Sunscreen

We all forget it from time to time and Mother Nature reminds us the next day. Make sure you are taking care of your skin, so you can stay out on the water all weekend long. Seek out a high quality, waterproof sunscreen with a high SPF that works well for you. Reapply regularly. Just remember that fish HATE sunscreen, so you need to make sure to keep your hands clean so no traces of it are on your lure or line.

A Hat

A solid fishing hat is a necessity for all anglers. Luckily there are a variety of different options on the market. One thing they all have in common is that they have sun protection around the perimeter of the hat in the form of brims or a detachable shade. Choosing a hat with ventilation is also a great idea to keep you more comfortable.

Sunglasses

Your choice of the right sunglasses to protect your eyes while you are on the water is largely based on personal preference. The lenses themselves are what you need to pay attention to as the frame is simply esthetic. Consider polarized, high transmission, blue mirror or copper mirror lenses for ultimate protection.

Stocked Tackle Box

You never know when a line will break or the bait you’re using just won’t cut it. A tackle box stocked with lots of extras from hooks, sinkers, tools and bait will keep you fishing long into the day. A tape measure to check that what you’re catching is of legal size is also a good addition to any tackle box. Don’t forget a few first aid items too, especially water-resistant bandages.

Power-Pole Shallow Water Anchor

While a Power-Pole is the most costly item on this list, it is the one item that can transform any kind of day into a good fishing day. Even when it’s windy, these hydraulic anchors keep you where you need to be so you can get the fish you came for.

Plan your next weekend-long fishing expedition soon and make sure you don’t leave without these 5 essentials.

While smaller bass can be found in shallow shoreline cover areas, adult bass typically stay in deep water following spawning season. They avoid the bright sunlight they dislike by staying deep in the water.  However deeper water makes for more challenging fishing, as it is hard to find those sought-after big bass once they move into open water. However, the actual depth big bass enjoy is relative to what is deep for the specific body of water you are fishing. Knowing where they hang out in deep water is priceless knowledge.

Near Docks

Docks that jut out into deep water are a prime spot for bass to hang out. They have the protective cover from the sun’s rays that they crave. While many anglers will cast around the perimeter of docks, casting into the interior of the dock in hard to reach spots will help you find those elusive big ones.

Deep Water Points

As mentioned above deep water is the place for big bass. Points of deep water that jut out from shallower areas are great places for bass to hide. You’ll find them hovering in such areas, that may be found in the middle of a lake, at the mouth of a cove or where creeks trickle into bigger bodies of water.

Under Isolated Cover

Because most bodies of water are large, finding a fish in it randomly is unlikely. However, find isolated cover in that body of water and your chances of finding bass there are greatly increased. That isolated cover could be a rock pile, old appliances or tires that have been dumped into the water, an abandoned dock or a clump of weeds. Cast from a distance for the best results. Try such areas repeatedly.

Near Riprap

Manmade walls or foundations aka riprap is often found bordering most lakes. Because it is haphazardly created, there are lots of places for bass to hide and for the things bass eat to flourish. Work these areas for the best catches.

Transitional Areas

Channel banks or other transitional areas where water is flowing into a body of water from another can be found in coves or the main part of a lake. Abrupt banks are often where bass lurk. Cast your line with practically any kind of bait in these areas, and you are sure to get the big one.

Know where to find big bass and every day on the water will be a good one.

Prespawning Season Tips

When largemouth bass are prespawning during the early spring, they are easy to catch. As temperatures hit the 45 degree and higher mark, bass rise up out of the deep waters. You will find them typically in depths of 2 to 12 feet of water.  The Northwest corner of the lake is always your best choice for early spring fishing as it is the warmest spot.

When looking for that perfect spot, look first near known spawning flats, such as rocks, logs, humps and points. Arms of shallow creeks that have wood and weeds providing coverage are also great spots to find prespawning bass. Fishing after a warm rain is always great timing that will generally result in an increased catch.

Spawning Season Tips

During spawning season itself, bass head to shallow areas that are protected. The temperature of the water can give you a clue. If it is between 55 and 65 degrees, spawning has begun for at least some of the lake’s fish. Again, the northwest area of the lake is always a great starting point.

Seek out areas that are lit by the sun. Shallow areas of about 1 to 6 feet in depth and about 10 feet from shore, are ideal for bass spawning and bass fishing. Avoid areas susceptible to rough water. Typically male bass can be found near sunken logs, boulders, or in a cluster of bulrushes protecting the nest.

Once you have found that perfect spot, anchoring quickly and quietly is a must. The Power-Pole shallow water anchor system is critical to keeping you exactly where you need to be during spawning season. You can work your spot systematically, for a better catch. In addition, the Power-Pole doesn’t spook the bass that are busy defending their nests. It is the tool that delivers the stealth that is necessary for successful bass fishing during spawning season.

Wind from the West, Fish bite the best

Wind from the east, Fish bite the least

Wind from the north, do not go forth

Wind from the south blows bait in their mouth

Luckily, technology is catching up with Mother Nature, and dare I say it, outsmarting her. This is in no small part due to the expertise of the experienced angler.

Be The Fish

Before one deciphers how to find the fish, it is important to understand the food chain. The first thing one must know is how light conditions in the water effect fishing. When the sun is out and the water is crystal clear, there is an abundance of phytoplankton in deep water. Phytoplankton attracts zooplankton. Why? Because zooplankton feed on phytoplankton. This is important because baitfish feed on zooplankton. Of equal importance, baitfish are what every lure in the tackle box are attempting to mimic. When the fish you want to catch are deeper, it’s important to keep this in mind.

When the wind rises, the sun cannot penetrate the choppier water.  This means phytoplankton and the rest of the food chain rise to the top of the water. In fact the phytoplankton is further blown by the wind causing it to mass at the shoreline of the wind break. Low light conditions are advantageous for the fish who hunt and for the fishermen who know how to target. Low light makes it easy for fish to hide in shadows, as they can effectively hunt their prey. For fishermen, low light camouflages less-than-perfect lures and convince fish that the shiny lure is actually a fish worth biting into.

Get The Solution

Staying in one spot so you can work an area can be a challenge in windy weather. Yet smart fishermen know that the right equipment can give them the stealth they need to successfully land their catch. Bass fishermen and other shallow water fishermen gravitate towards the Power-Pole shallow water anchor to help them stay where they want to be, even in windy conditions.

With lengths that range from 4’ to 10’, you can choose the Power-Pole that best suits the areas you fish. It silently deploys thanks to sophisticated hydraulics, and does not disturb the water, the fish, or the lake bottom. Even in windy conditions, the spike at the tip of the anchor keeps you solidly in place.

The Power-Pole Drift Paddle attachment also works beautifully when fishing in deeper water. The easy-to-attach Drift Paddle lets you effortlessly stay in the area you choose so you can work it effectively. It slows your boat down by 50% letting you systematically work the area you choose without disturbing the fish, regardless of wind conditions.

Shallow water anchors are the solution you need to become the master fisherman you want to be. Conquer the wind and anything else Mother Nature sends your way. Doing so will further your ability to land the trophy!

Why Buy Power-Pole?

After getting the 8-foot Pro Series II anchor installed on my boat, I couldn’t be happier with the speed at which I can get settled into a spot and the number of fish I have landed as a result of the reliable operation of my new anchor system. With the hydraulic design, I can stop on an ambush point at the drop of a dime and target areas with high fish activity. The flow pump system and brushless motor allow me to stop forward motion and position my boat exactly how I want it without having to worry about fast moving tides or strong winds. Now the only person I have to blame for missing a fish is myself.

Whether you are fishing based on a hunch or know the spot like the back of your hand, the Power-Pole anchor is a must-have on any shallow water fisherman’s boat.

As a fisherman that is creeping up on the 60-year-old mark, the idea of lifting an anchor up and down all day can be a little daunting. My kids are all working and my fishing buddies can’t find the time in their schedules to take a day off. After talking with some fellow fisherman at the boat ramp, I stumbled across the Power-Pole® shallow water anchor. With this hydraulic anchoring system, I can give my back a break and creep into any fishing spot within seconds.

Drop it. Fish it. Catch it.

The Power-Pole series of shallow water anchors is a great addition to any boat for a number of reasons. Personally, I find this piece of equipment essential because it allows me to fish more efficiently. Perhaps the biggest obstacle that bass and shallow water fishermen must face are environmental elements. More specifically, wind and strong currents can push boats off of spots swarming with active fish. The Power-Pole allows me to get situated and really work over every possible surface area without constantly having to operate the trolling motor. With the Power Pole, I can land a fish, cull it, retie my tackle and get back to fishing without getting blown a hundred yards off of my favorite spot. Now that I have gotten a taste of fishing with Power Pole, I can’t imagine ever going back to anchors and trolling motors.

Every type of fishing has its own set of unique challenges and flats fishing is no exception. As much as the right type of boat can make a huge difference to fishing the saltwater flats, the right type of shallow water anchor can help even more. Power-Pole shallow water anchors are the choice of flats fishermen in the know!

When you are out in your flats boat, in the shallowest water, you know how easy it can be to spook the spotted sea trout, redfish, tarpon or any fish near you. While any Power-Pole shallow water anchor is a good choice for a flats boat, the Signature Series Power-Pole is the perfect solution that every flats fisherman needs!

What makes the Power-Pole Signature Series perfect for flats fishing?

-          Lightweight and skinny, it fits perfectly on shallow skiffs.

-          Shorter depths of 4 feet and 6 feet make it perfect for shallow flats fishing areas.

-          It’s available in a variety of colors including stealth black, so you can successfully sneak up on your fish more often.

-          Like all Power-Pole anchors, it doesn’t tear up the river bottom the way traditional anchors do.

Experience the difference the right shallow water anchor makes to your flats fishing. Get a Power-Pole Signature Series anchor today!