Grinch, Green Machine, Metallic Gold/Green Pirate and Metallic Silver/Blue Pirate. It seems every river guide has his or her favorite plug colors. Many anglers add custom touches by using permanent markers to add a touch of color to the bait’s bill, belly or perhaps a hand-drawn ladder back design. SCENT IS IMPORTANT Successful winter back-trolling is a presentation that requires mastering a lot of details. Using scent to help trigger strikes is one of those details many anglers overlook. The Yakima Rooster Tail Spray Scent is a water soluble oil based scent product that is easy to apply. One or two squirts generates a powerful scent stream in the water for 20 to 30 minutes. Produced in collaboration with the scent experts at Pro Cure, Rooster Tail Spray Scent is effective, easy to apply and doesn’t require any special clean up measures. SUMMING IT UP Back-trolling the Mag Lip plug is an iconic and effective way of targeting winter steelhead. This same presentation also works wonders in late winter and early spring when spawn laden steelhead push into tributary streams. Compared to other popular steelhead fishing presentations, there is no comparison. Back-trolling is flat out plug fishing on steroids!

By: Mark Romanack Merry Christmas from Yakima Bait Company. For those who have an angler on their gift giving list, Yakima Bait has something that will put a smile on the face of everyone who enjoys a tug on the end of a line. Pick out a few items for stocking stuffers or stock an entire tackle box. Yakima Bait products can be found at every major retailer coast to coast. Rooster Tail The iconic Rooster Tail in-line spinner comes in hundreds of sizes, blade types, colors and hook configurations. The one lure that catches just about everything with fins, choose from a wide variety of Rooster Tail spinners suitable for panfish, bass, walleye, trout, musky, pike, salmon and much more. For those who are having a hard time deciding among the hundreds of Rooster Tail spinners available, the Rooster Tail Tackle Box Kits are crowd pleasers. Choose from 10 different species specific kits, each one comes with five popular spinner colors and a handy storage box. ROOSTER TAIL SPRAY SCENT The perfect complement to the Rooster Tail spinner is a bottle of Rooster Tail Spray Scent. Designed especially for use on lures that feature feather hackles or hair dressings, this spray on fish attracting scent product creates a natural scent stream in the water and while allowing the hackle to pulsate enticingly. Available in eight different formulas including Trophy Bass, Crappie Panfish, Garlic Plus, Garlic Nightcrawler, Trophy Trout, Trout Kokanee, Shrimp and Shad, a bottle or two makes for the perfect stocking stuffer. SPINFISH The SpinFish is a pre-rigged rotating style cut plug with a twist. The two part body is hollow and designed to be filled with cut bait or natural scent products like Pro Cure Super Gel. The SpinFish can be fished clean behind in-line trolling weights, downriggers or diving planers or teamed up with attractors like the popular Yakima Bait Fish Flash, dodgers and paddle style flashers. The three and four inch sizes are ideal for targeting chinook salmon, coho salmon and trophy lake trout. The two inch and two and a half inch models are the perfect choice for anglers after kokanee, stocked rainbow and brown trout. Available in dozens of proven fish catching colors, the SpinFish is red hot everywhere anglers troll for trout and salmon. MAG LIP WALLEYE COLORS The Yakima Bait Mag Lip might well be the most popular trolling plug on the planet. The wide side-to-side wobble and loud rattles of the Mag Lip generate aggressive strikes from trout, salmon, smallmouth bass and walleye. In fact, walleye fishermen have become so attached to the Mag Lip, Yakima Bait recently introduced a whole new selection of “walleye specific” color options for the popular 3.0 and 3.5 plug sizes. Anglers after walleye can now select from eight red hot colors including Firetiger/Silver Head, Rosemary, Metallic Gold/Black Pirate, Metallic Gold/Flame, Metallic Gold/Green Pirate, Metallic Perch, Metallic Rainbow Trout and Silver Clown. These baits perform best on walleye when trolled in spring and summer once the water temperature hits 60 degrees. A brisk trolling speed ranging from 2.0 to 3.0 MPH typically brings out the most aggressive action in the Mag Lip. HAMMER TIME WALLEYE SPINNER Nothing is more effective at catching walleye than a nightcrawler harness. The Hildebrandt Hammer Time Walleye Spinner was designed by professional anglers to create the ultimate walleye spinner. Tied using premium No. 2 octopus hooks and 15 pound test fluorocarbon line, the leader is extra long so the Hammer Time Walleye Spinner can be trolled in open water for suspended fish or shortened up and fished on a traditional bottom walker sinker. Available with legendary Hildebrandt No. 4, 5 or 6 size Colorado blades and 16 different fish catching colors, the Hammer Time Walleye Spinner also features a quick change clevis that makes it easy to switch out blade sizes or colors in seconds. BIG AL FISH FLASH Flash attracts fish and nothing puts out more flash in a trolling pattern than the Big Al Fish Flash. This triangle shaped attractor spins on it’s own axis creating pulsations of fish attracting flash. Because Fish Flash spins instead of rotating in the water like traditional flashers, it creates more flash while at the same time producing less drag in the water. Fish Flash comes in several sizes including four, six, eight and 10 inch models. The smaller four inch size is perfect for clear water trolling environments commonly encountered with trout and kokanee fisheries. The larger six and eight inch models are especially popular when fishing in lightly stained to murky waters and are very popular with chinook and coho salmon fishermen. The large 10 inch size is perfectly suited to deep water fishing situations for species such as trophy lake trout or when faced with dirty water conditions. Fish Flash can be used with any lure that has it own action such as spinners, rotating plugs, wobbling plugs and spoons. Fish Flash can also be fished in combination with downriggers, diving planers, in-line trolling sinkers or sinking lines such as lead core. Available in dozens of fish producing color combinations, just a few of the hot selling colors include H&H High Tower, Blonde, Lime Bomb, High Octane and Chrome Killer. SUMMING IT UP Everyone at Yakima Bait would like to wish their loyal customers and tackle dealers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. May the spirit of the season last all year long and may every fishing trip bring joy to you, your family and friends.