When it comes to fishing you are only as good as your next trick or technique to get a fish to bite. It is important to be able to pivot and adapt on a body of water and in any fishing conditions. Sometimes you have to dig deep in your bag of tricks, techniques, lures and think outside the box. It may not be a new shiny expensive lure or the juiciest piece of live bait. It may be a technique art form that is on the decline and not too many folks care to learn how to do.
A & S Reel (can be found at Domka Outdoors)
If you remember a few episodes back I sat down with Bill Shimota on the podcast. During that episode we discussed handlining and how that one technique has changed his tournament outcomes significantly and has helped him cash more checks than he can remember. On this episode, I was asked to record an in depth handlining seminar at Domka Outdoors. I am one to admit that I am very green when it comes to this technique but have always been intrigued and curious to learn it as I have seen first hand how effective it is.
Local experts Wes Smith, Theron Hoffman and Philip Kirk (PJ) walk us through their set ups step by step. They go into extreme detail for the beginner angler like myself and take us to a more advance level by the end of the seminar. One thing I noticed about all three of these hardcore anglers was the enthusiasm they had for a dying technique for catching fish and yet it is how they learned to fish in their early careers starting out. Wes, Theron and PJ break it down so that the intimidation factor is thrown out the door and you can feel confident the next time you head out on the water.
Common types of baits and weights used
For those of you hearing and reading this in southeast Michigan, Domka Outdoors has everything you need to get set up from start to finish including A & S reels. I would suggest stopping by the next time you are heading down I 75 to check out their shop and see how they can get you everything you will need.
After recording this seminar I had a five hour drive home back north. As I was thinking about the seminar and the new anglers I had met, I was thankful for their time and passion in sharing this “not so common” technique of fishing. I truly believe it is the small, local seminars like this that can have the greatest impact on an anglers success and will be one they will remember for years to come and maybe pass along down the road.
Cheers
Lee
