ask THE
EXPERTS
LIVeWeLL
eLectronIc
fIshInG
Q.
When do you use a HydroWave, and
what settings do you use?
A.
Jim Tutt, Longview, Texas –
I have been using a HydroWave since 2009,
and it’s a piece of equipment I’ve gained a lot of confi-
dence in. Generally, I use it when targeting schools of
fish, and on ledges and other offshore spots. It often
makes a difference. Sometimes it might be just one fish,
which can be huge when competing on Tour.
Just this past June at the Walmart FLW Tour event
on Kentucky Lake, it made a difference for me. After
going fishless for the first half-hour or so, I decided to
turn on my HydroWave unit. Within three minutes, my
partner and I started catching them, and the action was
steady for the next six hours.
If I were to pick a favorite setting combination, it
would be “Feeding Frenzy” with a 30-second delay,
meaning the unit switches on and off automatically,
with a 30-second delay in between. That’s what I used
on Kentucky Lake.
Q.
A.
Q.
A.
Q.
A.
the rIGht LIne
How important is line color?
Clark Wendlandt, Leander, Texas –
To me, it’s all about confidence. Lines that are
more visible can help you to see what your line –
and bait – is doing. If line visibility helps you to
detect more bites, then I believe you should go that
route. If you feel it’s all about keeping the bait
stealthy, then go with a natural or clear color. I ask
myself if I think a particular line color is going to
affect the number of bites that I am going to get,
and I make the call based on the answer.
For monofilament lines, I generally use a green
line. When using braids, I go with green and dark-
er shades – colors that blend in.
short-strIkes
When do you use trailer hooks on
spinnerbaits and buzzbaits?
Darrel Robertson, Jay, Okla. –
Trailer hooks are very important on spinner-
baits, especially in real clear water or if I am work-
ing it fast. I use trailer hooks on my buzzbaits as
well. If I am fishing muddy water or working a
spinnerbait around heavy cover, I’ve found that I
don’t need a trailer hook since retrieves are slower
and trailer hooks have a tendency to get hung up.
I generally use a 2/0 trailer hook, sometimes
even a little 1/0. As far as rigging, I like to thread
clear plastic tube over the hook eye before sliding
on the trailer hook to prevent the trailer hook from
flopping around in back.
buzzbaItInG toads
How do you like to rig a soft-plastic
toad on a buzzbait?
Todd Auten, Lake Wylie, S.C. –
I start by first removing the buzzbait’s skirt
and threading a Zoom Horny Toad on the hook.
After I have nearly the entire toad threaded on, I
poke the hook out just short of where the legs come
together. This prevents the toad from rolling on the
hook shank and keeps the bait well-balanced. Next,
I carefully slide the top of the toad over the head of
the buzzbait and secure it with a drop or two of
glue. The hom