INDIANA – Summer is near. The kids are out of school. The sun is shining, and the air is warm – It’s time to go fishing.
Here are some suggestions on how to stock your tackle box this summer:
Terminal tackle: hooks – size 6 to 8; 1/0 to 4/0, weights – 1/16 oz. and 1/8 oz. split shot; 1/8 to 1/2 oz. bullet-shaped, bobbers – 3/8” and 1/2” pencil-style clip-on or slip (with stopper), and jig heads – 1/16 and 1/32 oz. “crappie”; 1/6 and 1/10 oz. “Ned Rig” (stand-up or mushroom-style head)
Lures: inline spinners – 1/16 oz. and 1/8 oz.; color: chartreuse (yellow-green), beetle spins – 1/16 oz. and 1/8 oz.; color: green, spinnerbaits – 1/4 oz. and 1/2 oz.; colors: white and chartreuse, crankbaits – Iipless and lipped; colors: shad, bluegill, and chartreuse, and soft plastics – worms and stick baits in black and green pumpkin; curly tail grubs in white and chartreuse; frogs with a double hook in white and green
Other items: needle nose pliers, fishing line clippers (e.g., nail clippers), bug spray, sunscreen, lip balm, first aid items/kit, extra fishing license in a clear “zipper” bag, and Fishing Guide.
Types of lures
Inline Spinners
- Metal blade that spins around a shaft with an animal-like hair skirt
- Runs fairly shallow but varying retrieval speed can alter the depth
- Effective in all seasons
Spoons
- Metal blade with either a treble hook or single hook attached
- Wobbles when reeled in
- Effective in all seasons
Spinnerbaits
- Metal blade that spins around a metal shaft with tails of animal-like hair or plastic skirt
- Run fairly shallow but varying retrieval speed can alter the dept
- Effective in all seasons
Soft Plastics
- Plastic worms, crayfish, tubes, or frogs
- Add weight or sinker Hook can be run through the lure to keep from snagging vegetation
- Very effective for Largemouth Bass
Jigs
- Hooks with weighted heads that can be used with or without live bait or soft plastics
- Used mostly used in and around structure and cover
- Effective in all seasons
Plugs (poppers and crankbaits)
- Floating, suspending, or diving lures made of wood, metal, or plastic that imitate natural prey in appearance and/or action
- Multiple designs provide opportunities for most depths and styles of retrieval
- Effective in all seasons
What color of lure to use in different water conditions
MUDDY
• Jig disappears 1 to 2 inches from surface
• Dark colors: Black-chartreuse, black-pink or black-orange are good in low visibility
STAINED OR ALGAE
• Three to 6-inch visibility
• Two-tone contrasts: Yellow, red, and blue chartreuse patterns, black-chartreuse
CLEAR
• Visibility past 2 to 3 feet
• Combinations of white, pearl-blue, purple, and yellow
Weather Conditions
- In sunny conditions, silver or gold lures work best
- In cloudy conditions, fluorescent lures work best
To learn more about fishing in Indiana visit the Department of Natural Resources website.
