Fishing different lakes...

Fishing different lakes in your area can be challenging. But what about fishing in different states? This is the dilemma I am facing now.

As I continue working to fill my tackle box…I have been struggling with what lures to buy. I struggle with wanting to buy the ones that have always worked for me in the past. The problem with doing that is that I lived in Western New York then. Now I live in Northwest Pennsylvania.

Hubby and I have different ideas about what bait to use when it comes to panfish fishing. I have always used tube jigs and minnows to catch perch, crappie and bluegill. Hubby has always used an ant jig and grubs. And the grubs work. We are catching a bunch this summer. So I can't argue with him.

Favorite tube jig

My favorite go to tube jig for panfish has not worked for me here in PA. I'm not sure if it is just the location on the lake we are fishing. Or is it the time of year? Or is it just this lake? Or maybe it is just the simple fact that we have not tried this jig with a minnow on it. (That's how it worked before. Hubby uses grubs for panfish. :p That is a whole other story.) Hard to tell. So if you can't beat them, join them...I now fish with an ant and grubs.

 We have been stocking our freezer with bluegill. So now I would like to start fishing for some pike or walleye. I want  to get some bigger fillets to try different recipes.  

WARNING ... Shameless plug ... check out my Friday Fish Recipes.  For the next month or so, I will be posting new fish recipes to try.

So what lures do I buy? Do I start with what has worked for me in the past? Or do I just buy something that looks good? What I have decided is that I will pick up a lure or 2 to try and each time I go out fishing I will try a new lure out of my husband’s tackle box. :) Then when I find one that works, I can go pick up one for myself. I will buy one that looks like it could work and I will probably buy something that has worked before for me also.

Worst case, I will have the lures I know that will work when we visit family in NY. 

How do you decide which lures to buy when you are fishing in a different lake or state? I welcome your input so leave me a message.

Now that I have been writing about fishing I want to go fish, but I have to go to work shortly. Maybe I will pick up an fishing magazine to read tonight.

Fishing Gear

Now that spring has arrived (well mostly arrived). My family is thinking about fishing. We need to restock our freezer with some fresh perch, crappie and pike.

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been purchasing some new fishing gear. And considering purchasing a new tackle box.

I grew up fishing for bass, walleye and pike with my father. But this was not  enough action for me. So I started pan fishing while my dad fished. I soon discovered how fun pan fishing was. I rarely fished for anything else from that point on. Now that I am get excited about fishing again, I keep thinking about the fun of pan fishing and hoping to pass the excitement on to my son.

So I have purchased a few packs of tube jigs, sinker hooks and bobbers. My favorite tube jig has a red body with a chartreuse skirt. So I purchased  a fairly large quantity of the jigs. As fun as pan fishing is, I will also want to give pike fishing some time too. So I will look to purchase some spinner baits, Mepps and other pike lures.

Spinner Bait

Mepps

And this is a pic of the tackle box I am looking at purchasing.

Yes I like to have a little pink in everything I do.

What are your favorite pike or pan fish lures? I would love to hear your suggests and will give them a try.