House of Rock and Roll

Ways to Catch Bass in Cold Water

Try these approaches this winter.

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1. TARGET TRANSITIONS: Experienced bass anglers know that bass often gravitate to ” transitions,” places where one type of bank, bottom, depth or cover condition shifts to a different type.Bass don’t move around much in waters below 50 degrees and instead like to hang out in a spot that offers them a variety of good hunting and concealment options in a compact area.

2. FISH SMALL PONDS: I catch dozens of bass every winter by fishing ponds and streams. Plus they receive little fishing pressure, so bass have a chance to grow bigger in them.A jig and pig or a spinnerbait is my top choices for winter bass: I present both baits with short underhand pitches tight to wood or rock cover. The bass strike zone shrinks in cold water.

3. HEAVY METAL: When bass are holding from 18 to 35 feet, which they are in winter on clear, rocky lakes. A metal spoon/blade or tailspinner is the most efficient way to catch them. These lures sink into the strikezone quickly, and when worked properly, emit the flash and vibration of living baitfish.I like jigging a spoon for bass suspended in deep water “hallows” ( v-shaped creek arms ), a blade bait on sloping banks and a tailspinner on deep flats. “Fish the spoon vertically, the blade like you’d fish a jig and the tailspinner with a slow, horizontal retrieve just off the bottom, a long, stiff rod will give you the hook-setting power you need in deep water.

4. PROBE SHALLOW POCKETS: Pockets are small, shallow indentations in tributary arms, and they can be great in winter. Baitfish begin stacking up in shallow pockets with a muddy bottom starting in November and usually stay there until the water drops below 45 degrees.The best time to fish them is on calm, sunny days, that’s when you’ll often see shad flipping on the surface.My favorite big-bass approach is to slow-roll a spinnerbait, reeling just fast enough to keep the blades from churning up the bottom. SLOW RETRIEVE!

5. DEEP WATER TRICK FOR SHALLOW CRANKBAITS: I like to take a small, minnow-imitating floating crankbaits with chrome or gold finish for this approach. I use a soft-action rod, I slide a 1-ounce egg sinker onto 14lb main line, then place a bead and swivel below the sinker and add a 3=foot leader of 8lb mono filament with a floating minnow lure on the end.This setup allows you to fish a hard bait 30-40 feet deep. Cast to deep rock piles or ledges, let the sinker hit bottom, twitch the rod tip, pause and twitch again. The crankbait will flash and suspend, imitating a dying baitfish.

Fishing Lures 101

There are hundreds of types of types of fishing lures, with thousands of disparity within each group. But lures are more than just shiny and wobbly spoons and jigs. There is a real science that goes into the making of each one.

The concept is the same no matter the design; to imitate as close to reality a wounded baitfish or prey. The diversity of the ways used to imitate prey over the centuries is astounding when you think about it. Flies alone have been around since the end of the 17th century (however there may be evidence that similar devices were used as early as 200 AD).

Here is a high level description of the more common fishing lures and the characteristics that help make them successful.

Spoons are shaped (as the name suggests) as a spoon Looking at them in your tackle box you not expect them to be overly effective at catching fish. But when they’re in motion in the water, they do an amazing job imitating a wounded baitfish. A hook (normally a three-pronged treble) is secured at the bottom and the weight of the lure makes it ideal for casting and trolling. Spoons are especially effective on northern pike, a variety of trout and bass.

Plugs and Crankbaits are often shaped like minnows and can sport hooks at the front, middle and end of the body (depending on the length). They may be anywhere from an inch to eight inches long and do a masterful job of imitating a distressed fish. There are a wide variety of plugs; some of them float on the surface and dive when reeled in, while others are weighted for fishing at deeper levels. Plugs (often called crankbaits) are very popular with walleye fisherman, pike fisherman and bass fisherman.

Spinners are designed for slow trolling and casting and do what their name suggests – they spin. The flash of the lure and the vibrations they emanate can bring trout, walleye and a variety of other predator fish from afar. These fishing lures come in a wide variety of sizes and colors because they have mass appeal with a variety of different species. Spinners typically have a centralized body with loops at both ends for attaching line and hook. When dragged through the water, a shiny blade spins around the body attracting predator fish.

Jigs are particularly effective at catching walleye, perch and a variety of fish. Often made of a lead blob the shape of a small fish head, they have an eye at one end and a hook at the other. Often suited with a rubber tail or bait (minnows, leeches and night crawlers are the most common) the jig is a favorite fishing lure for many anglers.

Whether made of metal, plastic or the most exotic material around (any you can imagine has been tried), lures are the business to catch fish, period. Match the right lure to the body of water you are fishing, and you will have a day full of lasting memories.

Thanks for reading.
Good fishing.

Buy the Award Winning ‘Esca Lures’ online at http://www.innovativefishingtackle.co.uk/

Using the Correct Fishing Lure to Land That Perfect Catch

It is difficult to rival real bait when it comes to tempting a fish to bite. However, live bait is not always easy to get so the next best thing is a quality fishing lure. In fact, with the the proper fishing lure you have a good chance of making a big catch.

A fishing lure basically simulates the movements and colors of real prey to encourage the fish to attack. Lures can have one, two, or maybe three hooks which will catch the fish when it bites.

Fishing lures are usually used with fishing rods. They are cast out by the fisherman and simulate the movements of the prey as they are reeled back in. With some practice, the fisherman can also use the fishing rod to help make the fishing lure’s movements look more genuine to fish.

There are numerous different kinds of fishing lures for different types of fish, fishing and settings. Here are a few of the most popular varieties:

Spoon lures – To us these just look like the top of a spoon. However, as they move underwater they create glints of light that copies the sun reflecting off a fish’s skin.

Artificial flies – These fishing lures are utilized in in fly fishing. The lure is in the shape of a winged insect that the fisherman makes hop on the surface of the water.

Plugs – These fishing lures resemble little fish and move accordingly as they move in the water.

Soft lures – These are a basic form of fishing lure, made out of plastic or rubber to resemble worms, frogs and other kinds of water dwellers.

Fishing lures have many advantages over real bait. As mentioned, they are easily at hand whenever you decide to go fishing. Also, they save money as they can be used again and again, whereas real bait has a very short lifespan. What is more, by using fishing lures you are helping the environment. Importantly, you will help promote the fish population by not contributing to the harvesting of live bait. In addition, it is proven that lures cause less harm to fish during ‘catch and release’ fishing, again helping to maintain fish populations.

Fishing lures are available in any fishing shop, on the internet or you can easily make your own. Effective lures can be made from many household objects, including metal, plastic, string, tinsel, wire or wood. If it shines and looks like bait it may be all you need to land you your next big fish.

Buy the Award Winning ‘Esca Lures’ online at http://www.innovativefishingtackle.co.uk/

Bass Guitars Have Their own Appeal

Many people who aren’t familiar with guitars assume a bass guitar is a brand like a Gibson or a Fender. While guitarists find this amusing, the bass guitar really doesn’t get the respect it deserves.

The bass guitar is a beautiful sounding instrument that can make even the most stiff legged, tone deaf person want to get out of a chair and “shake their booty”. It is a simple, yet powerful instrument that many well respect guitarists such as McCartney and Sting have played. It was also a driving force in the early days of rock and roll and has helped to shape the sounds of modern day rock.

An early bass guitar had four strings, and eventually evolved into six, eight and twelve string versions by the 70s. Each of these versions helped to produce their own unique sounds and helped to evolve the sounds of rock over the last few decades.

Playing bass guitar is generally easier than learning on an electric or acoustic guitar, but make no mistake; it takes a lot of skill to play this instrument.

To get started playing, you will need to buy a decent bass guitar, which can run anywhere from a couple hundred, to thousands of dollars. Obviously when you are first starting out, it makes sense to buy a cheaper one, and as your skills improve, then a more high quality bass guitar. You can get an all inclusive package that includes the guitar, amp, tuner, straps, and picks for under 0. As I said above, this kind of kit should do just fine for any beginner.

To learn how to play, simply do a search online and you will easily finds dozens of free lessons you can take to start with the basics. As you advance further along with your playing skills, you can then take some specialized bass lessons with an experienced instructor.

Bass guitars are incredible instruments and I highly suggest if you are considering playing the guitar that you start with one. Since it is easier to learn than other instruments, the likelihood you stick with it is significantly higher. This is easily the most important aspect of learning any new instrument!

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Rickenbacker Bass Guitars – 4003 Model

The Rickenbacker 4003 Bass is famous for its ringing sustain, treble punch, and solid underlying bottom end. It’s also famous for its distinctive, elegantly curved body shape, accentuated by a subtle strip of binding, deluxe triangular fretboard inlays, stereo output, neck-thru-body construction, double truss rods, and high output single-coil pickups with wide response range and brilliant clarity. The Vintage Tone Selector activates a capacitor in the treble pickup circuit to emphasize the high end. Pressed in, you get the familiar 4003 sound, pull it out to add bite and crispness.

In the short lifetime of electric string instruments, very few basses have earned the accolade necessary to genuinely call themselves “classics.” Even less can claim the title of industry standard – but no one can dispute the fact that the Rickenbacker 4000 Series deserves these titles. The piano string-like ring, punch, and sustain brought the bass player out of the shadows and into the spotlight.

Unique style and unmistakable tone!
Rickenbacker’s original solid-body electric bass was first introduced in the spring of 1957, bringing its own unique style to the Rock and Roll explosion of the early 60′s and 70′s. In the hands of bass-masters including Paul McCartney, Chris Squire, and Geddy Lee, 4000-series basses forged a solid reputation for distinct tone and comfortable playability. The latest Rickenbacker 4003 bass stays true to its roots, offering these same characteristics to a whole new generation of players.

Neck-thru construction
True pioneers in musical instrument construction, Rickenbacker luthiers were the first to produce a neck-thru-body bass design. A single piece of wood from the headstock to the tailpiece allows string vibration to travel unhindered through the length of the instrument. This results in a clarity of tone and ringing sustain unmatched by bolt-on or set-neck designs. The 4003 uses this same neck-thru principle today. This construction process is too time-consuming for most mass-production brands to implement, but many boutique bass builders are now discovering the benefits of what Rickenbacker has been doing from the beginning. It may take a little longer to build this bass, but Rickenbacker knows it’s worth the wait. Get one in your hands, and you’ll agree.

Balanced sound for diverse musical styles
Some basses offer deep tone at the low end of the spectrum, but the higher notes tend to be a bit thin. The 4003′s combination bridge/tailpiece assembly reflects more string energy over the pickups for a consistent, balanced sound across the entire fretboard. You get piano-like clarity at the top with plenty of growl down below. This is why Rickenbacker basses are played by such a diverse group of musicians. Lemmy from Motorhead, Andre 3000 from Outkast, Mike Mills from REM, and Chris Ross from Wolfmother are all able to get the tone they need from the same instrument. With so many genres represented, you’re sure to dial in a sound that suits your style.

Super-slim body
Instead of the chunky, bass-heavy designs used by many manufacturers, a slim, streamlined body gives the 4003 increased treble response and added punch. Both body and neck are made of maple for a full, bright tone with a nice, crisp bite. The rosewood fretboard adds mellow warmth, so notes in the upper register don’t sound harsh or shrill. Any style, any technique, comes through with expressive, dynamic clarity.

All about the neck
The thin, fast neck has become a favorite among progressive-rockers and bass-shredders alike. Check out some of Cliff Burton’s earliest work with Metallica, Chris Squier’s jaw-dropping solos from the 70′s, or any of Geddy Lee’s blistering Rickenbacker riffs. You can play the slickest runs from low to high and back again without getting bogged down like you would on a fat-necked bass. It may be skinny, but it’s also strong and stable thanks to the dual truss rod system. Each neck is designed with a natural curvature, or “neck relief”, to ensure the best possible string/fret contact. If the neck relief changes, you’ll get fret-buzz and even dead spots in extreme cases. The truss rod adds stiffness from inside, maintaining the proper curvature. Neck relief is partially dependent on string tension, so changing to heavier- or lighter-gauge strings can cause problems, along with temperature and humidity fluctuations. In these situations, the dual truss rod system can be tightened or loosened to compensate for the new conditions, letting every note ring out as it should.

You can find more info about the Rickenbacker 4003 Bass Guitar at:

http://RickenBacker.YouGet.info

Vintage Bass Guitar Pros And Cons

Vintage Gibson Guitars is one such product whose value and excellence has stood the test of time. A lot of musicians would love to own a vintage guitar. Gibson has been in the music industry from 1890 and has quite a collection of instruments which are unique and truly vintage.

Vintage Bass Guitar which were made between 1950′s to 1970″s are always held in high esteem and a number of famous musicians love the look and feel of these wonderful masterpieces. A company which more than a century old and still going strong has a number of firsts to its credit and most products of Gibson were the first to be ever made. Other companies over the years have gone and cloned the product but the original remains special in most people’s eyes. Vintage Gibson Guitars have that aura around them and the fact that the most famous music groups all over the world have used the guitars of the past lends a certain history to it. Beatles which rocked the world of music have an association with it so does Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin who was considered an artist par excellence.

Some of the finest guitars which are considered vintage from Gibson are Firebird I, Super 400, SG Les Paul Standard, J-50, Les Paul Deluxe, ES-300, Corvus I, Johnny Smith guitars, Jumbo, L-1, C-O Classical, and the C-1 Classical. The Gibson guitars have a unique serial number which will enable you to find out approximately which year the guitar was manufactured. All you need to do in order to find out the year is to look for the serial number.

The guitar has over the years transformed itself from a mere instrument which produces sounds when its strings are pulled to an instrument which is loved by the big fraternity of rock and roll lovers. The Gibson guitar has transcended time with its unique creation of guitars and has created a niche character symbolizing class and elegance.

The Vintage Bass Guitar is not just a collector’s item and there are a number of musicians all over the world who still like to make music on this wonderful instrument which though old has a charm unmatched and a sound which is unparallel. The material and styling of the vintage guitars are considered far more superior to the ones used now and they fetch quite a good price even after all these years.

The only possible disadvantage is that you would not be able to replace any broken part so easily of the vintage bass guitar. These guitars seemed to have a personality of their own which was distinct from the musicians who strummed them.

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Getting Used Bass Guitars for a Bargain

What would a rock band be without a bass guitar? It is one of the most overlooked of the rock instruments, but it is also one of the most essential. Without a bass, the only beat you have to go with is the beat of the drums, and that does not always work for certain songs.

The bass guitar is also one of the easiest of instruments to learn how to play. It only has a few chords, and often in songs, it uses the same beat over and over, with a few variations. Due to the ease of use, as well as its role as a part of rock and roll, many kids will want to take up the bass guitar.

However, the problem with bass guitars is that they are not cheap. This is not a problem for the child, but it is a problem for the parent who wants to encourage their child to try musical instruments to broaden their horizons.With bass guitars costing upwards of a few hundred dollars, what can parents do to ensure that they will be able to afford to buy a bass guitar for their children.

The answer comes in the form of a used bass guitar, which are a dime a dozen and can be found in stores and online.When you have the option of paying hundreds of a new bass guitar, or paying as little as for a used bass guitar, which are you going to choose?

As any parent can tell you, children often get bored of things they are enthusiastic about, very quickly. If you spend hundreds on a new bass guitar and your child gets bored with it, then you are going to be out a lot of money. Even if you sell it, you will be selling it for a lot less than you bought it for, and you will take a heavy hit in the pocket book.

However, with used bass guitars, you will not pay a lot and if your child bores of it, then no harm no foul. You can then sell it and make a profit, or break even, whichever is good. When you are looking for a used bass guitar, try online and pawn shops. Online, you will find sites like Craigslist.com and eBay.com, which often have excellent instruments for sale. Pawn shops also have very cheap prices and if you decide to sell the bass guitar, you can sell it right back to the pawn shop.

Bass guitars are essential in rock music, think of bands like The Who, Nirvana, or The Red Hot Chili Peppers, without their signature bass rifts. As a result, many children want to learn to play the bass guitar and they will often go to great measures to convince their parents to buy it for them. If you are going to buy a bass guitar, make sure it is a used one, because the last thing you want when you spend a lot of money is to have your kid toss it into the closet after a month.