Surf Tips

1. If you are using the older style Korkers with the lace ties, replace the laces with long nylon tie straps. They won't come untied and they won't stretch and loosen. A good way to prevent losing a Korker in the mud is to screw the back of the Korker into the heel of the wader's bootfoot with a stainless steel screw. The heel is held secure and won't slip!

2. Crush the barbs of your hooks. It will be easier to drive the point of the hook into the tough part of a fish's mouth not to mention making the hook MUCH easier to remove after landing the fish! If you keep a tight line and don't allow the fish to gain slack, a barbless hook will not contribute to losing the fish.

3. You can make your own surf bag with a few simple items. An Army surplus canvas bag or similar bag with a shoulder strap is used as the "housing". The lure holders or inserts can be made from empty, round, plastic shampoo bottles. A hole should be made in the bottom of each insert to allow water to drain. If you can't get enough shampoo bottles, 2" square PVC downspout can be purchased at your local hardware store. Cut to length and glue them together with a base of plexiglass. The base is to prevent the tail hooks from catching on the bottom of the insert. The square downspout inserts allow for maximum space utilization in the bag.

4. You should make up a little rod first aid kit to carry with you especially when you are taking a trip away from your home waters and the tackle shops you know. This kit should include an extra tip guide larger that the existing tip in case the blank breaks, some waxed dental floss to build up the blank to fit snuggly into the tip, a stick of ferrule cement to cement the tip in place, and a disposable lighter to melt the cement. These can all fit into a large spice container which can have a piece of plastic wrap inserted under the cap to keep it waterproof.

5.When tossing bait or large plugs in the surf it is a good idea to use a shock leader. This reduces the stress on your running line and avoids unwanted breakoffs during a cast. Have enough leader material to run through the guides and make 4 or 5 turns on the reel. Follow this link for a diagram of a shock leader knot designed to flow smoothly through your guides. Thanks to George Pope of Florida for sending us this tip and diagram!

6.When using a flashlight in the surf it is a good idea to use a piece of red cellophane to tint the lens. The cellophane will keep the light at a lower level to prevent spooking fish PLUS it will not make you lose your night vision that you have acquired while fishing in the dark of night.

7.Carry a small can of lubricant with you while fishing. If your bail starts to stick, a quick spray will get it running smoothly again. Also, after you cast, give your spool a shot of lubricant then reel about half of your line in and spray again. You will find the line slips through the guides easier and you should get increased distance on your casts. If you can't find line and reel lube at your local department store, WD40 is a suitable substitute.

8.When travelling to a fishing spot in frigid temperatures, keep your reel inside your vehicle as the grease may stiffen up your reel after being exposed to the extreme cold.

9.Fishing in the cold, Winter/early Spring weather? Line a little cold and brittle? A neat trick is to boil a tea bag in some water and put a rag in it. Lift the rag out of the water, squeeze the excess water out (Caution!! hot water can burn!!). Then wrap the rag around your spool of line to keep it warm. When you reach your destination, the line will be limp and ready for use. The tannic acid in the tea bag is the trick.

10.A $5.00 water thermometer (sold in pool stores) can save you a lot of time and frustration. As the spring weather warms us, our thoughts turn to fishing. But the water temperature may not rise as quickly as the air temperature. The thermometer quickly tells whether the water is warm enough to hold active stripers.

11.Fishing a new area? Not sure of the water depths..lots of trees and other obstructions around? With a higher risk of losing a lure, begin by throwing an older, less desirable plug to test the water depth and casting area. If a plug is lost, you won't feel as bad as losing that favorite beauty! Tag sales or store sales are a great way to pick up a few of these "disposable" plugs.