What’s inside a guides tackle box - By fishing guide Jason Boser

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What’s inside a guides tackle box
by fishing guide Jason Boser

Over the course of the fishing season I have lots of people who comment on the simplicity of my tackle box. I thought I would share some of the tackle that I have and what part of the season I use them to catch fish.

I have one box for early season; it consists of light jigs. I can usually jig walleye, northern, perch and panfish from opener till around mid June. I like the short shank Northland fireball jig in the 1/8 or 1/16 oz. for those calm days when the fish are a bit finicky, so you will find an assortment of different color combinations of those jigs. I like the longer shank gumball jig when the fish are more aggressive and I can do more of a snap jigging method. I also have standup jigs, weedless jigs and swimming jigs for some of those special situations. Day in and day out my most common jig is the plain old Roundhead jig.

As the water warms and the fish start to move deeper I will go to a 1/4, 3/8 or 1/2 oz jig to get down to the fish. A lot of the time when I use the heavier jigs I will be vertically jigging over a school of fish. This time of the year I will also start digging into my rigging box. It is a pretty simple combination of #4 and #6 Salmon egg style hooks plain and assorted colors. There are also # 10 crane swivels, colored salmon beads to put on before the hook, rattle beads to put on before the swivel and an assortment of styles, weights and colors of slip sinkers. I make all my own rigs with a spool of 4 or 6 lb. Trilene XL or vanish. I also carry a few spinners for those scattered aggressive fish and some floaters and a worm blower for the times when the fish are suspended.

As summer progresses I stick with the rigging for the most part but I will start moving to some crank baits. In my crank bait box you will find an array of #5’s and #7 Rapala’s. I have short lips, long lips, and Rattlin Raps. The longer the lip the deeper they will dive, so I can cover any depth I need too. The Rattlin Raps are good on the Walleye but are also deadly on the Northern that are moving into the weeds that time of the year. This is the time of the year the spinners come more into play you can cover lots of ground to get those scattered fish along the weeds.

As summer wanes I have to go to all my boxes. This is the time of the year you have to be the most flexible, you could be rigging, jigging or cranking you just never know.

Once fall is in full swing I am right back to my jig box. I am using my 1/16, or 1/8 oz jigs again. The one thing I add to the fall is my panfish box. I have small jigs, bobbers, flu-flu’s and some splitshot sinkers to coax the panfish that are schooling up this time of the year into biting.

So as you can see as the season progresses our baits and presentations are changing but with just some basic tackle you can make you fishing successful.

Guided Fishing Trip Rates

Rates for a full day or half day guided fishing trip are reasonable and include bait, fish cleaning and packaging services as well as use of pro’s boat, fuel, fishing equipment and safety gear. Clients need only bring their valid Minnesota fishing license, rain and/or cold weather gear and food & beverage.

2010 Guided Fishing Trip Rates
Number of Anglers	Full Day Trip	Half Day Trip
1 - 2 people	$340	$270
3 people	$420	$315
Tag Boats	$100 per boat
Shore Lunch or Shore Dinner	$25 per boat
A $100 deposit ($100 per boat for group trips) is required to hold your reservation for a guided fishing trip with a MN Fishing Pro. Please send check or money order to the guide with whom you have booked your trip. The date of your full or half day fishing trip is not guaranteed until your deposit is received.

2010 Fishing Opener Dates

Walleye & Northern Opener - May 15, 2010
Largemouth & Smallmouth Bass Opener - May 29, 2010
Muskie Opener - June 5, 2010

2010 Fishing Regulations

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