The lure that did the job for Jeffs Tackle Box at Lake of the Woods

We used a very simple fishing lure jig spinner harness.  Very strong and reliable from Slayer in Jacksonville, Florida.  The jig heads are from Mission Fishin and the mullet tails from Strike King.   A key factor is that tiny secton of 1/8 inch clear tubing over the "R" bend on the harness.  It creates a loop tie point for a canoeman's loop knot, very important.

Emmrod Combat rod from Jeff's Tackle Box

 Here is  closeup of the Emmrod fishing pole I used last week at Lake of the Woods.  It rocked the world of a huge number of fish.  Tough, strong, and a power fishing dream in a small package.  The Combat Rod is for the angler looking for a new challenge and one that tests their angling skills.  In the right hands this is a big fish catching machine.  With the right fishing reel like the Shimano Curado 300DSV on my rig here you wonder why you ever fished delicate tubular poles in the first place.  The time has come for new way to battle big fish and this little rig is it.

Not much else to say Jeff McGovern got a bigger one

Here we are a bigger one.  A musky at 45 inches caught on the Emmrod Combat rod in casting configuration.  Fishing has a new really cool fishing rod, the Combat Rod.  WOW, this thing rules.  Oh yeah we caught loads of fish besides this big guy.  This trip was the first solid workout for the rod.  When I back back to my fishing kayak in Florida the saltwater fish I hit on a regular basis are about to face true angling combat.

Jeffs Tackle Box, Emmrod Packer, and Qualia MuL 10 rule !!!

Today got my musky!!! YESSSSSS.  The rod and reel in hand at the moment was the Emmord Packer and the Qualia MuL 10.  Rigging, 14lb Fireline which is super on that fishing reel to a 20lb fluorocarbon leader.  The lure a Slayer jig harness with a Mission Fishin jig head and a Strike King 4 inch mullet tail.  Well got to hit the water again today, off we go.

Emmrod Combat rod strikes again with Jeff McGovern

Quick update.  Got a slightly bigger northern yesterday, upgraded by three inches.  This one is 34 inches long.  Got to run the boat is waiting.

Jeffs Tackle Box and the Emmrod Combat rod

Had another good day on the water here at Lake of the Woods.  More smalllmouth than we bothered to count plus northern pike and walleye.  The little fishing rods I had Emmrod make up for me are wonderful.  The Combat Rod is just the thing for fast and furious fishing giving no quarter to the fish, it truly is had to fin combat at it's best.  The one that caught this nice 31 inch pike was equipped with a great casting reel, the Shimano 300D. a real cranker with loads of power.  Loaded with 20lb Momio High Catch and a 20lb fluorocarbon leader it is a handful of power.  This is truly the rig for any angler who is looking for compact power to land big fish.

Emmrod Combat rod from Jeffs Tackle Box

Wow, this combat fishing rod is outstanding.  Today it was smallmouth one after another, most were the chunks like this one and mine fell mainly to the smallest Emmrod.  I rigged it with a Shimano Curado 300D loaded with 20lb Momoi High Catch and a 20lb fluorocarbon leader.  The bait is a jig harness from Slayer lures, a Mission Fishin jig head and a Redfish Magic 4" mullet tail. 

First fish, Oak Island 2011

We got out Sunday afternoon later than we wanted but you can't control fog and slow driving on the way up.  This first fish for mme this year is a nice walleye that would have been great for a meal, but it was released to be caught another day.  The fishing rod was an Emmrod Packer and the fishing reel a Qualia MuL 10.  I had the rig spooled with 14lb Fireline and leadered with a section of 20lb flourocarbon.  The fishing lure was a Redfish Magic.  Loads of fun and hopefully the first of many for the week.

Early morning in Baxter MN

Well it's early!  Can't sleep since this trip is always like Christmas and Santa is coming soon.  We head up through Baudette MN first to hit customs and then cross over to Waroad MN to cross over into Canada.  Then it;s through a small piece of Manitoba and back over to Northwest Angle MN at Young's Bay.  From there we take the launch over to Oak Island.  Hopefully we will be fishing lines in the water early this afternoon.  Check out the time on my smart phone. 

The boss at Jeffs Tackle Box

Just to let everyone know.  While the big guy is in Canada fishing his brains out I'll be in  charge.  Any questions just email Jeff and I'll see it or post here on the blog. 

Sincerely, Chopper

New camera gear for Jeffs Tackle box

My dependable 1030SW has been getting a little long on the tooth.  I was concerned about using it for saltwater work and decided on a new model.  Looking over the offerings i decided on a TG 610 Olympus.  It offered the memory we needed for videos and is tough enough for the work we do outside and in.  Not the metal body of the camera it replaced but nearly as tough as it should be better around the salt.  Soon it heads to Canada for our yearly Oak Island adventure.  Can't wait!

Inside my packed tackle bag

Here is an inside shot of my tackle bag.  This is the boat bag I carry each day when I'm on the water at Lake of the Woods each day.  Everything is labeled or clear so finding a lure is easy.  The empty PB&J jar is where lures go each day when they are changed out.  That way when the day is done it's easy to see what was used  and it keeps me from digging into the boxes during the day to put lures back.  In the evening it's then a simple task to review the day back at the cabin. 

The secret connection

Fishing secrets are many, But this one little tip will catch you loads more fish with lures you already own.  Many spinner baits have what is called an "R" bend frame, that bend is the tie on point for the line.  Most anglers use a hard knot like a palomar or improved clinch, STOP IT.  Try instead using a loop knot tied to the loop you create using a tiny section of 1/8 inch ID plastic tubing.  The knot we use is the canoeman's loop and you'll find the instruction on my website, it's strong and has landed me loads of fish.  Check out the photo of the loop you can make so simply.  This is the connection for 95% of the lures we will be using in Canada very shortly.

Two spincast reels from Qualia head for Canada

I'm taking along the two types of Qualia spincast reels, the MuL 10 and the DM 40.  Both should be wonderful on the waters of Lake of the Woods.  We will be staying at out usual place the resort we have stayed at since we were kids ( and that's more than a few years ago).  Oak Island Resort has been there since the 1930's if I remember right.  We leave in only a few days.  Loads of driving, for me around 35 hours total.  Well worth it and each year is the trip of a lifetime.

Lure packs for Oak Island 2011 and Jeff's Tackle Box in Canada

Here are 1/2 size Plano boxes for my Canadian adventure.   They contain fishing lures and components to get me through a week of northern pike, small mouth bass, musky and walleye.  One more larger full size box goes along too with big  plugs then a spinner bait pack and a selection of trailers.  Old fashioned bulky tackle boxes a were too tough to deal with so I've been doing this modular system since 1997.  I leave within a week and by a week from Sunday on  June19th Emmrods will be casting lure to the fish just mentioned.  Nothing in the fishing rod world is as tough and they are so much fun to use.

A serious big fish rig - The new 4 coil Universal Emmrod from Jeff's Tackle Box

This is a beauty of a casting rig!  The one an angler can handle just about anything that swims.  It's the new 4 coil Universal Rod from Emmrod.  In this case it's rigged with a baitcast reel the Curado 300D spooled with 20lb boxed rated Fireline.  Big reds, pike, snook, musky and bass look out, this baby is one the water now!  Ir's one of the fishing rods that will be in the boat with us at Lake of the Woods in a couple of weeks.  We have these in stock and they are moving fast.  For kayak fishing, wow, this will catch your next trophy. 

Racked and ready from Jeff's Tackle Box

A nice picture of my favorite fishing rods in the rack and all set to fish.  As you can see it's mainly casting plugs and they can be deadly on many types of fish.  These new Emmrod Universal rods are really something and a blast to cast and catch fish on.