TAKEOFF
IN SEASON
Seasonal tips and tricks
By Paul Strege
other odds and ends
HYDRATION TIPS WITH
TROY LINDNER
Costa FLW Series pro and certified
personal trainer Troy Lindner says the
key to maximizing on-the-water per-
formance lies with proper hydration.
Here are his dos and don’ts:
Do:
• Consume drinks containing sodium,
magnesium, potassium and electrolytes.
• Enjoy a morning cup of black coffee or green tea – in moderation.
• Preplan what you intend to consume for the day. Lindner recommends
Wilderness Athlete Hydrate and Recover (shown).
• Keep a bottle of water out from storage as a visual reminder to drink regularly.
Don’t:
• Consume energy drinks high in sugar, caffeine and fructose corn syrup.
• Drink soda and other highly processed beverages that contribute to jitteriness.
• Leave the ramp without an ample supply of drinking water.
• Forget the ice, which can cool drinks and subsequently lower body temperature.
PRO’S CHOICE:
FAVORITE SWIM JIG
AND TRAILER
1. Jared McMillan
4x4 Bass Jigs Extreme Swim
Jig/Bruiser Baits Super
Swimmer
“It’s designed with a beefy
hook for heavy cover and
won’t roll over on the
retrieve. I like black and blue
in Florida, and green pump-
kin nearly everywhere else.”
CUP FUN FACTS
Hot Springs, Ark., host community of this year’s Forrest Wood Cup on Aug. 10-
12, is home to one of the country’s most distinguished national parks. Located
immediately north of town, the land that is now Hot Springs National Park was
first protected for recreational purposes by President Andrew Jackson in 1832.
For more information, visit nps.gov/hosp/index.htm.
HOUSTON’S FAVORITE FEATURES FOR SPINNERBAITS
20
FLW Tour pro and outdoor television show host Jimmy Houston knows spinner-
baits. So what features does the king of sling favor in this old-school bait?
Blade – “I like big, round, thumper-style
blades on my spinnerbaits.”
Arm – “Light-wire arms produce
more vibration and more bites.”
Trailer – “One modification that I’ve
found particularly effective is to replace a
spinnerbait skirt with a swimbait. Later in
the year, when bass are feeding on shad, a
swimbait trailer generates more strikes.”
Skirt – “I like a chartreuse, white
Luck-E-Strike
and blue color combination for
Jimmy Houston
clear water. In crystal-clear
Legend
Spinnerbait
water, I like bub-
blegum. Translucent
skirts are highly
productive late in
the season.”
Head – “I prefer a
small-profile head with
red eyes and a red throat.”
2. James Niggemeyer
Strike King Tour Grade
Swim Jig/Strike King Rage
Craw
“The Rage Craw helps the
bait to ride up and over
cover while keeping the
hook standing upright. White
is a great color in the fall.”
3. Kerry Milner
Zorro Baits Casting Booza
Bug/Zoom Super Speed
Craw
“It’s not a traditional swim jig,
but it works for me. It’s my
favorite jig for Dardanelle
and comes clean through
willow grass.”
FLWFISHING.COM I AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2018