Launching a Boat By Yourself

Like many fishing guides around the country I spend most of my mornings pulling up to an empty parking lot and launching my boat without any help, long before the sun rises. Without any other anglers around or bright lighting to help, its important I get it right the first time.

I regularly bump into other anglers struggling to get their boats in and out of the water without the help of a partner. This sparked an idea for Tim and I to show you exactly what it looks like to launch the boat alone. Its really a simple process and with a little practice can become second nature. Having no partner shouldn't keep you from going to the lake and having a great time!

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The next time you're at an empty launch ramp take a few minutes to practice launching solo. Before long you'll be catching fish whether your partner is available or not. Good luck out there!

Note: For those of you launching solo in areas without docks or improved ramps, check out the Z-Launch system to simplify the process.

Fire on the Mountain

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Well, as much as we'd love to bring you a fresh, new post this week, some more important activities have been taking place around here. As most of you know, Tim lives on the shores of Clearlake and Matt is a guide on the lake. This week, the mountains near Clearlake caught fire.

The "Rocky Fire" has been explosive since it took off a few short days ago, now encompassing 67,000 acres! Let me begin by saying we're safe and not at any risk of direct impact from the fire, so please don't worry about us. We've continued doing our jobs and living life, but fishing is the last thing on either of our minds.

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While we've been blessed with safety, others are not so fortunate.  Its burned 24 homes, more than 6900 others are threatened, and it shows no signs of slowing!

Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and communities being impacted by the blaze! Whatever you believe and wherever you are, we ask the Tacticalbassin community to pray for those being impacted by this brutal fire! This too shall pass but its leaving destruction in its wake and we can't help but hurt for those that are losing everything.

We'll keep you posted of any drastic changes and will be back to our normal content shortly. For now, the safety of friends and neighbors trumps the need for bass fishing content. Be safe and we'll see you soon! 

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King Sling: A Loop Knot Every Angler Should Know

This week we break down how to tie the "King Sling", a simple knot that every angler should know. Its quick, its easy, and it can save you from the headaches of split rings and snaps on your hardbaits.

Personally, I use it in place of a snap on all of my big swimbaits so that I know I've got a positive connection that allows the bait to move freely without the risk of opening and failing. Topwater is another prime time to use a loop knot.

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When tying to a "walk the dog" style bait with a traditional knot like a palomar you create a very rigid connection that limits the bait's ability to move freely. Tying a loop allows you to create a strong connection without limiting the bait's ability to move.

There are many loop knots out there but the King Sling is our personal favorite. Its quick and easy to tie and has been a work horse for us for many years. We hope it helps you this summer, good luck out there!