Author: Yamaha Fishing Series

Among his contemporaries, Matt Herren has long been considered one of the best spinnerbait fishermen competing on the Bassmaster® Elite Series, but all are surprised to learn the Yamaha Pro actually keeps very few of the popular blade-type lures in his boat. Instead, Herren carries boxes of spinnerbait components, including blades, skirts, and heads, and makes his lures on the water as he needs them. “I wouldn’t have enough room in my boat to carry all the different spinnerbaits I might want during a tournament,” laughs Herren, “so I keep boxes of parts in different colors and weights and put…

The challenge for most anglers today is not catching fish, it’s finding them. “As the old adage goes you can’t catch a fish that isn’t there,” said Steve Pennaz. “Fishing’s greatest challenge has always been locating fish. That’s true even with today’s superb sonar units and mapping software.” Pennaz is in a unique position when it comes to locating fish. For the past two decades this Yamaha pro has traveled extensively in search of multi-species fishing action, both as a television host and magazine editor. He has developed an uncanny ability to find fish, a skill he shares each week…

Do you fish in salt water? Have you been frustrated by short seasons for certain species and catch limits for fish that seem to live in great abundance in the ocean? If the answer to these questions is yes, you need to understand the importance of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the primary law governing fisheries management in the U.S. It is coming up for reauthorization in Congress soon, which means the law can be changed. Senator Mark Begich(left) hears from roundtable participants on topics surrounding the Congressional reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act. In preparation for the debate to come, a group…

Yamaha Series Northern Pike When veteran bass angler Jeff Kriet has a tournament on lakes where smallmouth bass dominate, the Yamaha Pro always gears up for another species, as well. That fish is the northern pike, and Kriet looks forward to catching them, even though he can’t take them to the weigh-in scales. “They’re really fun to catch because they produce such violent strikes, fight hard, and grow to huge sizes,” explains Kriet, whose largest northern pike to date weighed just under 20 pounds. “I often catch northerns when I’m looking for smallmouths, and it’s hard not to just spend…

Bluefin Tuna Small Boat Yamaha Series Summertime presents an interesting fishing opportunity for outboard boat owners in the Mid-Atlantic region as schools of small-to-midsize bluefin tuna take up residence on the middle grounds. That means that boats incapable of making the run to the edge of the Continental Shelf, and the many submarine canyons that attract yellowfin and bigeye tuna, have a shot at catching those species’ very substantial inshore cousins. Bluefin are hard-fighting game fish that can grow to four times the size of their next largest relative. These summer fish tend to weigh between 30 and 100 pounds…

Coast Guard Safety Inspections It was a hot Saturday afternoon in July, and the river was busy with boats returning from the ocean waiting to pass through a narrow railroad bridge a quarter mile from the inlet. There were recreational boats of all sizes—large sportfish and cruiser types, personal watercraft and outboards of very description. While waiting to make the passage, a familiar orange vessel appeared off our starboard side with its blue revolving light shining brightly. It was a Coast Guard RIB, short for rigid inflatable boat, and a guardsman was standing on the bow motioning to our boat.…

Jigging Flounder Among the most popular and readily available saltwater species found along the East and Gulf coasts are those funny-looking flatfish called flounder. Don’t let the name and strange appearance fool you into thinking these fish are lethargic bottom dwellers because nothing could be further from the truth. Flounder just use a slightly different modus operandi than more prized gamefish such as striped bass, red drum, bluefish and sea trout. When you pursue them using light tackle, you’d be surprised at their ability to bend the rod, especially when you tie into a nice one. A nice brace of…

Yamaha Series Docking Everyone knows that close-quarters maneuvering can represent one of the most stressful times for most boaters. Whether pulling into a marina, shore- side restaurant or launch ramp, not wanting to look like a newbie can really turn the knuckles white. Add some adverse conditions to the mix—like foul wind or current—and you can suddenly feel every eye on shore staring at you – just waiting for you to make a mistake. Of course, there are always boaters who, no matter the conditions, just masterfully grease every landing regardless of where or how tight the space. How do…

Jigs have long been acknowledged as some of the most effective lures for winter bass fishing, but Yamaha Pro Bill Lowen considers them just as effective during the hot summer months, too. The only thing Lowen changes is how he presents the lure. “I believe the presentation you use is actually more important than your jig choice,” explains Lowen, “and the reason is because in winter you’re going after lethargic, inactive bass, while in summer those same bass are far more active and willing to chase a jig. In winter, you’re usually hoping for a feeding-type response, but now in…

There’s a good reason tournament angler Kelly Jordon describes the hot months of summer as one of his favorite bass fishing seasons. The Yamaha Pro follows fish from shallow water to deep during the day, a technique he learned during years of guiding at Lake Fork in Texas. “The key to following bass in summer is fishing an area that has some type of route like an old roadbed, a tree line, or a creek channel leading from the shallows to deep water nearby,” Jordon emphasizes. “The bass move back and forth between shallow water and deep, so finding a…

For second-year Bassmaster® Elite tournament angler Chris Zaldain, finding bass on lakes he’s never fished before involves a lot more than casting his favorite lure and hoping it lands in front of a hungry fish. The Yamaha Pro actually starts “fishing” a new tournament lake with hours of Internet research and map study weeks before he ever arrives at the water’s edge. In the process, Zaldain, 28, formulates not only a Plan A on how he intends to fish during the competition, but also a backup Plan B, and sometimes even a Plan C. It’s a system that works, too;…

For millions of Americans, there is no place they would rather be than on the water enjoying the boating experience. Whether you are water skiing, fishing or just enjoying time with friends on a beautiful sunny day, being on the water is an extremely popular form of recreation. As with any outdoor activity, there are precautions that should be considered, and not all of them revolve around the safety equipment or the safe operation of your vessel. Everyone who spends a lot of time on the water shares a concern about exposure to the sun and, without taking the proper…

Only a handful of fishermen have attained the reputation and status of Capt. Jake Jordan in the world of saltwater fly fishing. He attained his incredible bank of knowledge by catching almost every oceanic gamefish that swims on the fly. How many people can you name who have caught salmon sharks in Alaska on a fly rod? Jordan has over 40 years of experience as one of the top flats and tarpon guides in the Florida Keys. He pioneered a series of exclusive saltwater fly fishing schools for bonefish and billfish, taking small groups of anglers to exotic locales like…

Many boaters have trim tabs and rarely use them. Others may use some tab if an overweight passenger leans the boat to one side. But so many benefits can be derived from trim tabs that they should be a constant for any operator. From The Start A planing hull usually experiences the bow rising when you initially advance the throttle. That causes the thrust from the prop(s) to be aimed farther downward, robbing you of efficiency. It’s not until the boat builds enough speed to pass its own bow wake that the bow drops and the boat can proceed at…

On a recent trip to South Dakota’s Lake Oahe, often described as one of the nation’s premier smallmouth bass fisheries, Yamaha Pro Jeff Kriet left most of his fishing tackle in his truck. He didn’t forget it; he knew he wouldn’t need anything except two spinning rods and a box full of small soft plastic lures. By day’s end, he’d caught and released more than 30 smallmouths. “For me, summertime smallmouth fishing in clear water means using finesse tactics, not heavy tackle,” explains Kriet, a veteran Bassmaster® Elite angler known for his expertise with light lines and small lures. “Once…

Dorado Dolphin Mahi Mahi Dorado are a wildly popular game fish, not to mention spectacular table fare. The native Hawaiians liked these fish so much they named them twice — mahimahi. And if you’ve ever caught one of significant size you probably did a double take, too. They are fast, strong and can compete with any billfish in the jumping department. Set the hook, and they are immediately airborne. Hook up a 15-pound dorado on almost any tackle and it will make a good showing of itself, but on light trolling, plugging or spinning tackle they are a blast. Dorado…

From their inception, electronic navigational devices capable of providing accurate positional information on a real-time basis have proven to be a major benefit to commercial and military vessels. The earliest was Loran (Long-Range Navigational System) which relied on a chain of shore-based radio towers that transmitted signals on predetermined frequencies at specific time intervals. The first generation of Loran, called Loran A, required a huge onboard reciver unit and an engineering degree to operate. The Loran A only had a modest degree of accuracy, so very few ever made their way onto recreational boats. That model was followed by an…

The would-be knockout punch you threw failed to deliver. You’ve called a strutting spring gobbler into range, aimed at his fist-sized head and fired. Problem is, the bird flopped then got up like a boxer in the ring with some fight left in him, and is running, or worse — flying off. It’s your move, now or never. Most of the time, it’s best to call a wild turkey into range, and squeeze off a shot aimed at the standing bird’s head and neck. You’ve tried that and failed. Though it’s not the best way to anchor a spring gobbler,…

Deep Water Trolling Trolling is one of the most productive ways to catch inshore game fish. It allows you to target and cover lots of water as you motor around pulling lures. But not all trolling methods can be accomplished without a lot of specialized rods, reels and terminal tackle. For instance, one of the most popular methods of trolling for striped bass and bluefish is using wire line, and that requires an investment in rods, reels, line and a pile of expensive lures that can easily cost more than $1,000. If you’re a more casual angler that doesn’t want to…