Pack your tackle box – Let’s go fishing

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.