RAIN RAIN RAIN! : WNC Fishing Report.

                 Fall is officially in full swing now meaning bait has moved up tight into pockets and creeks. Bass are feeding heavily on shad and other baitfish during this time of the year, making moving baits a great option. This fall has proven to be especially warm keeping the bass closer to cover and shade, and making the early mornings and late afternoons phenomenal topwater opportunities.

A major update in the fishing forecast has been the INSANE amount of rain we have recently gotten in the past couple of days. The constant downpour resulted in serious flooding of many creeks, rivers and lakes. As of today, the water is still a chocolate milk color, making the fishing quite tough. The water is pretty darn rough at the moment as well, as the excess drainage cycles it's way out.

The most effective baits for these types of conditions would be MOVING baits. Moving is highlighted because we're talking crazy loud, flashy baits that a bass can find even in chocolate milk water. Spinnerbaits are a good place to start, with their flashing, thumping blades and erratic skirts. Chatterbaits would be absolutely ideal, giving anglers the option of a loud, obnoxious spinnerbait on steroids. Try and throw bright, fluorescent colored variations of these baits or similar baits and you'll probably land a few even in these conditions!

The rain looks like it has calmed down for a while for the most part, but until our lakes get back to normal, try and make the best of what we have and think of it as a fun new obstacle to land some awesome fish!


Come Visit Us at Dream Catcher's Fishing Supply! on 21 Steeple Road Sylva, NC 28779.

Early Christmas Shopping Ideas For The Fisherman In Your Family.

 


           Well colder weather is finally here and you know what that means... CHRISTMAS is right around the corner! As much as you hate to say it, those blow-up santas in Lowes and Walmart aren't going away anytime soon. Thinking ahead of time is great when it comes to buying gifts for your friends and loved ones. It can however, be quite difficult when it comes to shopping for your family fisherman. Thankfully, our team here at Dream Catcher's know exactly what a fisherman would LOVE to get for Christmas due to the fact that... we may want them too! In all seriousness, we have brainstormed and come up with three great ideas that could help you find that perfect gift for your beloved angler.

Costa Polarized Sunglasses.
What a lot of people who don't fish fail to realize, is that having great quality shades on the water make a HUGE difference. The high quality polarized lenses give anglers a crystal clear view into the water with ease Just ask anyone who has worn Costa glasses out on the water and they'll tell you... it's worth it. We guarantee that this will be a worthwhile investment that a serious fisherman will greatly enjoy and appreciate.


Daiwa Fuego Reels.
Whether you are looking for a casting or spinning reel, the Daiwa Fuego series has amazing quality matched with the amazing price. We love how smooth both models of the reels are, giving the angler a sturdy, reliable, and well made reel that feels really good in the hands. Despite the impressive quality that Daiwa brings to the table with this model, the price is very considerable and a great bargain for what you get. If you want to get your fisherman a reel with high quality looks and mechanics with an amazing price, pick up a Fuego series reel!


Dream Catcher's Fishing Supply Gift Card. 
If all else fails and you just can't decide what to get for that special fisherman, don't sweat it, we gotcha covered! Just swing on by the shop and pick up one of our gift cards! This gives them the opportunity to come visit us and select anything out our huge selection of rods, reels, baits, apparel, and so much more! We would be thrilled to help out any customers that have any questions about something they might need or are looking for!


So there you have it. Even though it still is technically fall, we just wanted to help you get a step ahead in the Christmas shopping game by giving some of our suggestions. After all... We are anglers ourselves and dream of someone getting us these things! ( Wink wink)

If you have any questions about anything you may be looking for or need, just give us a ring or come by and say hello at Dream Catcher's Fishing Supply on 21 Steeple Rd. Sylva, NC 28779!
We look forward to seeing you!

The Five Most Effective Soft Plastics!!

                                                     The Five Most Effective Soft Plastics


            Soft plastics are a vital part of a fisherman's arsenal, giving us all kinds of different variations and ways to use them. They have been around for quite some time, being a go-to bait for many seasoned anglers. The great thing about soft plastics in general is that they can be used in so many different ways. For example, if the fish are being picky and you need something more finesse and lighter in presentation, a simple trickworm on a dropshot rig could be your saving grace. Soft plastics even extend to craw shaped trailers that can be hooked onto jigs to give off the classic "jig and pig" combo. We've compiled five of some of the many amazing soft plastics that have proven to be EXTREMELY effective out on the water, and help you get that skunk out of the boat!

NUMBER ONE:  THE TRICKWORM

The trickworm is perhaps one of the most simple baits to use, especially for novice fisherman who are looking for an easy bite. The trickworm has tons of different techniques that you can use that will effectively trigger some ferocious bites. For example, texas rigging is a great way to fish a trickworm, lightly twitching the bait and working it slowly. You can also easily dropshop a this bait, making it seem to be a flashy meal to fish.







NUMBER TWO: PADDLETAIL SWIMBAIT

A paddletail swimbait is probably one of my personal favorites due to its lifelike, quiet presentation. These baits are absolutely ideal for easily spooked fish, moving rhythmically yet stealthily through the water. Iv'e found that larger ponds are great for this style plastic and that they are easily fished with a weighted offset hook. Another option for rigging paddletails is using them as a trailer for other lures such as chatterbaits, spinnerbaits, etc...

                                                
NUMBER THREE: CRAW TRAILERS

One amazing bait to have while fishing with jigs are any type of craw trailer. These sometimes extremely lifelike baits are super effective when fished accordingly. Due to crawfish being a major part of bass' forage, these baits are a go to when the fish are either hunkered down, or gorging on craws. As mentioned before, they are usually most effective when they are hooked to a jig and fished slowly over rocks or under cover. If you don't usually use soft plastic craws, you should defiantly try it. You won't be disappointed!


NUMBER FOUR: FLUKES

Like the paddletail swimbaits, flukes give off a silent, yet deadly presentation. They give off an insane amount of action even with the slightest twitch of the wrist, making them a huge attention getter for any nearby fish. The great thing about flukes is that they can be fished in almost any way
possible. Weightless, these baits stay closer to the surface of the water making blowups a very possible thing. Even without any weight, these lures still give off a crazy side to side darting action with ease. With weight attached, you will be able to get flukes deeper and have even more action than they already do!





NUMBER FIVE: THE STICKBAIT

The last and probably most versatile bait on the list is the stickbait, commonly known as the senko. These simple baits have proven to be DEADLY time after time, producing a lot of fish. The awesome thing about the stick bait is that they can be used in SOOO many different ways that are all pretty equally effective. Wacky rigging is a popular technique that is a very easy, yet effective way to catch a lot of fish. You can use stickbaits for a ned rig if you like to go the finesse route. And finally, you can even go with a texas rig or even go weightless with the good ol' stick bait.



See any of these baits you might want or need that you don't already have?..

Come Visit Us! At Dream Catcher's Fishing Supply on 21 Steeple Rd Sylva, NC 28779!

Preparing For Winter Fishing.

                                 

                                          Preparing for Winter Fishing: What you'll need.



As the fall months cycle through and the days get colder and colder, the supplies for successful and comfortable fishing are a must. As bass anglers, we know that light breathable clothing is essential when your out on the water during warmer times of the year. However, is buying the same quality apparel for colder months just as important as well? Absolutely! We too often overlook the clothing we need to stay comfortable and alert while we're out there hunting down those freezing fish. Not only is it important to stay warm because of the sometimes harsh winter conditions, but also because of how much more aware of your surroundings and alert you will be on the water. Blood circulation is vital in cold conditions and when you are out in the middle of the water, with nothing to shield you from the wind, high quality winter apparel would probably be a good choice.

1. Probably one of the most important pieces of clothing you will need is a good, insulated hat to keep your head/ ears protected and warm. Without one, an angler can quickly become so cold as to just give up and get off the water. Heat exits the body through the head, so a warm hat is a necessity when out on the water.

2. For keeping your body warm, a thick hoodie is a good place to start, keeping the heat packed close to your body without escaping.

3. Outside of a hoodie, we recommend a wind breaker style jacket that will effectively shield you from any wind and mist that might blow up, leaving your normal clothes wet. 

4. Of course it's common since that you probably won't be wearing shorts out there during freezing conditions, but a good pair of thick pants are a good idea as well.

5. The last and one of the most important things that you will need is a good pair of wool socks. We cannot stress this enough. Like the head, heat also exits the body through the feet making it vital they are well insulated. Trust me, you won't want to be out there on the water once you have cold feet. (get it?)

One last thing that is also recommended is bringing an extra pair of clothes with you on board (especially during the colder months.) You never know when you might need them when you are surrounded by frigid water! Now all this may seem like common knowledge but it is an issue that not only can effect an anglers health, it will also help you be more honed in on your skills when you are not so focused on not freezing to death! We are pumped for the upcoming colder months and the awesome challenges they add to the already intricate sport of bass fishing, and hope you stay safe and stay warm out there!

Tight Lines!







Come visit us! at Dream Catcher's Fishing Supply on 21 Steeple Rd. Sylva, NC 28779!   

Baitfish patterns

If we know anything as bass fisherman, we know one thing... that bass move around.. a lot. However, their constant migrating has a specific reasoning behind it, and its actually quite simple. Bass follow the bait they eat basically anywhere. Knowing where the baitfish go during different times of the year will help you become a much more successful angler and will help you hone in on those mobile bass. As I mentioned above, different seasons make the bass' natural forage tend to move from  place to place. Knowing where the bait is, simply means knowing where the majority of the bass are. Below we discuss where the bait migrate to and when they do it throughout the year.

Summer.
The season of summer can bring so many different conditions to fish. Baitfish at this time are usually pretty small and juvenile. They usually can be found around structure like docks, laydowns, and vegetation. These baitfish can be pretty active during the summer months, making them a big target for hungry fish.

Fall.
This is one of the best seasons for bass fishing in my opinion. During fall months, bait will move up into tight pockets and creeks, narrowing the field of play significantly. The forage will basically be cornered by bass up in these tight bodies of water, making the fishing usually very successful. The baitfish, although bunched tightly together, are usually very active during the fall, triggering insane strikes from bass.

Winter.
Although winter can seem like a tough season to get out and get some fish in the boat, if you know where the bait has moved, you can more than likely get a decent bite. During the winter, baitfish will move back out of those small creeks and pockets and migrate solely into deep, large bodies of water. They, like bass, search for warmer water once the temperature starts to drop.

Spring.
Cover, cover, cover. That is the number one place to target schools of bait during the spring. Like summer, bait will stick tight to cover and be fairly active. very rarely will you find schools out in open water during spring months, making different structures a hotspot for quality fishing. 

Once again, knowing where the baitfish are while you are fishing is key to knowing where the bass are. Study hard on baitfish patterns where you live and remember, different species of bait may have different migration patterns! Be sure to study up on the bait in your own lake so that you can have more successful fishing year round!


Come Visit Us! At Dream Catcher's Fishing! on 21 Steeple Rd. Sylva, NC 28779

The Importance of Buying Local.

Buying Local: Why You Should Do It. 

             In almost any state you go in the US, you will more than likely find some ponds, lakes, or even the shore of the ocean. And where there is water, there is bound to be a bait and tackle shop. Spread out across our country are thousands of fishing stores ranging from a mom and pop bait store, to the larger scale shop with a large variety of tackle such as Dream Catcher's. They are run by all kinds of different people with different backgrounds that all share the same passion... FISHING! Sadly enough, more and more of these stores are disappearing as the years go by, leaving only big corporate companies left to buy tackle from anymore. Being a local business ourselves, we know the struggle of going up against the big businesses in trying to win over customers. Below are three reasons why we believe buying local is the way to go!

Number 1. Price. 
Of course when you have different businesses going head to head to try and win over the consumer, prices are going to be one of the biggest selling points. (Hah, get it!) Usually local businesses will have lower prices on certain items than a big corporate business. Local businesses will also always have great sales where the consumer can really get a great deal for an even better price! Here at Dream Catcher's, we are dedicated to making sure our customers are not cheated out of any opportunities when it comes to our products. 

Number 2. Knowledge.  
One major thing that a lot of buyers miss out on when they don't buy locally is the knowledge that can be passed on to them. Especially in the fishing industry, most local shop owners will have an extensive knowledge on the fisheries in and around their communities. They more than likely have grown up fishing the same exact lakes, rivers, and creeks that you are just now trying out! They can point out which lures are hot at the moment, and which ones to stay away from at times.That's something you can't get from the supermarket!

Number 3. Opportunity.
All businesses, no matter how large, have started somewhere. Somebody had a dream, and made that dream a reality where now there business has grown more than they could've ever imagined. When you support a local tackle shop, or any local business for that matter, you are directly helping that business and the owner's dream become more and more successful. Buying local not only helps the buyer save money, but it also helps newer entrepreneurs get a step up in the competitive market. Once, for example, that little tackle shop becomes more and more successful, it will be able to get higher quality products for the customer to buy for a better price. 

Dream Catcher's Fishing Supply has been blessed with amazing customers that have tremendously supported us. We  strive to become a well managed business that offers only the best to our great customers. Please, if you are looking to find a place to buy tackle, make connections, and expand your fishing knowledge, consider shopping locally. The impact will positively affect everyone as a whole!

              Come visit us! at Dream Catcher's Fishing Supply at 21                                  Steeple Rd. Sylva NC 28779!

The evolution of bizarre lures

           
          As the bass fishing industry steadily moves forward and grows, new advancements are constantly being revealed to help anglers better their techniques. New products and techniques are introduced year after year, only to get more complex, unique, and well... bizarre. It seems as if in the world of modern fishing, companies are coming up with some of the craziest tools, apparel, and lures on the market. We have come a long way from throwing hand carved wooden plugs to high resin, extremely durable lures. Some companies such as Savage Gear have started to come out with multiple lures that continuously push the boundaries of effectiveness, and uniqueness. For example, one of their most recent creations is an extremely lifelike topwater bat, rotating wings and all.

                                Savage Gear Bat


Another one of Savage Gears newest creations is the Fruck. Yes, you read that right... the Fruck. This crazy lure has the hollow body and markings of a frog, but has the head and legs of a baby duckling. This lure is a perfect example of how bizarre some lures in the lure industry are getting.



 Countless other lures have been produced and are currently being released that are absolutely wacky. The Pompadour by Jackall is another great example of a flashy, in your face lure that has recently blown up as an oddity. Odd enough, the Pompadour actually produces some nice fish when used correctly. We know that bass will hit almost anything that moves when they're feeling hungry, but we also know that bass can be extremely finicky in other situations. The topic of odd lures such as the ones mentioned above can be a tough subject when it comes to reliability. The best thing that you can do as an angler is take a risk, purchase one, and test it for yourself. We can't sit and tell you that "this lure works and this one doesn't." That is up to you to find out which lures and techniques work best for you as an individual!
So maybe these wild lures work when put to them the test, or maybe they are just a experiment to see how crazy of a lure a company can successfully sell. We won't know for sure until we put them to the test and see how the fish feel about them! If you have any experience with either of these lures, let us know how they work for you. We'd love to hear your stories!




Come Visit us! at Dream Catchers Fishing Supply at 21 Steeple Rd. Sylva, NC 28779!