Easier ways to tune a Powerpak

Yesterday I went to a fishing tackle shop to pick up some more floats for my Powerpak lures, as I came up with a few easier ways to tune the lures using them. 

 

 Idea A:
 (1) make a double line with a bimini twist or spider hitch.

 (2) pass the double line (both lines) through the eye of the float.

 (3) then tie the swivel.


Idea B:
 (1) pass the line through the float and tie the swivel.

(2) pass the reminder of the line through the float again from the other side.

 (3) then knot the reminder on the main line.

In either way, you can attach a float just before you cast the Powerpak. I'd like to try both ideas when I go fishing next time.

Let's start off with a Pico Pop

Last night, I decided I would take my favorite tackle for a switch, and exchanged lines.
I got up 03:00 at 03:00 a.m. and went out for fishing. I was already on the water at 04:40, and started fishing at first light.

For about one hour, I got no bites, saw no fish, and felt no reactions at all from any aquatic animals. The water surface was still and calm, and I was thinking this pond has no lives.

Then, in a shallow area, someone suddenly knocked my fin under the water.
I was awesomely surprised, but when I looked in the water, my eyes met a big female bass. I thought she was protecting her bed against an enemy floating on the water using a strange tube, so I said, "I'm sorry. Have a good spawning!" and I hurries off there.

About half an hour later, I decided to cast a Pico Pop, one of my favorite lures.
All in all, this lure is a go-to guy. I cast it just near a fallen tree, gave it a few dog-walk actions, and then the water surface blew up. I set a hook hard twice, and enjoyed the fight with the fish. It was not a huge fish, but definitely the first fish I caught this year. Size doesn't matter at all.

 
Today's tackle: ABU Record 5000 (BLK), Phillipson Challenger (9055 rebuilt), Stren 14lb (Clear/Blue Fluorescent), Pico Pop, Heddon Zara Spook, Original Zara Spook, Lucky 13, Magnum Torpedo, Chugger Spook, Gilmore Hoodler, Cotton Cordell Red Fin, etc. 

  BF=1/3

Tuning a Powerpak

Hooks of Powerpak lures often catch lines while the built-in spring works. I don't like it, and was thinking how to tune it. I happened to think of a small float, which may give more buoyancy to lines (and to the swivel connected) and, as a result, let the lines far from the hooks.

When I went fishing last time, I tested this tuned Powerpak. My idea worked fine as I planned, and it became much easier to fish with. Give it a try!

Took a farm-pond tour

A friend of mine visited from far to go out for fishing together. Isn't it a pleasure, too?

We hopped from pond to pond, and fished a total of 6-7 of them. 
Unfortunately, fish were still very slow, and we both were got skunked.
Anyway, seasons change and life goes on. It must be a pleasure, isn't it? 

Today's tackle: ABU 5000 DL, Fenwick SP634 (custom), Stren 14lb (Low-Vis Green), ABU FIVE, Mr Don Dog Figher (custom), Stren 14lb (Low-Vis Green), Heddon Zara Spook (NLT), Original Zara Spook, Lucky 13, Chugger Spook, Gilmore Hoodler, Griner Banana, etc.

Full bloom

I always start fishing before cherry blossoms bloom.
Now, those around my place are in full bloom.
I wanted to go fishing during this weekend, but cold weather is holding on here.
I'm now obliged to be home.

These are Garcia Mouse lures. 
I like to go fishing with one of them and making it a mascot.
I don't cast them very often, but last year I caught so many fish with one of them that the eye painting of it went off before I knew it (the right one in the picture). 

I decided to repair it using some glue and gouache.
Mixing gouaches to match the original colors was difficult, but once it was finished, stamping to paint eyes was a very easy job. The mouse came to life again and went back to his room in my tackle box.

Long wanted Bass Oreno, FRCD

I really wanted this bait when I was a teenager. I could get one in the same color (FRCD, fluorescent red coach dog), but it was not a Bass Oreno but a Babe Oreno.

Almost 30 years have passed since then, and I finally got one. I'm very happy to have it in my hands! Thanks, Tsuge-san.

A plea for Ambassadeur help

I've just heard from a good collector friend of mine.

According to him, his friend who lives in the U.S. sold two old ABU reels to another collector who lives in Norway. Of all things, the two reels were stolen in the mail, and when the box was opened, there was a rock inside it!
We know the chances of finding the reels are slim to none, but we're asking for your help to keep a watchful eye if you see them show up on auctions you visit.

The reels are:

Record Ambassadeur 5000 #56759
Non-ABU 5000 #67714