You can’t catch fish if you don’t have the right equipment.

With all the lures, rods, reels, line and everything else on the market it’s hard to know what equipment is the best for you. No matter what the best fishing lure is one that takes the thinking out of fishing. It’s one you can hook-up to the end of your line and cast without worrying about anything but where the fish are. It’s a lure that responds no matter what the situation or the fish.

Your lure is what connects you to your big catch so it has to have good action. It can’t be dead in the water or it won’t attract anything. The best action is one that has a side-to-side wiggle like an injured baitfish because this is the action that makes the fish attack. Fish don’t vibrate or spin so neither should your lure.

The color of your lure depends on whether or not you believe color has anything to do with catching fish. The best natural baitfish colors are colors are silver, gold, bronze, green and maybe yellow. Other colors will depend on what the fish can see. No one knows if fish actually see color or not but they will see a shadow. So the color that gives the best contrast and shadow in the water will be the best color to use. But it depends on the water clarity and what the fish seem to be attracted to so color is a personal choice.

We all have our favorite lures depending on what we’re fishing or when. Some make it to favorite status because it’s the lure that the most fish have attacked. Others might be a favorite because there’s a story behind them: you got them from a father or grandfather or it’s the lure that you caught your first fish on.

So, what do you look for in a lure? Is it all about action or color? Why do you prefer the lures you use most often? Is there a story behind your favorite lure?

Tags: Articles, Fish Lures, General Fishing // Add Comment »

There is something about watching the sun come up while you’re out on the water waiting for a bite on your line. It is the silence before the big one bites and the anticipation of the fight to reel in your next trophy fish. For some (like us) fishing is more than just a hobby. It’s a full time job and it’s a way of life.

Fishing can be done by everyone no matter what their age, where they live, how much money they have or anything else. Anyone can become a professional with enough practice, the right equipment and enough experience. Fishing is about the enjoyment you get out of beating your personal best. It’s about trudging through rainy, cold days and getting covered in mud to find the perfect lake at the end of the path. It’s all about the fish and the excitement.

Not every day is a good day on the lake and not every moment of fishing is exciting. There are days when you’re doing nothing but sitting in your boat (or at the edge of the dock) and nothing is biting no matter what the fish finder says, what lure or what color you use. Even if you know there should be fish where you’re casting you’re just not getting anything. Trust me we’ve had plenty of those days.

But it’s days like those when you have to tell yourself that no matter how bad the fishing is that it’s better than doing anything else. For us it’s about being out there and waiting like a patient hunter for that trophy fish. It’s about watching that monster bass leaping out the water and the struggle to get him in the boat to take that picture. The few minutes of success and excitement are worth the potential hours of waiting.

Those bad days make us stronger fishermen and give us better experience but they can still wear you down. When you’re having a bad day on the water what keeps you going? Why do you fish? What makes you get up before dawn or stay out past midnight when other people are heading home and giving up? Why is fishing your passion?

Tags: Articles, Bass, General Fishing, Tackle // Add Comment »

We’re excited to announce that this year the Reel Keel Fishing Lure will be at ICast. It won’t just be the #400 Series and #300 Series, we have a brand new lure added to our line which will be available for sale after the ICast show. The three lures will be in a special tri-pack just for the show.

Our team will be decked out in KIKO Fishing Tee-shirts and hats and demonstrating how the Reel Keel casts, swims and acts like an injured bait fish in the Casting Tank. They will also be demonstrating how our new lure acts with the #400 Reel Keel to give it even more action and fishy appearance.

ICast is the world’s largest sportfishing trade show and this year is taking place in Orlando, FL from July 11-13. It represents 63 countries and annually hosts 7,000 members of the sportsfishing community. ICast is the best place to showcase the newest fishing gear, apparel and accessories.

Stay tuned for more news about ICast and our exciting new addition to our line-up.

Tags: Announcements, Casting, Fish Lures, Fishy Behavior, Test Fishing Knowledge // Add Comment »