MAKE NOISE TO CATCH MORE FISH

In late winter and spring, the waters in which we fish are often dirtied by the run-off from melting snow or rain. Although a little run-off can make fishing conditions good, too much run-off can create difficult fishing. Regardless of whether there is a little or a lot of run-off, the fish can't see as well as they can in water that is clear. Anglers will catch more fish if they make it easier for the fish to find their bait. Since the fish can't see as far, our baits will be easier to find if they make some noise. Here's how you can use noisy baits to catch more fish right now.

Jigs are a great lure for a wide variety of fish this time of year. One way to make more noise with a jig is to simply go to a heavier jig. A heavier jig makes more noise as it hops or crawls along the bottom. A half-ounce jig that bumps into a rock or is thumped off the bottom creates more noise than a sixteenth ounce jig that barely makes its presence known when it softly collides with an underwater object.

Although an eighth ounce jig might be more appropriate for shallow clear water, a heavier jig will often be more productive in shallow dirty water. You will need to alter your presentation a little, but you'll probably catch more fish with the heavier jig in stained water.

Another way to help more fish find your jig is to employ a rattle, plastic tail, propeller, or spinner. Rattles make noise, the tails, propellers, and spinners create vibration. Vibration is kind of like noise in that it makes the fish aware of your bait even when they can't see it.

Buck-Shot Rattle Jigs are a good example of a jig that incorporates rattles to attract the fish. Add a three-inch Power Grub and a minnow or piece of crawler to this jig and you will have perhaps the best presentation for stained water. The jig rattles, the Power Grub creates vibration and adds bulk and color as well as smell, and the minnow or crawler adds even more smell. This set-up is very, very good in tough fishing conditions.

If you want to move the lure a little faster, a Whistler or Thumper Jig are good selections. The Whistler has a propeller, the Thumper a spinner: Both do a good job of creating flash and vibration. The Whistler with a Power Grub tail is a favorite of mine for covering water.

In stained water, go with the brightest colors you can find. Chartreuse and orange are both favorites. In stained water and clear water, color can be a very important consideration: In really stained water the value of color is questionable. However, bright colors certainly aren't going to hurt even if the fish's vision is restricted substantially.

Fishing can be very good early in the season. Don't stay home just because the water has some color in it. Use lures that make noise and the fish will find them.

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