The Cheater Hook!

Yes you read right I said cheater hook and once you fish these babies you will know what I mean.  They are so effective at drawing bass to strike you will feel like you are cheating.  So what exactly am I talking about here, I'm talking about a very uniquely designed under spin hook from Lazyman Hooks.  These hooks really let your bait look and fall naturally while at the same time giving you an effective under spin.  A picture would likely help here so here is one that I've also added some point as to why I think these are the best under spins on the market today.

Now you will never hear me pushing a product I personally don't believe in and I also won't push a product that I don't use.  I've seen the Cheater Hook around for a while and also know some of Lazyman Hooks Pro Staffers, so yes I had to try them.  I ordered and received my first batch a few weeks ago to give a try but it wasn't until yesterday during a tournament that I had a chance to fish them.   I know some of you are saying I broke one of my own rules by trying something new the first time during a tournament, but in this case I had to after seeing what was happening.  The bass were chasing shad in the Lily Pads and the shad were jumping out of the water and landing on top of the pads to get away from the bass.  They would flip back off the pad for a waiting bass.  We had thrown a couple different baits with no luck when I remembered I had tied on one of the cheater hooks with a Creme Lures 3.5 inch Reel Scremer swim bait.  I grabbed that rod, added some Liquid Mayhem Fish Attractants Garlic Minnow and made a cast.  The bait landed on a pad and when I pulled it off wham it got hammered and soon our first keeper was in the boat.

A couple of cast later the second keeper was in the boat and that is when I got my teammate a Cheater Hook, Reel Scremer and some Liquid Mayhem.  We limited out before 9:00 in the morning and culled fish the rest of the day.  It was one of the better days fishing I've had in a few months.  BTW we finished in the money in 7th place which could have been better if we had gotten some of the better fish we hooked out of the pads, but that is fishing.  The Cheater Hooks are available with different size weights and hooks as well as Willow or Colorado style blades in silver or gold.  They have the size you need to match the baits you want to use so you can match the hatch like my teammate and I did yesterday.  Remember matching the hatch is very important because it is hard to get a bass feeding on small shad to hit a big bait or one that doesn't look like a shad.

After yesterday's performance the Cheater Hooks are 110% Bounty Hunter approved.  In fact I believe in them so much I'm now a member of Team Lazyman.  That is great for me but it is also good news for you as I can offer you a 10% discount on some of these awesome hooks.  Just go to Lazyman Hooks place an order and use code DH2016 for your discount.  I know once you try them you will be back for more of these awesome hooks!!!


Until next time Tight Lines and Take a Kid Fishing!!!

You can also Follow me on
Twitter - @BHOAdventures
FaceBook - Derek Herring Fishing
YouTube - Bounty Hunter Outdoor Adventures

Also Checkout the great folks that help make my fishing adventure possible and the tackle I use and trust.
Ardent Reels
Santone Lures
Creme Lures
Dunamis Rods
Liquid Mayhem Fish Attractants
Lazyman Hooks
Stealth Rod Holders
New Pro Products
Squiddies Flip Reel
Sticky Fish Decals

An Awesome Fishing Tool!!

I've been around fishing for over 50 years now and to say the least I've seen a lot of different product out there that have been very inventive and some that really don't help you.  Well I've come across a new product from the "Land Down Under" that I believe is a great tool!!  This little jewel would make an awesome addition to anyone's tackle box, but if you have kids you have to have them.  It is Ross Bain's Hook-Eze and let me tell you just like their motto says it does take the "Pricks" out of fishing!!  Not only will it teach your kids to easily tie knots it protects them during the process.  Even an old dog like me can use it and I do even during tournaments.  Now I could go through a long explanation on how it works but I don't have to as the product itself comes with great instructions.  So as they say a picture is worth a thousand works so let me just add those pictures.

As you can see from those pictures that come with the Hook-Eze, this little tool can be used for a lot of different things while you are fishing and even while you are traveling to and from fishing.  Normally I'd do a video or 2 to show you how to use this tool, but once more that has been taken care of by the Hook-Eze folks.  Here is a link to Ross Bain's YouTube Channel so you can watch all their instructional videos.  Ross Bain's Hook-Eze.   Even though I've give you a link to Ross' videos I do have to add this one video here as it really show how easy it is for kids to tie a knot with the Hook-Eze.  I couldn't have made a video that good myself even if I tried 10 or 12 times.

 

As you can see that young lady makes it look very easy.  Kids these days pickup so much from videos and other information off the internet that I bet your kids could take a Hook-Eze, watch that video and be able to tie perfect knots in less than 15 minutes.  Y'all should all know by now that I'm a huge advocate for getting kids fishing and this is a fun way to get them started.  So in closing, the Hook-Eze is without a doubt Bounty Hunter approved.  You owe it to yourself and your kids to get a couple of these little jewels.  Hey they would be a great birthday gift or even make great stocking stuffer for any fisherman on your Christmas list!!

Until next time Tight Lines and Take a Kid Fishing!!!

You can also Follow me on
Twitter - @BHOAdventures
FaceBook - Derek Herring Fishing
YouTube - Bounty Hunter Outdoor Adventures

Also Checkout the great folks that help make my fishing adventure possible and the tackle I use and trust.
Ardent Reels
Santone Lures
Creme Lures
Dunamis Rods
Liquid Mayhem Fish Attractants
Lazyman Hooks
Stealth Rod Holders
New Pro Products
Squiddies Flip Reel
Sticky Fish Decals

Ardent Apex Tournament Reel Review

I really identify more with you average weekend fishermen than I do with Tournament Pros when it comes to fishing.   I work a regular 40 hour a week job so that I can enjoy fishing the weekends and vacations like 90% of all fishermen.  Sure I'm on the Pro Staff for a few tackle companies but that is by my choice because I believe in their products so much I want to promote them.  If you notice a lot of the products that I use are not the top of the line most expensive, they are the ones where I feel I'm getting the best bang for my buck.  If they work for me I pass along that information so you folks can also get the best bang for your buck as well.  That is why I decided to fish the Ardent Apex Tournament series reels.  The Apex Tournament reel is not the top of the line Ardent baitcasting reel available, but it is likely a reel in the price range for a lot of the working men and women that fish on a budget.  Fishing on a budget is really hard to do these days when a quality reel generally costs you  $200 or more.  To have 5 or more of those reels you are looking at over a thousand dollars of your hard earned money, and that is just reels.  Us working folks can't afford that kind of money so we generally settle for cheaper reels of much less quality.  Well folks Ardent has fixed that problem for all of us with the Apex Tournament series reels!!

Before I get into how the Apex performed for me in the field here are the specifics on the reel.  Priced for the average fisherman at under $100 this reel brings a lot to the table.  It really has pro-level features to help you get the most out of your money and time on the water. The frame is made of a very lightweight high strength aluminum that cuts down on your overall rod weight which in turn helps you from getting fatigued.  The spool is machined aluminum as well which cuts down on weight and helps you make longer casts.  The Apex Tournament has a quality 8+1 ball-bearing system that has the feel and function equal to those upper end reels with 11 and 12 ball-bearings.  The Apex is further complemented with an externally adjustable (270-degree) magnetic braking system that is equal to the systems found on reels costing $300 or more.  Ardent added some extra details to make this reel very comfortable to fish.  I'm not a big guy and I don't have big hands so it's compact footprint is well designed and I didn't have wrist and hand fatigue like I get with some of the reels on the market.  In addition the extra long swept back aluminum handle and swept back forged aluminum drag star enhance this reels fish-ability.  The Apex Tournament comes in a very versatile 6.5:1 gear ratio making it extremely usable with all types of lures and techniques.  On top of all of these features the Apex Tournament is a very stylish reel that gives the appearance of reels costing 2, 3 and even 4 times as much.  In other words you will look just like the Pros fishing one of these reels.

The Apex Tournament has all the necessary features but I know each of you want to know just how they perform on the water.  Well if I had to sum up their performance in one word it would be Smooth!!   Everything about this reel is smooth.  It casts smooth (and long), it retrieves smooth, the drag functions smooth, I mean everything about this reel is smooth!!  Yesterday while pre-fishing for a tournament on Lake Houston we found the bass swallow in the cover.  We had to keep the boat back away from the cover to not spook the fish and we also had to present the bait so it didn't make a huge splash.   That is difficult with a big jig unless you are able to effectively pitch longer than normal distances. I had absolutely no problems pitching my jigs twice the normal distance with the Apex Tournament.  The reel really did help me catch an above average stringer for this lake.  Lake Houston is not a noted Texas bass lake and your average stingers fall into the 10-12 pound range.  Well yesterday my best 5 fish would have put me in the 17-18 pound range.  That is huge when you are talking tournament fishing, but it is also huge when you are talking weekend pleasure fishing too.  Everyone wants to catch bigger bass and the best stringer they can on every trip to the water.  Being able to make longer casts or in this case pitches will allow this to happen.  Also like I stated above the small foot-print of this reel makes it comfortable to use all day long.  I've always had hand and wrist fatigue issues due to my smaller hands.  This did not happen yesterday even though I was jig fishing most of the day.  In fact this morning while I'm writing this review my hands and wrists feel fine.  That wasn't the case just last weekend as the morning after fishing I could almost not use my left hand and wrist as they hurt from fishing the day before.
 

 Ardent Tackle is an American owned company that design they products right here in the good ole US of A from the inputs of professional anglers.  Their administration, engineering, quality assurance, sales and marketing folks are all employed right here in the USA. This gives you confidence that every Ardent product will be of the highest quality, and I can tell you all the Apex Tournament reels I have are top notch in the quality department.  Ardent believes in quality and service so much that they offer an unheard of 3 year warranty on all their reels.  That is 2 years long that any of the competitor reels on the market.   If you have issues with an Ardent reel you return it to them and not only do they fix the problem, they will clean, lubricate and install any upgraded components that are available.  The repaired reel is then quality and performance tested before it is returned to you within 10 business days at Ardent's expense.   Ardent will also repair your reels that are out of warranty for a minimal charge based on the necessary repair and return shipping.  What this tells me is Ardent really believes in their product and also cares about their customers at all levels.

In closing I will say that the Ardent Apex Tournament series reels are Bounty Hunter approved.  I am very confident you will have a great experience with their reels as well.  Ardent does offer higher grade reels as well if you want top of the line.  Even their top of the line Apex Grand series reels are priced under $200 which is half of any other top of the line reel on the market.  I am very sure you will be extremely satisfied like me and thousands of other professional and amateur anglers with Ardent reels and their commitment to their customers!!

Until next time Tight Lines and Take a Kid Fishing!!!

You can also Follow me on
Twitter - @BHOAdventures
FaceBook - Derek Herring Fishing
YouTube - Bounty Hunter Outdoor Adventures

Also Checkout the great folks that help make my fishing adventure possible and the tackle I use and trust.
Ardent Reels
Santone Lures
Creme Lures
Dunamis Rods
Liquid Mayhem Fish Attractants
Stealth Rod Holders
New Pro Products
Squiddies Flip Reel
Sticky Fish Decals

Kel-Tec PMR-30

I've been wanting to get my hands on a Kel-Tec PMR-30 for a long time.  This gun has been out on the market since 2010 but they can be hard to find and when you do find one they are priced over the MSRP.  Well even though I didn't hit the big 1.5 Billion Power Ball jackpot this past week, I did have some luck as I was able to locate an unfired PMR-30 through a private sale.  The price was right and though the timing wasn't perfect I had to jump at the chance of owning one of these guns.  I had read and watched a lot of reviews on this handgun and most of them gave a raving reviews.  Most folks had very few if any issues with the firearm right out of the box, but as with all weapons you have to expect a little break in time before they operate as fully expected.  The reason for this break-in period is that the parts need to become accustom to each other, or in other words they need time to break in so that they work together properly.  However this was not the case when I took this little jewel to the range on Friday.  Now I didn't burn up the range and fire a lot of rounds.  The PMR-30 is a .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire (WMR) and for the pass few years most Rimfire ammo has been tough to come by.  You have to hit a bunch of different stores and if you are lucky you can find a few boxes.  Most if not all stores are even limiting how much you can buy it has gotten that bad.  However my luck continued and I was able to find a few hundred rounds but I didn't want to shoot up all the ammo I was able to find.  So I only fired 100 rounds on this first, but not last, trip to the range.

Finding .22 WMR ammo can be tough, but what makes it even harder is that Kel-Tec includes this card in with the PMR-30.  As you can see they recommend only shooting ammo with 40 grain or bigger bullets for proper function.   Well this old man couldn't find any ammo locally that had 40 grain bullets.  All I was able to find was some Hornady ammo loaded with 30 grain A-Max bullets.  I really wanted to test my new gun so I bought 300 rounds of this ammo.  I knew as I headed to the range if I had any functioning issues with this weapon it might be caused by light bullets in this load.  Why does it make a difference, you might ask.  Well the PMR-30 is a blow back operated semi-auto loading handgun.  This means that each time you pull the trigger on the loaded weapon a round is fired, the blow back from the fired round causes the slide to move to the rear and eject the spent round.  As the slide spring pushes the slide back forward a new round is picked up from the magazine and chambered.  OK you might say,

I know all that but why is a bigger bullet required to make the PMR-30 function correctly.  Well now we have to get into Laws of Physics to explain what actually happens. Basically the law that applies here is "For every actions there is an Equal and Opposite Reaction".  Because it takes more force to move a bigger bullet down the barrel of the gun, then there is more force applied to the slide as it is moved back.  With the lighter bullets less force is needed to move the bullet down the barrel so there is less force available to move the slide back.  If there isn't enough force moving the slide back then you can have ejection and feeding issues in a semi-auto loader.  In the case of the Hornady 30 grain V-Max ammo I had no issues.  The PMR-30 functioned without any problems through the first 100 rounds.  Does this mean all PMR-30s will function properly on this ammo?  I can't say that because each weapon is unique and each will have their own characteristics, but I'm happy mine does.

I know you are wanting to know how well the PMR-30 shot from an accuracy standpoint.  Well it shot pretty dang good even if it was the first time I've ever shot it.  No I don't have a picture of the target as I just plain forgot to take a picture.  Did I cut one big hole in the center of the target, no I didn't as there were some fliers not in the main group.  A lot of these fliers are because I'm just not use to the feel and hold of this weapon.  I'm a 1911 man and I do my best shooting when I have a 1911 in my hands.  Though the PMR-30 is somewhat similar to a 1911 it does have a different feel.  If I took my time there were no issues hitting what I wanted, but I had to concentrate on my hold and squeezing the trigger.  Being able to relax and just shoot like I can with my 1911s
will come with more practice.  I'm hoping to build up my .22 WMR ammo supplies some then I'll get very serious in learning to shoot this little jewel without having to think so much.  The other thing that  I need to get use to from a shooting standpoint are the PMR-30 sights.  I know there are a lot of folks that just love a 3-Dot sight system, but I've never really enjoyed them.  I think trying to line up the 3 dots distracts me some from my target which should be my main focus point. The fiber optic dots do stand out very well on these sights with the green front and red back dots.  I can understand why folks love these, but for me it is going to take some time getting use to them.  They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks and I sort of fall into that category, meaning I'm an old dog, but I've been known to learn some new tricks if I practice enough.  That is the real key to shooting well, lots and lots of practice.  I really think if  I learn to ignore the dots and stop trying to align them I'll start to shoot it much better.  Time will tell once I'm able to get more ammo for her to eat.  The one thing that I won't have to practice to get use to is the PMR-30's trigger.  This has to be the finest feeling trigger I've ever shot on a handgun right out of the box.  Sure I've had tuned and polished triggers on my 1911s that might be a little better but they aren't better by much.  The pull of this trigger will come in about 4 pounds and it is super crisp on the break.  Those factors will help me get much better accuracy as my practice progresses.

The PMR-30 comes with nice Ambidextrous Safeties (safety on both sides of the weapon) that are positioned in a very similar place as the 1911s I'm accustomed to shooting.  They are easily reached by the thumb of the shooting hand, left or right.  The Slide Release on the PMR-30 is a little further back than the release on a 1911 and only found on the left side of the weapon.  I did find the Slide Release somewhat difficult to operate with just my shooting hand.  In other words it is a pretty stiff release.  In fact I just started to pull the slide slightly to the rear and releasing it instead of using the release.  The Magazine Release on the PMR-30 is also in a very different place than those found on most handguns. Again this is not a big issue, just something to get use to and heck with the PMR-30 having 30 round magazines it is not like you would be changing mags a lot.  That is right, the PMR-30 has 30 round mags and they fit flush in the grip.  I can't think of any other handgun that gives you that many rounds without having some type of extended mag that comes well out of the grip.  Not only does the PMR-30 give you 30 rounds but it gives it to you in an ultra-lite package. When fully loaded

this handgun comes in at just over a pound which is super light for a full sized handgun of any kind.  This will make the PMR-30 an awesome choice for hikers that want to carry along some protection.  No the .22 WMR is not what you would call the best round for personal protection, but it is a whole lot better than a sharp stick or a knife for that matter.  Hornady even provides ammo for this in their Critical Defense line which means it isn't a slouch from a protection standpoint either.  Think about it, your standard round for the military's 5.56 in the M-16 only fires a 55 grain bullet.  So if you get some of the Critical Defense 45 grain offering or even the Federal Game-Shok 50 grain offering you aren't too far under the bullet size of your military. I've found that an old Uncle Mike 1911 holster with spare mag pouch fits the PMR-30 nicely.  You can carry the fully loaded weapon with a fully loaded spare mag and still be under 2 pounds.  For those of us that spend a lot of time in the woods but don't like to carry a lot of weight this is perfect, specially if those woods happen to have coyotes, hogs or other varmints that you might run across while you are out and about.  I know for a fact there have been lots of coyotes and hogs dispatched with .22 WMR rounds, you just have to put the little bullet where it counts.  After shooting this handgun I know with a little more practice it will be easy to put those shots where they count!

In closing, the PMR-30 is Bounty Hunter approved and I will be doing a lot of shooting with this awesome handgun in the future.  I only hope that finding the .22 WMR ammo starts to get better soon so I can get more and more range time in with her.  I also see this jewel strapped on my side a lot when I'm up at my property hiking, filling feeders or just relaxing.

Until next time Tight Lines and Take a Kid Fishing!!!

You can also Follow me on
Twitter - @BHOAdventures
FaceBook - Derek Herring Fishing
YouTube - Bounty Hunter Outdoor Adventures

Also Checkout the great folks that help make my fishing adventure possible and the tackle I use and trust.
Santone Lures
Creme Lures
Dunamis Rods
Liquid Mayhem Fish Attractants
Stealth Rod Holders
New Pro Products
Squiddies Flip Reel
Sticky Fish Decals

Nitecore MH20 Palm-Size Spotlight

I'm one of the lucky folks that is able to test out and review the Nitecore MH20 flashlight.  It is labeled as a Palm-Size Spotlight and folks it lives up to that name 110%.  This light is in one of the smallest packages I've
seen and produces an incredible 1000 Lumens.  On top of that this light can be recharged when using a 18650 Lithium Ion battery using a standard micro USB that a lot of cell phones use for recharging.  You can still run the light using 2 CR123 batteries if necessary.  I know I plan on keeping some CR123 batteries handy just in case I'm not able to recharge my light.  The package I received also came with a lot of accessories.  you get a holster, belt clip and lanyard that can all be very useful depending on what you are doing.   It also comes with some spare O-rings and USB port cover to keep this little jewel waterproof.  OH yea, I didn't mention that the MH20 is waterproof up to 6 feet of submersion.  That make this little light a great fishing companion!!

This light can put out 1000 Lumens for up to 2 hours on a full charge, which is amazing.  However we don't always need a light that bright so the MH20 has a total of 5 power settings that can fit your lighting needs for what ever you are doing.  The lower settings also use a lot less power which gives you extended battery life.  At the lowest setting of 1 Lumens this light can last up to 235 hours on a single charge.  Now 1 Lumens isn't very bright, but if you are in the Deer Blind and need to see but don't want the Deer to see you, this setting would be perfect.  The mid range setting of 230 Lumens is likely more than enough for your normal use of a flashlight and at that setting you will get almost 6 hours on a single charge.  Now I don't know about you folks, but for me 6 hours is a really long time.  In fact most if not all of your non-rechargeable lights won't give you that many hours or be that bright using standard batteries.  Here are some pictures to show you just how bright this baby can get.  I'm sorry for them being a little blurry, but it isn't easy trying to hold the light on the can and take a picture at the same time.

Not only does the MH20 have 5 power settings this light also has a Strobe, SOS and Location Beacon settings.  If you are in tune with the tactical world you will know that a strobe light will disorient a possible attacker making it hard for them to focus on you.  So it would make a great companion on the nightstand next to your home protection weapon of choice.  In fact the MH20 is built on a 1 inch tube so you could rail mount it on your favorite weapon with standard scope ring.  By the way the MH20 Strobe is one of the most intense strobes I've seen on any light currently on the market.  Now I hope that none of you will ever have to use the SOS or Location Beacon but if the need does arise they function perfectly.  They are very bright at 1000 Lumens and will be seen for incredible distances.  In other words, if you are in trouble, this light might just save your life because it will be seen for miles.

Now lets talk Warranty.  The MH20 comes with a 5 year quality warranty that will cover any defects and malfunctions.  This means that your MH20 will be repaired for free if you find a defect or malfunction.  Even after this 5 year period is up you still have a limited warranty where your MH20 can be repaired for the cost of the parts and shipping.  Now of course if you misuse or decide to modify the MH20 in any way the warranty would be nullified, which is expected.  Now I've had some lights in the past that come with a limited warranty but never any with this much coverage.  That tells me that Nitecore really stands behind their product which generally means it is a great product.  Companies that offer this type of warranty are really concerned about their production and quality assurance process and that gives us the consumers an awesome product.

Now I know what your are thinking; you are thinking I'm only giving this light a great review because I got it for free.  That is not true, even when a company provides me with a product for free I give my full opinion of the product.   I tell these companies up front that I will review their product, but I'm going to tell the truth 110% of the time.   In the case of the MH20 I did find one thing that I'd change if I could.  I'd move the function switch from where it currently is positioned to the back of the light.  For normal use of this light this switch is in a perfect position and easy to use without difficulty.  However if you do mount the light on a weapon having the switch on the back of the light would be better.

The Nitecore MH20 isn't what you might call cheap, but in these days you get what you pay for and in this case this light is worth the cost.  The fact that this light is rechargeable will save you a lot of money on batteries you won't have to buy.  In fact I have a couple of high output light that take standard batteries and it seem like I'm always having to change them.  If you want a bright light then you have to realize that brightness takes power and that eats up batteries.  So just from the saving you will see for not having to replace batteries every time you turn around the MH20 is worth the cost.  If you are interested in getting an MH20 here is a direct link Nitecore MH20.   For a limited time anyone that reads this review can also save 10% on the MH20 by using my special code: BHOFISH.  Not sure if the MH20 is the right light for you, then go check out Best Light for a complete assortment of lights.  They are who I go to first for my lights as they carry top of the line products at the best prices.  If you are looking for a great light that you can stick in your pocket and won't take up a lot of room then check out their Pocket Carry Lights as I'm sure you will find one that fits your needs.

In closing, the MH20 is Bounty Hunter approved and I will be using this little light a lot.  It will have a place on my boat at all times as well as seeing a lot of duty when I'm hunting or out and about in the woods.  In fact I'll likely be ordering a second MH20 to keep on my night stand right next to my 1911!!

Until next time Tight Lines and Take a Kid Fishing!!!

You can also Follow me on
Twitter - @BHOAdventures
FaceBook - Derek Herring Fishing
YouTube - Bounty Hunter Outdoor Adventures

Also Checkout the great folks that help make my fishing adventure possible and the tackle I use and trust.
Santone Lures
Creme Lures
Dunamis Rods
Liquid Mayhem Fish Attractants
Stealth Rod Holders
New Pro Products
Squiddies Flip Reel
Sticky Fish Decals

My Rules for Fishing Tournaments

I get asked all the time what are my secrets for successful tournament fishing.  I don't know that I have any real secrets, but I do have some rules that I follow and seem to work well for me.  So here are my Top 5 rules for fishing tournaments, hope they help.

1. Always have fun:
If you are not having fun then it is not worth doing.  Sure we all have those tournaments where we couldn't buy a bite with a million dollars.  Even on days like that you have to find fun in what you are doing.  Even when I'm not fishing a tournament I expect to catch fish every time I put my boat in the water.  However I don't catch fish on every trip to the water. In fact I have dry spells just like everyone else, but that don't make me stop fishing.  We go fishing because we enjoy the challenge of pitting ourselves against the fish, sometimes we win and sometimes the fish win.  So go into each tournament like you would go into any other day on the water, expect the best, but if things go bad find the fun in what you are doing.

2. Fish for a Limit:
Never go into a tournament looking to catch the big bass or a limit of big bass.  Approach it from the standpoint of putting a limit of bass in your well.  5 two pound bass at the weigh-in is better than 1 eight pound bass.  Now once you have your limit by all means go in hunt of that big bass, if you catch her then you have an anchor for your bag.  If you don't catch her then you are still weighing in a limit and have something to feel good about.

3. Throw what you trust, Trust what you throw:
You have to have full confidence in the baits you are fishing.  Always go with your strengths, in other words fish the baits that you know catch you the most fish.  Never and I me never try something new during a tournament.  I don't care how much you have heard about some new bait being a gift to bass fishing, don't use it the first time in a tournament.  Fishing with new baits or techniques is something you do on pleasure or practice trips.

4. Never give up on your plan:
Once you have developed a game plan or pattern for a tournament stick with your plan.  There is a reason you came up with that plan in the first place and even though it might not be working at the start of a tournament, don't give up on it too quickly.  Sure we would all like to go to our first spot and put 5 fish in the boat on the first 5 casts.  However we know that is not going to happen and in fact the chances are we might not catch any fish at the start of the day.  That doesn't mean we change what we had planned to do immediately.  It means we might have to fish a little slower, a little faster or change colors depending on conditions.  That is the thing, even a slight change in the conditions might mean we have to tweak our plan, but you don't give up on it completely.

5. Listen to your Co-Boater or Teammate:
Though I fish a lot of tournaments by myself, when I do have a teammate or co-boater I've found they can come up with great ideas.  If things are tough, listen to what they have to say and don't be too hardheaded.  Sometimes as the boater or team captain we get too locked in and miss little things that the guy in the back of the boat catches.  Always listen to what they have to say and give it some thought before dismissing it completely.  My son and son-in-law have both saved me during tournaments when I get too locked in on a plan that just isn't panning out.  Sure I said in number 4 never give up on a plan, but there are times you have to do something different.  I've found a lot of times the guy on the back of the boat has the right answer.

I hope these rules will help each of you during your tournament fishing.  They are not full proof, but as we all know nothing is full proof when it comes to fishing.   Conditions change all the time and with them the bass' mood and eating habits also change.  Always be prepared to tweak your plan to meet the changes in conditions. Oh and let me point out that you really always have to apply rule number 1!!!

Until next time Tight Lines and Take a Kid Fishing!!!

You can follow me on:

Twitter - @BHOAdventures

FaceBook - Derek Herring Fishing

YouTube - Derek Herring Fishing

Blog - Derek Herring Fishing

Also check out the great folks that help make my fishing adventures possible and the tackle I use and trust.

Ardent Outdoors

Bandit Lures

Santone Lures

Creme Lures

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Liquid Mayhem Fish Attractants

I've been bass fishing now for over 50 years and I've seen a lot of products over the years claim to be fish attractants.  Heck I'll admit I've tried almost all of them from time to time with mixed results.   What I have found is that bass as well as most fish in general must be Italian.  What......yes Italian and why I say that is most of them love Garlic.  A lot of old crusty bass fishermen will tell you the same thing.   However I've been thinking, do they really love garlic or does the garlic masks the other smells and tastes we put on our baits that fish don't like.   I know for a fact if you put Sun Block on and don't clean your hands really well then you are going to be in for a tough day fishing.  There are other things like gas, oil and foods that we get on our hands on our way to the water that just plain turn bass off like a big switch.  Hunters have been trying to mask their smell for thousands of years and it is about time fishermen learn to do the same thing.  Once you agree that masking our smells is necessary now comes the hard part, picking the right fish attractant.

Now I have to admit that most of the Garlic based attractants I've tried have had some level of success.  They range from dips to sprays of all kinds and yes they do cover up the bad smells we put on our baits and some even cover the bad tastes.  The problem with most of these though is you have to reapply way too often. This really makes their use not time effective and that especially goes when you are tournament fishing.  Every time you stop to put more attractant on your bait is time your bait is out of the water.  This can add up to a lot of missed casts during the course of the day and we all know you can't catch fish with your bait in the boat!  So not only do you want a product that removes your smell and tastes from your baits you want one that will stay on your bait for a long time.  Having to reapply every 5-10 casts is way too often and will cost you 40-50 lost casts in the course of a day.  You need a product that stays on your bait long enough to be measured in minutes and not casts.   I want my attractant to stay there and be effective for at least 30 minutes for each application.  If it stays there and is working for at least 30 minutes then I’m not wasting as much valuable time fishing.

The other thing about these so called "Fish Attractants" is most don't really attract fish.  Like I said I believe some of them do a super job covering up smells and tastes that might come off your hands onto your baits, but I don't believe they really attract fish to hit.  To attract a fish to your bait they would have to leave some type of scent trail in the water.  Sure there might be some sort of trail, but how much of a trail could they leave if you have to reapply them every few casts?   Well the way I see it they can't be leaving much of a trail if they wash off your bait that quickly.  Of course some may be better than others but in conditions where a fish needs to use their sense of smell to find your bait I have never seen any real difference.  So even though they boast about attracting fish in their advertisements, they really are only good for covering up bad smells but mostly bad tastes on your bait.

That was my thinking about all of these type of products for many years.  I had some limited success with them but never any success that would make me go out and tell other folks about them.  Well that is up until about a two years ago anyway.   It was around September of 2014 that I heard about a new attractant on the market called Liquid Mayhem.  Some of the guys on Twitter that I converse with mentioned this product and I said what the heck I'll give it a try.  Well let me tell you I am extremely happy that I did.  In this past two years I have come to realize that Liquid Mayhem does everything that all the other so called fish attractants never did! First of all it is produced using all natural scents that are made from real baits, enhanced with powerful amino acids with no gimmicks and no artificial chemicals or scents.  The Crawfish has real Crawfish in the scent and the Shad has real Shad in the scent.  It is made from what fish like to eat, and not from stuff made in a test tube in some lab.   In other words folks this stuff is the “Real McCoy” of the Fish Attractant world.  When a fish hits your bait they don't taste what some guy in a lab thinks a Crawfish tastes like, no the fish actually taste real Crawfish and that makes an unbelievably huge difference.  It will 110% cover up any bad tastes or smells you may get on your bait.  Your bait also doesn’t taste metallic or rubbery to the fish.  The fish taste something they want to eat and will really hold onto your bait.  In fact I've see where it will take you from a fish hitting and spitting your bait to hits so hard the fish tries to rip your rod out of your hand after it has been applied.

The other thing about Liquid Mayhem that sets it apart from all the others is how long it will stay on your bait.  It is a very concentrated jell that is packed with flavor but that jell holds onto your bait and lasts up to a full 30 minutes.  Remember I said an attractant wasn't worth using if you had to measure its use in casts and not in minutes, well with Liquid Mayhem the measurement is in minutes and a lot of minutes.  That saves you a lot of time during the course of the day that you are not reapplying attractant.  Saved time equals more casts and more casts equal more chances of catching fish!!  In a tournament if I can get 10, 20 or even 30 more casts in, plus I'm confident that when a Bass hits it will hold onto my bait, I am one very happy fisherman.  I have been very happy over the course of the past two years using Liquid Mayhem.  I know for a fact it has helped me in both my tournament and pleasure fishing.  I won't leave home without some Liquid Mayhem in my tackle box.  In fact I have started carrying extra tubes because when the folks I'm fishing with see me tearing up the fish and they aren't catching as many, I'm a nice guy and share some with them.

There is one other thing about Liquid Mayhem that I need to point out; Liquid Mayhem is a fish attractant. Because of the way it is made and how long it stays on your bait, it does leave a trail in the water.  Fishing in clear water I've actually watched bass cross this scent trail and change directions to find my bait.  I've also been having a lot more success when fishing muddy water than a lot of folks but seeing this happen in clear water made me realize that finally there was a product that could truly call itself a "Fish Attractant.  Speaking of muddy water success in a tournament this past January on a very muddy bayou, I was the only person using Liquid Mayhem and the only person to weigh in bass.  Everyone else were using the same types of baits and techniques I was using during the tournament, but the big difference in that muddy water was the Liquid Mayhem.  It has helped put more trophies on my shelf and more cash in my pockets.  Liquid Mayhem has become a very important tool in my tournament fishing arsenal, just as important as my favorite rod, reel and lures.  It is the only fish attractant product that I've ever had complete faith in helping me catch more and bigger fish.

As for the type of scents/flavors offered up they have Shad, Crawfish, Leach, Garlic Minnow and Garlic Crawfish (aka Crawlic).  I have personally used all except the Leach, but I have a tube of it to try really soon.  Currently the Crawlic is my go to for Jigs, Worms and Creatures with the Shad being my go to for Swim Jigs, Swim Baits and Spinnerbaits.  There are times when the plain Crawfish and Garlic Minnow seem to work better so I keep tubes of them in the boat as well.  Just like I'm well stock with my favorite baits I want to be well stocked with Liquid Mayhem.  I'm sure by now you all know this, but I do have to say that Liquid Mayhem is Derek Herring Fishing Approved before ending this article.  I truly believe in this product and recommend that each of you give it a try!

Until next time Tight Lines and Take a Kid Fishing!!!

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Also check out the great folks that help make my fishing adventures possible and the tackle I use and trust.

Ardent Reels

Santone Lures

Creme Lures

Dunamis Rods

Liquid Mayhem Fish Attractants

Lazyman Hooks

New Pro Products

Fishidy

Stealth Rod Holders

Squiddies Flip Reel