I always look for products that make me a better bass
fisherman. From products that make life easier to increasing my catches,
I usually need all the help I can get. Excalibur introduces a new line
of tungsten weights for 2003.
The Excalibur Tg weights help me catch
more fish because tungsten has several advantages over lead. Tungsten
weights transmit twice the sound of lead weights. This feature is especially
important with Carolina rigs. Carolina rigs have always used a glass
bead to produce a sound when dragging the bottom. Tg weights double
the sound on my rigs.
Sound is also useful when using a Texas rigged tube with a bead. Bullet
weights and glass beads are useful tools for the bass fisherman. The
added sound attracts fish and causes reaction strikes.
Tungsten is more sensitive allowing the
fisherman to feel the bottom or other structure more easily. This is
a benefit for any
rigging used. A 3/8 oz tungsten Texas rig worm permits the angler
to fish deep structure like standing timber more efficiently. Light
bites
are detectable, limbs and cover are easier to find, and defining
structure is easier with the added sensitivity of tungsten weights.
Excalibur Tg weights are 25%
smaller than lead weights. When I flip a tube, I like the lure to enter
the water with the smallest splash as possible. A smaller weight aids
in a softer entry. The new weights have a plastic insert allowing the
weight to slide freely and insure the there are no nicks in your line.
The insert makes the weight easier to peg when needed and prevent abrasion
that can occur when insert a toothpick or other pegging tool. Increasing
hooking ratios is another plus to smaller size.
Tungsten is environmentally safe. Many states are
looking at the environmental impact of lead. Now I can catch
fish and protect
the waters that I fish, too. With the help of the ProTeam,
Excalibur has developed a new professional grade tungsten weight. This
weight
will perform all the same tactics as lead weight only better.
A Favorite Technique
My favorite method to incorporate the
new weights into my fishing is pitching a tube bait. In late spring, I will tie on a soft plastic
tube with a glass bead and a bullet weight. I pitch the bait next to
trees, grass beds, or docks.
If
you notice the tube below, I will give you a great tip for adding
color to the lure. Use newspaper to add black color to clear or white
plastic
baits. Simple roll the bait on any black area of the newsprint. This
gives the bait a dark back similar to a shad.
This setup is great when bass are feeding
on shad. I can pitch the bait under docks, into treetops, or any thick
cover that
may hold bass. After the cast, I twitch the rod a few times, as the
lure descends. Once the lure makes contact with the bottom, I will
hop the lure a few times. Then I retrieve the bait and cast to the
next prime area.
In areas like south Louisiana, tube baits cover grass beds quickly.
A great technique for fishing canals and bayous in Louisiana is pitching
a tube. I switch my trolling motor to a medium speed with a constant
setting. I make brief pitches to the holes and cuts in the line of
grass. The lure is only in one spot for about three or four seconds
before I reel the lure back and make another cast.
This style of fishing is intense. However, once you catch a few fish
in an area, slow down and pass through the area again. On many occasions,
I have found good concentration of fish by covering an area quickly.
This style will usually produce a limit of fish because of the amount
of water traversed.
From Carolina rigs to Texas rigs, the new Excalibur Tg weights are
great edition for the 2003 fisherman.
About the author: Jeff Bruhl is a member of the Louisiana Outdoors Writer Association, pro angler, and a pharmacist. His website, www.marshbass.com, covers freshwater fishing across Louisiana and the gulf coast. Each Saturday morning between 5-7 am CST, a bass fishing report can be heard on the Outdoors with Don Dubuc Radio Show (www.dontheoutdoorsguy.com) on 870 AM from the New Orleans station. Jeff has made numerous television and radio appearances on shows like Paradise Louisiana, The Big Fish, and ABC26.com. From tips on youtube.com to weekly reports on his website, his articles and reports provide tips and tactics for bass anglers in the sportsman paradise. Jeff’s sponsors include Abu Garcia, Xpoint hooks, Bud Light, Louisiana Fish Fry Products, Power Pole, Stanley Jigs and Spinnerbaits, Skeeter, Dockside Marine, Rat-L-Trap, and Berkley. For more information about fishing in Louisiana, drop Jeff an email at jeff@marshbass.com.
