Fisherman-Friendly Packaging

Informative packaging from Sebile's new Action First series.

The package instructions said to wait for all the rings to disappear after my new black Hula Popper landed on the water, so that was exactly what I did, and then I waited several seconds before I popped the lure again. That technique stretched the patience of a 10-year-old boy, but the result was my first bass caught on a topwater lure, plus many others on subsequent trips.

Any time I got a new lure as a boy, step No. 1 was to read every word printed on or tucked inside the package. I wanted to know what situations it was designed for, how it was different from my other lures, how the manufacturer suggested working it and any tips that were offered. I still sometimes use the Rapala Loop Knot that I learned from packaging instructions.

Sadly (from my perspective), information printed on most lure packages is far less instructional in nature than once was the case. Primary packaging space largely gets used for sales pitches, legal disclaimers and extra language translations, and things like inserts or added flaps are generally seen as only adding cost. Some lures do still contain instructions, but most are extremely brief and more generic than once was commonly the case, and it's not uncommon for a company to use the same couple of tips for numerous lures.

Because I do like the old way, the packaging being used for Sebile's new Action First series of lures caught my attention. Each lure in the series was created for a specific primary task, and that task is explained through illustrated tips on an peripheral packaging flap. The tips aren't long, but they are specific to each lure, as is a breakdown of features on each lure's package.

I typically need to play with a new lure at the lake to find the applications that work best for me, and at times my favorite applications probably are different from anything the lure designer had in mind. That said, I like know why a lure was created, and I think that many anglers who buy lures value a bit of instruction to help get them started with their new purchase. I think the new Sebile packaging is cool, and I hope it's a step back in the direction of more information for lure companies.

Thursday Tips: Convert Misses into Catches

It might be the hardest thing in fishing. A fish blows up on a topwater plug, throwing water in every direction, and you have to act like it didn't happen. More often than not, jerking a bait away or stopping it in place will deter a fish from hitting again. If you don't feel the fish, it probably didn't get the lure, and your best reaction in almost every case is simply to keep working the bait at the same cadence that prompted the initial strike. That's easier said than done, especially when a largemouth blows grass everywhere to attack a frog or a striper or redfish delivers and absolutely explosive attack. If you can keep your cool and keep working the bait, stay ready. The follow-up strike, if it occurs, will probably be less vicious but more efficient.

If no follow-up comes, you often can get the fish to bite again on a subsequent cast. Don't throw the same lure, though. Keep a follow-up lure rigged and nearby at all times, and use it. For open water settings, a soft-plastic stickbait or jerkbait rigged weightless tends to work well. For such an offering, cast directly to the spot where the hit occurred, let the bait fall and watch for the line to jump. Another good option is to cast a lipless crankbait or other shallow subsurface offering past the initial point of attack and swim it quickly through that zone, keeping it just beneath the surface.

If you're working over cover with a frog or a buzzbait when a fish hits and misses, follow up with a weightless, weedless worm or jerkbait, cast past the spot and worked with quick twitches of the rod.

Then, if they don't take the follow-up lure, try your original offering one more time before moving along.

One of the most frustrating things about topwater fishing is the fish's propensity to hit and miss, but if you learn to react properly and to make good follow-up presentations, you'll up your catch rates substantially on some days.

Thursday Tips: Rise & Shine

An early-season tip posted on this page suggested sleeping a little later on fishing days, letting the sun do its warming work and focusing efforts on the afternoon hours. Well, that was then, and this is now. With spring solidly in place and summer just around the bend, it's time to get up before the cows and to be on the water and in casting position by first light. As water temperatures rise, most kinds of fish feed more aggressively at first light. Last light is the next best daytime period, but given the choice, go early.

Along with feeding more better, most fish are more apt to take topwater lures early in the morning, Their surface feeding behavior, in addition to offering big fun, provides locational clues that can help you pattern the fish later in the morning, after the fishing becomes more challenging. Of course, if you're fishing public waterways with significant pleasure boating activity, getting out early helps you beat the skiers to the water. And as summer progresses, it helps you beat the heat of the day and be more comfortable.

Stepping beyond the practical, it's simply nice being on the water when while the fog lingers, the sun hang slow and the frogs, bugs and birds trade choruses.