Fishing Mania

Deep Sea Fishing Rods - Purchasing the Right Fishing Rods For Your Needs

2009-06-22T23:07:00.001+07:00

When it comes to purchasing deep sea fishing rods, it is important to know that your decision should be different than if you were looking for equipment for fishing in a river or lake. The ocean in home to much larger fish; therefore, you need stronger rods and line to reel them in. Ocean creatures such as sea bass, halibut, and sharks require thick, strong rods that will be able to handle the size of the fish, and withstand the amount of time it takes to get it into your boat.

As far as materials, the most commonly used deep sea fishing rods are made of graphite. Though it may not be as flexible as fiberglass, which is used to make lighter duty rods, it is still lightweight and can get the fish in. It is also lightweight, so that the fisherman will not get tired quickly by holding a heavy rod while fighting with a fish. Graphite is used to make other rods as well, but for deep sea fishing, you will find that the material is stronger, longer, and denser to be able to withstand the conditions.

Fiberglass is another common choice...it is sometimes preferred over graphite because of it's ability to be more flexible. These deep sea fishing rods can generally withstand the bend of a fight between a man and his catch. However, fiberglass is typically not as durable as graphite, which make them a less popular choice. Some fishermen still swear by these types of rods, as they can last for quite a while before they need to be replaced.

When researching the choices of fishing rods for deep sea fishing, it is recommended to begin by looking on the Internet. You may not choose to purchase something like this online, but you can get lots of information on the types of rods available, price comparisons, and additional equipment needed to go with your rods. Deep sea fishing is something a once in a lifetime experience, and you don't want to make a hasty, uninformed decision on what items to purchase for the event.

Deep sea fishing is quite an adventure for many leisure fisherman. When vacationing near the ocean, many enjoy taking advantage of this activity. Purchasing the correct sea fishing rods is essential if you wish to have a good day out on the ocean, and hopefully will help you land a big one.

Enzo Vullo, http://www.seafishingreelsonline.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Enzo_Vullo

Addictive Carp Bait Substances in Relation to Smoking and Nicotine Addiction!

2009-06-22T23:05:00.000+07:00

If you want to catch more carp it is very advisable to put them at their ease right?! Many substances will do this in carp even as simply as by releasing more glucose into their blood (smoking does this in humans and is the first thing a smoker experiences.) Nicotine is a defence compound like hot chilli pepper compounds that stop plants from being eaten, however very many other natural compounds are addictive and are easily applied to your carp baits so read on!

You can be relaxed just by consuming food and drinks. You can easily feel the proof of this by drinking a warm sugary tee or coffee or having a beer and a smoke, or eating marmite on toast or a bar of chocolate or even eating a mixed salad very rich in minerals and other nutrients. (Now I have just mentioned far more addictive substances just in these few examples than most people will ever realise!)

Very often many of the best carp bait ingredients and additives are very obvious by completely over-looked. But everyone knows that ancient South American peoples revered chocolate (alkaloids) and took it with chilli peppers (oleoresins) and vanilla (terpenes) in particular and of course now it is universally eaten as an addictive fatty substance people consume on a daily basis. However, give a dog too much chocolate and you will kill it. In fact if you were to extract a drop of pure nicotine and ingest it you would very very quickly be dead!

So it seems that the natural substances around us can heal us, relax us, prevent and control diseases (e.g. cannabinols from cannabis plants) etc. But very many people do not realise that certain substances in cereals and milk are addictive, that fats and sugars are also addictive, but when consumed in high levels can kill you! The modern day diabetes and obesity epidemics are as much a result of sugar as anything else because it is converted into fat in the body! (It is no good eating a low fat diet if you go out binge-drinking regularly, consume loads of sugary fizzy drinks like Cola or eat loads of sugar-laden snacks.) Carp find sugars extremely attractive too and the instant energy hit it gives them is highly significant in their success quite apart from many bait palatability factors among others that are so important.

Although the bioactive compounds in hemp seed are different from the leaves of the cannabis plant one in particular is certainly habit-forming and carp respond to this in our favour; big-time! Hemp is regarded as a super food these days and hemp protein is among the best quality proteins found in the plant kingdom. But other foods can creep up on carp and become habit-forming including the lycopene in tomatoes and the cantaxanthin in shrimps and krill that give them their red colour when boiled.

But then other stimulants affect carp very well too, and the highly antioxidant pigment called carophyll in various natural and synthetically-produced forms have really proven their worth in carp baits universally and in additves such as Robin Red and substitutes for this. Robin Red is rich in sugars as is that legendary hydrolysed liquid casein product known as Minamino.

You can actually condition carp senses to baits using many of these substances to achieve competitive edges over other baits of competing anglers. Did you ever try those sugar free biscuits or sugar and salt free sweetcorn? You can taste the difference and in part your receptor cells have become adapted to expect sugar and salt in connection with so many foods. The same goes for the taste enhancer monosodium glutamate you find along with loads of salt in Chinese dishes for instance.

But the Chinese and the Thai people for example really know what they are doing when it comes to food recipes certainly in terms of what they do to your mood, mood-related behaviours, bodily responses, health implications and the way they stimulate you for example. Chinese 5 Spice is a great carp bait additive as is Thai 7 Spice. Even fenugreek, mustard and horse radish and soy source (as found in various Japanese food additives) are much more than they seem for they supply amino acids such as tryptophan which carp essentially need and which can be used to help balance out limiting amino acids in baits.

Stimulants are very interesting and often are related to antioxidants and lipids or oils used with great success in carp baits. Many of the best flavours have stimulatory effects and even blood-thinning effects which help raise metabolic rates and energy levels and promote better more prolonged carp feeding and improved bait digestion etc.

As a personal example you can apply to yourself to examine your own addictive eating and behavioural and buying habits what about this: I gave up wheat and cheese and became addicted to chocolate so I stopped that eating that and ended up started eating loads of crisps instead! I stopped eating crisps so I started eating loads of biscuits! I gave up coffee and started drinking loads of tea. One habit and craving replaces another! Peanuts and tiger nuts, Brazil nuts and almonds make great carp baits to a big degree because they have that natural chemical driven just one more factor. (They are far from being high in protein so please note that protein is not everything in carp baits and cheaper baits do work!) Note the sweet stimulatory amine substance called betaine is found in sweetcorn but this is not the end of the matter as betaine has many forms and natural origins and not just in regards to sugar cane and beets and various marine creatures either!

However diverse items such as seeds are rich in various fatty substances, certain sugars and carbohydrates in different forms plus many bioactive substances as they are live seeds (or corms) and are energy power houses designed to create new life which is very well related what so many great carp baits are ultimately all about! Tiger nut milk is used as a health drink in many countries and coconut milk is very healthy for many reasons. Its natural oils are one of the most noted in natural health circles, like those found in wheat germ and krill also!)

It is obviously hard to remove an addiction from our brain chemical driven behaviours and sensory preferences and even DNA! It takes time (and a suitable substitute,) but this all can be leveraged in our carp baits and not only on a personal level. The replacement of smokers fags for patches does not directly stop your craving but starts to recondition your behaviours making it much easier to stop. Thinking about how you can apply this stuff to your fishing, baiting applications and bait designs will certainly help your catches improve compared to your peers!

On the negative side, eating lots of white refined sugar actually alters your DNA and this is extremely difficult to achieve because food these days is poisoned with the stuff all over the place as it is with wheat but definitely not to good effect as it builds up negative health impacts and even hyper-sensitivity-related diseases etc. But then taking raw mineral-rich molasses every day is proven to slow down the aging of your hair and other parts of your body, as will antioxidant-rich olive oil on your skin! Exercise with drinking lots of mineral water is an excellent way to release those feel-good hormones, instead of binging on unhealthy stimulant, fat, sugar, carbohydrate and salt-laden foods and drinks which is all too easy to do today!

It is an hilariously habit-forming activity because your body actually begins to expect it and anticipate it to the degree you miss it when you do not do it due to the effect of those feel-good hormones released! Note: I stopped drinking caffeinated black and green teas and now I now have decaffeinated natural fruit and spice tea flavours with natural extracts. (Sure it is true that I have 5 bags in a cup, but I have not had a cold for 3 years now; all those antioxidants and other beneficial bioactives really work!)

On this point I will leave you to relax, have a smoke or another coffee and digest all this (or your curry if you are eating one,) and think a little further about the thermogenic impacts of the protein you consume because this is another very potent effect of many bait-making goodies too! For much more information on the simple basics and more advanced aspects of big carp bait making and readymade bait boosting and adapting of boilies, particles and ground baits etc, why not get my totally unique big carp and catfish bait secrets ebooks at my site Baitbigfish now!

By Tim Richardson.

Now why not seize this moment to improve your catches for life with these unique fishing bibles: "BIG CARP FLAVOURS FEEDING TRIGGERS AND CARP SENSES EXPLOITATION SECRETS!" "BIG CARP AND CATFISH BAIT SECRETS!" And "BIG CARP BAIT SECRETS!" For these and much more now visit: http://www.baitbigfish.com Home of world-wide proven readymade and homemade bait success secrets bibles more free articles and insider secrets!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_F._Richardson

Sea Fishing on Your Stag Weekend

2009-06-22T22:50:00.000+07:00

Get ready to cast off sit back and relax on your stag weekend with some sea fishing. This is growing in popularity with stag groups who want to take to the open water, relax with their buddies and a few beers and reflect on that last weekend of freedom. Fishing is no longer a sport for old guys sitting by a lake whiling away the hours, it's a great way to hook up with friends and catch something tasty.

What is sea fishing?

There are two main types of boat fishing which are popular today, inshore boat fishing, which is usually in a lake or shallow area of water, and then there is offshore fishing, also known as sea fishing which occurs in deep water and quite a way away from land. The latter is very popular with stag parties and usually the groups can book with a company to take them out in the boat. Once out in the water, the boat will stop in an area and then it's up to you and the guys to dangle your rods over the end and see if you can catch some fish!

What can you expect?

Normally you would start off at a marina where you would meet your crew for the day. Having a crew and boat hired makes things very easy on your stag weekend as you don't have to worry about bringing the rods and tackle or finding the fish! Once onboard you'll need to find your sea legs as you head out into a prime fishing area. Here the boat will stop and you'll be shown how to use the rod and what to do if you get a bite. It doesn't matter if you've never fished before or if you're a pro as the main reasons for going on your stag weekend is to spend some time with your closest friends and have a laugh out in the middle of nowhere! Quite often the crew will provide you with some drinks or you can sometimes bring your own, though be careful as you don't want to drink too much when you're on a boat in the middle of nowhere.

What could you catch?

There are many types of common fish that you might catch some Sea Bass, Cod, Pollock, Ling, Mackerel and Tope just to name a few. Depending on where you go will depend on what type of fish you will be able to catch. You might have the option to keep or throw back the fish depending on the crew that take you out, but most will let you take it if you were desperate to go back and cook up some fish for your stag weekend!

Why sea fishing on a stag weekend?

Sea fishing is a perfect break away from the daily grind to relax with your friends and have a laugh. If you're looking for a stag weekend activity where you can sit back and relax hopefully in the sun with a few beers, then this is the perfect choice for you.

For more information about sea fishing on your stag weekend or other stag weekend ideas visit: http://www.thestagcompany.com/fishing-stag-weekends/ Or: http://www.thestagcompany.com/activities.php.

The Stag Company has been sending men on some of the most stylish and adventurous stag weekends since 2004. We have extensive experience and information about stag weekends and stag parties both in the UK and many European destinations. For a friendly, informative service don't hesitate to contact us with any questions.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Amy_E_Harrison

The Incredible Striped Bass Fishing Experience

2009-06-22T22:47:00.000+07:00

Striped bass fishing is one of the many types of bass fishing that has become very popular in the last ten or fifteen years. Fishing for these incredible animals is both challenging and fun. Being that there is such a broad realm within the bass community, striped bass is in a category all its own.

Today we are going to discuss how you can get involved with this incredible opportunity and join the many enthusiastic anglers that have already been bitten by the striper bug.

Striped bass are most often called stripers and also rockfish because they can be frequently found in rocky areas that offer shelter and protection. There are several ways to catch these fish such as by casting, trolling and even bottom fishing. In most areas, stripers do not reproduce well requiring extensive game management and stocking. The best months for catching this game fish are late March through May. This is because striped bass begin to feed aggressively as they prepare to spawn.

Bait - Finding and using the right type of bait for stripers is the same as any other type of fishing. The more experienced striped bass fisherman will spend a lot of time looking for schools of baitfish. They know that when they find these schools that the fish will be very close by.

Casting or trolling with large plugs or fishing live bait under a bobber are all techniques that I have used when fishing for these animals. Chicken liver, normally a great bait for catfishing, has been a proven good choice as natural bait. The most effective artificial baits, in my experience, are spoons and rattle traps. Live shad are the bait of choice when using live bait because they are the primary forage food for stripers.

Tackle - You need to know the difference types of tackle used for striped bass fishing just as you need to know the types of tackle used for any other game fish. Fishermen use a variety of tackle and methods to catch these hard fighting fish. Some who enjoy the fight may use light tackle while others who prefer to put food on the table will use heavier tackle. In my case, I usually go with the heavier tackle because these bass are some of the biggest game fish out there reaching weights of over seventy pounds.

When it comes to bass fishing, striped bass fishing is one of the favorites for many and you can also find yourself hooked by this incredible experience. There is just no way to describe the exhilaration you feel when you hook into one of these monsters and you discover that you are in for the fight of your life. Good luck to you on your next fishing adventure.

If you love to fish as much as I do or just need some information on fishing techniques, come visit me at TheCompleteFisherman.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_O_Stokes

Best Hooks For Trout Fishing

2009-06-22T22:36:00.000+07:00

What are the best hooks for trout fishing? I've been asked that question many times in the last 25 years, and in this article I'm going to do my best to explain the answer to this question. The best hooks for trout fishing have 3 very important things in common. These 3 things are what this article is about. As long as your trout fishing hooks have these 3 things in common, you're going to be in great shape.

Many trout anglers make the mistake of not thinking enough about their hooks, and it ends up costing them bites. Many times in trout fishing the simplest things are the most effective and this is certainly true with hooks. This is especially true if live bait is employed when fishing for trout. When you fish with live bait, you want the focus to be on the bait, and nothing else. The bottom line is that if you keep these 3 things in mind, you'll know that you're always using the best hooks for trout fishing.

The Size - When fishing for trout you always want to use small fishing hooks. This means size 8 or 10 in most situations, and rarely any hooks larger than size 6. The size of your hooks is important because we don't want them to be visible to the trout. When talking about the best hooks for trout fishing, the smaller the better. Some trout anglers even like to use size 12 and 14 hooks, which are so small you almost have to have the hands of a four year old to deal with then effectively.
The Sharpness - When fishing for trout (or any other species of fish) your hooks should always be as sharp as possible. New hooks are very sharp, but after being used for a while they become dull. This is why changing your hooks frequently or sharpening them with a hook sharper is so important. It's said that 50% of the fish we miss is because of dull hooks. I like to drift fish in rivers, where I bounce my bait along the bottom as it flows with the current. This means that I get snagged and/or hung up a lot. So I'm constantly changing my hooks to make sure that they're as sharp as possible.
The Configuration - Trout fishing hooks should be configured properly, especially when using live bait. The most effective configuration that I've ever used is a set of gang hook. Trout fishing hooks configured as a set of gang hooks are extremely effective, especially when worm fishing. Another configuration that some trout fishermen like is a #10 plain hook with a small treble hook tied behind it. This trout fishing hook set up is quite effective for Powerbait fishing.

The bottom line is that the best hooks for this type of fishing need to have these 3 things in common. If your trout fishing hooks have these three things in common you will be a successful trout fisherman. And never forget, there is no magic formula to fishing, so the more time that you can spend on the water practicing your craft, the better off you will be.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 25 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his five year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler

Make Cheap Carp Fishing Baits Using Robin Red Plus Cheaper Stimulatory Ingredients!

2009-06-22T22:32:00.000+07:00

Robin Red is a legendary additive whose components are not all fully known but certainly turn carp on! I have used extracts of and versions of this product over the decades for repeated big carp success and save myself a fortune into the bargain by making my own homemade powdered and liquid versions! You can too by reading on!

Various companies offer this famous carp bait additive and some offer substitutes which contain parallel components that induce similar positive feeding effects on carp and other fish! I have used versions of Robin Red liquids and extracts for over 3 decades and am always very pleased with the results, especially when these are enhanced by various means. The incredible longevity of success of Robin Red demonstrates that there is far more to bait success that just protein and this should never be over-looked for the implications are staggering for all those who wish to make their own unique homemade baits as economically as possible!

To begin with I used to mix Rod Hutchinson Robin Red Extract with Minamino and a variety of mixed base Tutti Fruitti flavours and various amino acids, palatants and other goodies. This worked very well but Rod stopped selling his Robin Red product. Robin Red is not the cheapest of additves. It is extremely versatile though and can be applied to all kinds of uses, from boilies and paste baits, to preparing ground baits, PVA bag mixes, stick mixes, slop mixes, particles etc; the list goes on!

The genuine original additive components are known to some degree and can be used either individually or in combinations with each other, or even to bulk up the original or copy-cat products to cut costs considerably. Robin Red can be bulked up with all kinds of things, from hot chilli peppers and paprika extracts, to Niger, sesame and various whole and crushed small seeds like hemp, millet, red dari etc.

The naturally potent antioxidant pigments carophyll and cantaxanthin are a significant duo that you can apply, or even use those nicely bioactive wheat grass powders, fenugreek, celery extract and asafoetida powders for instance. I love using raw cane molasses nutrient-rich and packed with the carp trigger, betaine. When you put the raw granule type into the original additive it will feel very familiar! Such materials can boost all kinds of baits from boilies and pellets to ground baits and pellets and even meat and fish baits. The pigments in this additve dye the water very attractively and this effect can be boosted to a great degree. I use similar natural dyes in conjunction with various milk powders and soluble milk proteins such as Vitamealo and Lamlac and cheap 5 Pints Milk Powders etc, to cloud up the water full of nutritional triggers and attractors etc to really get the fish feeding!

The oils in Robin Red are also very important to the over all impact of this bait additive. You can add all kinds of oils to Robin Red and substitutes and when making your own versions of it. Aniseed and fennel oils are very good carp-catchers. Garlic oil is a very well proven oil that will go well with this outstanding additive and I seem to use this very much with butyric acid and liquid lecithins from my good friend Phil at Carpfishingpellets (online.) For all year round baits, the Red Venom liquid, chilli oil, Super Sweet, Lactose products, garlic concentrate and blue cheese powder for example of Ccmoore are very productive as are their specially-chosen range of essential oils for all year round performance.

Willis Worms have a very nice Robin Red Substitute at a great price too plus some very stimulating products that are pretty unique. Not too many anglers think of adding extra mineral and vitamin supplements etc to differentiate their baits with Robin Red and boost attraction, such as the Ccmoore Cyprivit for example.

Most anglers often over-look possible additions to Robin Red for widely various applications. Examples include mixed yeast powders, soluble milk proteins, and seaweeds like kelp, marine oils and other nutritionally-stimulating marine extracts, palatants, oleoresins, terpenes, concentrated sweeteners, spray-dried fruit juices and natural flavours. These and so many other products combined can all boost Robin Red and similar products in a variety of ways for special purposes in terms of attraction and biological and other fish impacts and all be made to form unique liquid extracts etc. But there is far more about all this good stuff in my totally unique homemade baits and carp and catfish bait secrets ebooks found at my site Baitbigfish - so see you there!

By Tim Richardson.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_F._Richardson

Fish Finder Power and Frequency - Discussing the Features You Need in Your Fish Finder

2009-06-22T22:31:00.000+07:00

One of my friends was recently choosing between Humminbird fish finder and Lowrance fish finder. He asked me about different fish finder features. That is why I chose to write this article about the features you may look at when choosing your ideal fish finder. If you are interested in other fish finder features you may want to read my previous article about fish finder displays.

POWER

Transmitter power is important in choosing a fish finder. Generally, the more powerful the transmitter, the greater the chance of getting a return echoes in deep waters or less than optimal water conditions. Basically, it produces a louder signal which will allow you to see things like bait fish and structures in better detail.

If you'll mostly be fishing in shallow waters, then transmitter power may not be on the top of your priorities when selecting a fish finder. But on the other hand, even if you're fishing in freshwater, there's a good chance that mud, sand and vegetation on the bottom will absorb and scatter the sonar signal, reducing the strength of the return echo. In other words, it's better to be in a situation where you can simply dial back the amount of power you need than to not have enough power when you need it.

Fish finder manufacturers express the strength of transmitter power in watts; but some will use the term "peak to peak," while others use RMS (Root Mean Square). "Peak to peak" can be a little misleading because it's basically a number based on numerically high values instead of RMS which is based on averages. So don't assume that a high "peak to peak" rating is more powerful than a lower numbered rating expressed as RMS.

SONAR FREQUENCY

By now, you've probably noticed that choosing the right fish finder depends a lot on knowing where you'll be doing most of your fishing. When it comes to frequency options, you'll have two options 50 kHz or 200kHz (some manufacturers will have 192kHz but basically there's "low" and "high.") Each has its own advantage and it's up to you to decide which option works best for the kind of fishing you do.

The rule of thumb when it comes to sonar frequency is to use the higher frequencies (192 kHz - 200 kHz) primarily for freshwater applications because you'll typically be dealing with shallower waters.
Generally, higher frequencies gives the best detail, typically shows less "noise", and works best in shallow water and at speed. Target definition is also sharper with these higher frequencies. This is the ability to show two fish as two separate echoes instead of one single mass on the screen. In short, it works well for depths of less than 200 feet (60 meters) and when you need to get an accurate reading while moving faster.

There are some applications where a 50 kHz frequency is preferable though. 50 kHz sonar (under the same conditions and power) can penetrate water to greater depths than higher frequencies. This is because, water absorbs sound waves at a slower rate for low frequencies and the signal can travel farther before becoming too weak to use. That's why you'll usually find 50 kHz used in deeper saltwater applications.

The beam angle is also typically wider for low frequencies, which means the outgoing sonar pulse has a wider cone and is better at viewing a larger area under the boat. However, this also means less target definition and greater susceptibility to noise. Although low frequencies can see deeper, they may not give you a clear picture of the bottom.

If you think you'll be fishing in both freshwater and saltwater environments, you can find fish finders which allow you the best of both worlds by being able to switch frequencies from 50 kHz to 200 kHz. Be prepared to shell out more money though.

TIP: Don't forget to match the frequency of your transducer to that of the sonar unit's. You simply cannot use a 50 kHz transducer or even a 200 kHz transducer on a sonar unit designed for only 192 kHz or the other way around.

A transducer must be able to withstand high transmitter power impulses, converting as much of the impulse into sound energy as possible while being sensitive enough to receive the faintest of echoes. Choose wisely and don't be afraid to ask questions.

Ensure you choose the right fish finder for your budget with the features you want. If you want to know more about Humminbird Fish Finders or Lowrance Fish Finders visit my blog today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nick_Norris

Crappie Fishing Tips - 3 Tips That Will Help Anyone Catch More Crappie

2009-06-22T22:29:00.000+07:00

In this article I'm going to outline 3 tips that will help anyone catch more crappie on their next crappie fishing excursion. I have been using these crappie fishing tips with great success for more than 20 years and know that will work just as well for you. Whether or not these three crappie fishing tips are the top 3 is up for debate, but they are defiantly in the top 10.

The first thing to keep in mind with regards to crappie fishing is the fact that these fish absolutely love minnows. Minnows are probably the most effective bait to use when fishing for crappie. Small jigs are also effective crappie baits, and what is it that jigs imitate? Yep, minnows. Whatever bait you use for these fish, make sure that it at least imitates a minnow. Minnows and Crappie go together like peas and carrots.

Shall we get down to the tips so that you can start catching more crappie? Sound like a plan to me.

Use Slip Bobbers - for those of you who don't know what a slip bobber is, it is a bobber that "slips" along your fishing line and is stopped using a "bobber stop". Using a "bobber stop" allows you to easily adjust the depth of your bait (or jig) below the bobber. Slip bobbers are extremely useful when fishing either from the shore, or when fishing in deeper water. Using slip bobbers effectively will dramatically increase your crappie fishing success.
Use Gang Hooks - gang hooks are a pair of small hooks tied back to back, which are attached to your line by using a small barrel swivel. The swivel prevents the line from twisting when using live minnows as Crappie bait. When minnows swim around under your bobber, they can twist the heck out of your line when a swivel isn't present. These hooks also allow you to hook the minnow through the lips, which means that they will live much longer.
Use Mother Nature To Your Advantage - As a crappie angler you want to be on the water fishing when the crappie are the most active, and this is determined by using Mother Nature to your advantage. More specifically the weather & moon These two forces of Mother Nature have an amazing impact on the behavior of fish (which obviously includes crappie) and the better you understand this phenomenon the more crappie you will catch, it's as simple as that. Start using Mother Nature to your advantage sooner, rather than later.

As I said earlier, these aren't the only 3 crappie fishing tips on the planet, they are however three of the most effective. Add one or all of these crappie fishing tips to your repertoire and you'll start bringing home more of our tasty little friends.

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler

How to Make Homemade Carp Bait Using This Simple Big Fish Recipe!

2009-06-22T22:28:00.000+07:00

Is this you? Too carp anglers are in the same boat in that they cannot afford to buy the very most top quality HNV ready made baits in the volumes that they really need to compete on many big fish waters! Most of us have been or are now in this situation so here are just a few tips that will set you free of this problem for good, save you a fortune and catch you many more big fish!

Many carp anglers have a highly developed brand loyalty which companies actually strive to foster and develop to the degree that you might even feel guilty if considering changing brands! There is nothing wrong with brand loyalty because successful fishing is all about fishing confidently. However there are incredible catch-boosting benefits in using products from different bait companies in regards to your bait performance especially!

The unique combined effects of unique combinations of potent ingredients and additives never experienced before by carp improves your catches and even allows you to develop your own unique methods, rigs, baiting practices and strategies that will put you ahead of most other anglers who are generally stuck in a rut of conventional thinking!

Over the past 3 decades in my carp fishing I have gone through many phases of bait testing and as a result have quite a knowledge of what to combine with what differently in order to achieve many more potent competitive edges over both the fish and in many situations over fellow anglers to seriously improve my results.

Examples are many including the following! I remember applying very many kilograms of Hinders tiny high betaine Elipse pellets and crushed tiger nuts soaked in intense Talin and Thaumatin sweetener and tiger extracts and oils to catch the biggest carp and catfish from one Essex water with a leather carp to 46 pounds and a catfish of 68 pounds. You might like to try out crushed Mainline ready made baits like Active 8 mixed with other of their baits such as Fusion and Cell soaked in betaine HCL, Protaste sweetener and Nash Squid extract. A 1 foot long rig with small double pop-up baits straight off the lead is a well proven edge of mine for catfish. Nash Whiskey liquid is a useful additive I have mixed with PPC type amino complexes to great effect for big carp and when targeting big catfish too with homemade ground baits and boilies.

Dynamite Baits Halibut pellets soaked in Richworth liquid yeast with added Honey Yucatan and Tutti Fruitti combined with pure salmon oil plus some varied gustatory stimulants and digestive enhancers from a variety of companies has really done well for me. How many angler have tried pure maple syrup and Ccmoore Feedstim XP in the Mainline Grange CSL bait base mix for instance?! (Give this unique tip a try; perhaps as crushed homemade boilie baits and pastes in your PVA bags for instance!)

You might like to try out a homemade bait that will be very different, perhaps the new Mainline Cell base mix with added Tackle Box Ming Oil for instance with added Ccmoore blue cheese powder and garlic concentrate for instance.

Willis Worms have an outstanding Robin Red substitute that some major UK bait companies now include in their ready made baits. Because its great price I can absolutely pack it into my ground baits to awesome effect along with other of their very competitively-priced products including their worm extracts, squid andronone and CP70 fish protein for example, plus some of their custom liquid protein complexes.

I have been using products from Newfields Baits for a while and their green lipped mussel extract is simply amazing. I cannot choose between this and the high-impact de-fatted green-lipped mussel extract from Ccmoore!

I have used a very special combination of high grade hydrolyzed salmon protein, with a high PC liquid lecithin and premium grade Scottish salmon oil, in a variety of baits and application. These products are all very economical yet have been incredibly effective over this last spring and summer and even in winter in the cold substituting the salmon oil for betaine HCL! All these particular additives have come from a leading premium carp and koi pellet supplier and unique bait ingredients supplier called CW Baits and Carpfishingpellets (as found online.)

I have done very well mixing together ingredients from all kinds of companies to stretch my bait money further and improve my results. I have been making my own homemade baits since I started carp fishing in 1977. In the present economic climate more and more thinking carp anglers are getting into homemade bait making in order to save a fortune on ready made baits - and who can blame them?!

I used to use very many products from Rod Hutchinson and I absolutely trust all his products as he has been designing and refining incredibly successful baits since before probably 90 percent of UK carp anglers today were born! Who has not heard of Scopex for instance? A great tip is trying his Mulberry Florentine in hook baits or his nutritional Maple Steep Liquor supplement and flavour in very elevated levels in your free baits. I can tell you that Mike Willmot Essential Baits Natural Squid is a genuine winner and by adding cork dust to his and other ready made pastes will give you the ability to produce instant critically-balanced baits that will act as though they are boilies that have been in the water and are breaking down - just like wary carp like them!

Of course pellets are very important in the bait arsenal today. Combining pellets for specific purposes not just to stimulate carp feeding and pull them into your swim, but to get them to actually make more mistakes on your baits in a very potent edge. I know from long personal experience of catching wary fish that fishing over bait that is fully broken down can be the breakthrough edge required. You might wish to fish bloodworm pellet which are so popular today, but boosted with Ccmoore bloodworm extract and Red Venom liquid or Feedstim XP or Odyssey XXX liquid.

Personally I find the buoyant behavior of Ccmoore Milkimin pellets an incredible edge for more wary fish and I recently hooked the biggest fish in one smaller Kent lake at 35 pounds. The point is that this was actually on the first day of fishing and incorporating these in various forms in my homemade PVA bag mixes, homemade boilies and pastes! Just another thought is I recall really hammering the fish at Dream Lake One in France on Squid and krill extract ground baits with blast-frozen bloodworm in my PVA bag mix. Real blood worm goes a long way despite its cost when used exactly how and where it is best applied and I believe it is often superior to so many of the processed ready prepared bloodworm baits and additives available. (You might like to try it mixed with the new Nutrabaits bait called G-Force in crushed bloodworm extract-soaked form in PVA products etc.)

I have often used Nutrabaits Addits to enhance and further predigest my homemade ground bait and boilies and pellets to make them perform fantastically well but I do use much cheaper products plus special methods to further break down my baits even more favorably. This type of preparation stretches the short and long-term effects of my homemade base mixes much further! I often bulk them up with much cheaper ingredients to save on cost and these additives and ingredients are broken down into much more attractive soluble and very digestible compounds such as organic acids and fermenting sugars - among other goodies!

Another example everyone can consider is when I used certain homemade bioactive compound special edges to hook the biggest fish in Rainbow lake; when this fish was at 84 pounds back in around 2006. Spice and herb oleoresins and various other essential oil components (plus complete essential oils in combination) were included in the preparation of my homemade baits for that extremely highly pressured big fish water. Special homemade boosted particles and ground baits preparations plus homemade boilies and boosted ready made pellets were used in this instance. All this sounds like a lot of preparation but it always seriously pays off to make the extra effort at any water where people are well known to blank on and where your goal is to tempt the biggest wary fish!

The amount of competitive edges you can produce for yourself to get around what I call carp danger reference points conditioned into carp by past and present popular carp fishing bait forms, and baiting and fishing practices are legion (but you need to be thinking differently and use your imagination! Ultimately you are never taking a risk in being different with bait because everything is priceless feedback and anything that might seem like a mistake is actually a solution to crack a different fishing problem - 99 percent of the time!

I make my homemade baits with a big focus on protein and amino acids stimulation effects both internally and externally but I do not always design baits for the long-term and instant baits by definition can be both long and short-term for many reasons. With top quality protein additives and ingredients it can be very hard to cut costs but it is possible with enough knowledge of bait and you do not always have to group together to reduce personal costs or to get bargains in bulk. It is a fact that using high levels of the most potent substances in just your hook baits are often all you need to achieve your goals, and creative uses of cheaper but potently-boosted particles, natural baits, pellets and creatively-boosted particles as free baits are very often successful in guerrilla-type fishing approaches.

Certainly not all of the most impactful protein-related carp feeding triggers fall into the bracket of expensive complex amino acids (and other amines etc,) and certain natural feeding triggers can be very cheap indeed! In fact you can make extremely competitive homemade baits that do compete extremely well against ready made baits but with no fish protein, no milk protein and no sign of conventional expensive ready made amino acid complexes at all. With the right bait making knowledge you can make all these and more including making homemade flavors, flavour components and unique flavour-infused oils too all for yourself and save a fortune!

Now you might think that knowing much more about fish senses in regards to exploiting them with bait substances is not really needed today with the amount of commercial quality bait available now. But I can assure you that if saving a fortune in your bait costs (literally for life,) improving your catches, and staying ahead of the fish and competing anglers are your goals, then this fish senses and bait substances exploitation (of all fish senses) knowledge all combined is a huge advantage over less aware anglers!

This is something very many anglers will never understand nor appreciate the true power of because so many will simply be lazy and ignore it - so offering you a huge gaping area to exploit in order to always stay ahead!

For much more information on bait making and other big carp secrets see my resource box now!
By Tim Richardson.
Now why not seize this moment to improve your catches for life with these unique fishing bibles: "BIG CARP FLAVORS FEEDING TRIGGERS AND CARP SENSES EXPLOITATION SECRETS!" "BIG CARP AND CATFISH BAIT SECRETS!" And "BIG CARP BAIT SECRETS!" For these and much more now visit: http://www.baitbigfish.com Home of world-wide proven ready made and homemade bait success secrets bibles!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_F._Richardson

Formulating Big Carp Bait Recipes For More Economical Fishing!

2009-06-22T22:24:00.000+07:00

A bait edge for many carp anglers means all too often simply buying a new expensive ready made bait. But you do not need to do this when you can easily make your own homemade liquids to adapt and boost them to differentiate them from every other bait your carp have ever experienced - so achieving more bites from warier often older and much bigger fish! So read on and discover how to catch more (cheaper) big carp now!

When you read the magazine articles or advertorials you so often find a high profile angler raving on about what is or will become the next big thing, the must-have additive that will change your life. But why bother with these when everyone else is going to use them when surely the big point of bait is to put fish at ease to get them to make more mistakes on your hook baits, not scare them by using what everyone else has already hooked them on!

You might be all too aware of the high publicised additives such as halibut pellet oil, tiger nut oil, salmon oil, and hemp oil etc. But just consider for a moment how frequently carp come into contact with free baits and hook baits of so many forms that contain these. Most frequently just one individual oil is used in a bait so it is very easily distinguishable to carp and may well put them on there guard far more than a new substance will!

So how do you make a unique substance that works really well? The options are so vast you would be amazed. Oils vary in just how miscible or not they can be with other substances and to the exact degree they will actually mix with water and other substances. Sometimes it depends on temperatures and amount of time applied to the mixing process as well as other factors such as solvents, surfactants or lecithins etc. There is a fraction of oil that does mix with water in special ways even if only tiny and the same goes for oils mixed with very different substances.

I discovered over 30 years ago that when mixing homemade base mixes very wet that I came up with unique liquids and runny pastes that I could apply to almost any bait to make it completely unique. Getting back to oils, all you need to do is literally experiment with mixing ones you might know are popular. But there is far more advantages in using oils and combinations you simply will not find offered by any bait company.

The quick list of the most popular oils include various plant and marine oils plus others. The list includes fish and other marine oils of various origins and grades, herb and spice oils, vegetable oils such as those from seeds and nuts and fruit oils from berries and citrus fruits for example. There are very many others that will really give you a great edge against all those over-used ones!

If you are on a tight budget lazy you might simply add sunflower oil and mixed nut oil or peanut oil together and add a proportion of liquid lecithins to the mixture. The one from Carpfishingpellets and CW Baits is a very potent form and is like a thick viscous treacle and contrasts highly with some from other bait companies which basically look more like glycerine and are clear and far thinner.

In my special bait secrets ebooks series I really go deeply into things like making bioactive natural flavour-induced oils and even include a table of substances that mix together to what degree including things like sugars, terpenes, oleoresins, amino acids, essential oils etc. Just to be a little different you might add salmon oil to halibut pellet oil, or add garlic oil to hemp oil. Note; the tinned tuna oil that some high profile anglers have raved on about is well over 90 percent sunflower oil which happens to be very healthy but is not the same as pure tuna oil which cost a lot more!

Adding vegetable oils to marine oils is a very beneficial thing because you can achieve a balance of nutritional factors. The ratios of omega oils from 3, 6 and 9 all have various impacts on fish and you have probably read on tins of fish like tuna about the benefits to your heart and circulatory system of omega oils. In long-term baits this ratio is very important and impacts on lipids levels within the body of fish when fed regularly with baits.

Of course there are very many oils you might have heard of like the fish feed-inducing oils, Nod Oil, Nutrabaits Complete Food Oil, and Lee Jackson Ming Oil and so on. But very often either the price is extraordinarily comparatively high and you can make your own much cheaper oil mixtures to match these or the fact is they are already in widespread use and fish may well be wary of them! (Please keep oils refrigerated and avoid any oil oxidation which may harm carp - this includes using less than totally fresh pellets too!)

You might decide to use cheap roasted sesame seed oil or wheat germ oil and add a few things to really make these very different. You might go for cod liver oil or krill oil which is a specialist highly potent antioxidant supplement and an extremely powerful oil - one of the most powerful in the world. Coconut oil is a very nice oil too and again it has outstanding well proven antioxidant benefits. I mention antioxidant benefits here and especially in regard to anti-inflammatory properties of oils as very many great carp bait ingredients, liquids and additves have similar impacts when consumed by the fish and apart from being feeding triggers they actually wean fish onto baits so the fish begin to seek them out but for not just for instinctive health benefits!

Mixing oils is easy but so many carp anglers overlook this edge. I always use a liquid lecithin from my good friend Phil at Carpfishingpellets which is a nutritionally-stimulating feeding trigger and potent emulsifier of oils that improves bait performance and digestion and is a great price too!

Oils are addictive but if you happen to not believe me; just consider how addictive oily crisps and chips are; the salt just enhances what attraction is already there because the body is instinctively drawn to the most energy-efficient food sources and oils are at the top the list although I love to use sugars in carp baits for similar related reasons among others! (Note; every single cell in our and carp bodies is truly self-intelligent and DNA is not necessarily a fixed static thing and it is well-proven that consumption of sugars changes DNA.)

I noticed at least one fishing match has been won by a boy using micro-waved chips! Like us humans, carp are extremely sensitive to the energy-efficiency of their food. But then this is no surprise when you realise that we are the long-lost descendants of ancient teleost fish; of which Cyprindae fish are a part. Oils are very definitely one of the greatest sources of energy for carp in carp baits although oil levels in baits should be kept very low at a maximum of around 5 percent only. Amino acids and protein digestibility factors etc have quite some bearing on the balance of the impact of baits in the long and short-terms too (as well as carbohydrates significantly,) but this get out of the range of this article, but carp process amino acids to a massive degree better in many ways than humans, who by contrast derive far more energy from carbohydrate food sources than protein ones. (The thermogenic impacts of protein in carp baits is a very important aspect of bait design that can be exploited.)

Needless to say carp and humans essentially require energy sources simply in order to breathe and stay and maintain our body functions to actually stay alive; oxygen is part of the reaction with food energy that makes metabolism so important. (This is related to temperature of water in carp in contrast to our highly developed bodily temperature regulation in us warm-blooded humans, but this system actually robs us of energy too so is does have disadvantages compared to carp!)

Catfish love halibut pellets because apart from pre-digested fish protein for instance they are high in oils. But these pellet were designed for fish with much higher lipid requirements and most sea fish and salmonids such as salmon and trout need more lipids or oils and energy requirements than carp do. The emphasis of low oil marine proteins and low oil boilies is obvious as more and more carp anglers become aware of the health implications of using baits with too much oil content. I hate it every time I catch a big carp which has been damaged by the excessive use of oils. Many carp anglers still glug their free baits in excessive oils which is completely irresponsible.

Many carp anglers completely overlook the already significant oil content of their base mixes and unfortunately it is most often the oily fish meal type baits that get the oil glugging treatment. Just so you realise this in terms of the future longevity of our big fish stocks, high-oil halibut pellets and high oil salmon pellets and others are a big cause of fatty protruding livers bulging out of the sides of carp!

The same goes for fish like wels catfish whose rate of metabolism rises much more per 5 degree increase in temperature than carp; in the States in air temperatures around 100 degrees various catfish species really feed well but can you imagine the effect of such temperatures on carp?! There are very powerful reasons why mixing oils to gain not just uniqueness of smell and taste and nutritional benefits are great but other factors too. These are varied but include the ways certain components of oils will impact upon the physiology of carp and other fish, even to the extent of altering mood and behaviours significantly.

Just for example peach and strawberry oil, cranberry and citrus oils have very interesting bioactive effects and these can be added to other oils easily to differentiate them. Palatant oil complexes are a useful starting point to mix with various other oils ensuring the range of enhancers, and varied types of feeding triggers are in your mixture and exploit various internal and external carp sensory receptors simultaneously.

Various receptor cells exist all over carp from the fins, barbells nostrils, flanks and lateral line etc, to inside the roof of the mouth, in the lips and throat and deeper still inside the digestive tract and even in parts of the brain; all working together in highly significant biofeedback loops! (Think about it this; just how do you decide which flavours or brand of flavour of crisps turn you on the most and, once you have discovered one you most like because usually one stands out for you, do you ignore the rest and primarily go looking for the one your senses prefer?)

Similarly, a carp can decide for itself if it really needs or wants to consume your bait, long before it has actually physically picked it up. The old saying about a carp having to sample a bait by mouthing it because it does not have hands is simply misleading! Carp and other fish will often actually rub their bodies against baits in order to more safely detect what they have to offer and often you will get single bleep line bites from wary carp doing this and using other tricks such as physically picking baits up and moving them on their fins which have various densities of specialised receptor cells on their surface!

Many times fish will roll for long periods over baits simply filter-feeding on dissolved substances and other less soluble substances leaching from baits. This is a very significant area to exploit in pulling fish into your swim, and chilli oils and paprika extracts etc are not the limit of long-range attractors! Read my biography to find out more!

By Tim Richardson.

Now why not seize this moment to improve your catches for life with these unique fishing bibles: "big carp flavours feeding triggers and carp senses exploitation secrets!" "Big carp and catfish bait secrets!" And "big carp bait secrets!" For these and much more now visit: http://www.Baitbigfish.Com home of world-wide proven readymade and homemade bait success secrets bibles!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_F._Richardson

Trout Fishing Tips - Fishing Live Bait

2009-06-22T22:23:00.000+07:00

What is your preference when fishing for Trout? Live bait? Or Lures? For this article I'm going to focus mainly on fishing small Trout streams with 3 different types of live bait that Trout absolutely love.

Understand, I like to use lures as much as anyone else but when it comes to Trout Fishing, whether in a stream or spring fishing in a lake, I will always choose live bait over lures.

Why? Because fishing live bait is more natural. Live bait will work more often than Lures, and likely so because when Trout get up in the morning and head out to their favorite set of rapids for breakfast this is what they will normally eat, and you can get live bait free if you want to go to the stream for crayfish, field for grasshoppers or dig up your own earthworms.

So first choose a bait you know trout normally eat everyday. Second, serve it to them in a way their used to having it served to them.

EARTHWORMS - a large earthworm is about 2" long and works great for Stream fishing Trout. When hooked properly they can be deadly. They aren't as popular in the bait shops as nightwalkers but some bait shops do have them. This weekend I was doing some landscaping and found tons of earthworms just under the sod as I was digging up my lawn. Also you can find them under rocks and dead logs. Nightwalkers will work, not as well, but they will work. If you have to use nightwalkers cut a small piece off- about 1/2" to 1" and use that.

Crayfish - early in the spring when the water is cold it's better to use small crayfish about 1"long. Once the water warms up and the Trout are more active they will be more apt to attack larger bait. If you can find soft shelled crayfish then you just hit the jack pot. Trout love um.

Grasshoppers - are fun to use as bait. Watch for rising Trout, hook a grasshopper through the back without any weight so he floats and watch for a Trout to come to the surface and nail him. How exciting is that. If you don't want to catch your own grasshoppers you will probably need to go to a pet store to find them. Pet stores usually sell them for reptile food.

These are just three of the most common live baits used to fish small streams for Trout. Other great live Trout bait to consider include: Caddis Larvae, Stone Fly Nymph (best used in mid summer; look under rocks) mayflies, minnows (use all year;especially for brown trout who generally eat more fish as they get older) and Hellgrammites (Dobsonfly Larvae; best used in spring & early summer).

So....Are you ready to go fishing? Have you been thinking about a good place to try out some live bait?

I remember as a young boy my best friend Gordon and I would ride our bikes to our favorite fishing hole. We didn't have money to buy bait but half the fun was digging around the creek, creek banks and fields for the same bait mentioned in this article. If you are interested in more Trout fishing Tips I'd like to invite you to Check This Out
Proven Methods for Catching Trout ~ http://www.KillerFishingTips.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Ayers

How to Catch a Brook Trout

2009-06-22T22:22:00.000+07:00

I've often been asked how to I catch a brook trout. And I usually answer with a line and hook. Now most of them know that I'm just kidding around with them, but if you think about it, that is the basis of catching any fish. Now the big question is what kind of line and what's on the hook. Also in what water to put the line and hook.

As far as line goes I prefer to use 4lb. monofilament. That is of course, when I am spinning or bait fishing. For fly fishing I prefer lighter weight of fly line coupled with a light smaller fly rod, and a reel to match the rod. When running monofilament line I prefer to use an ultralight rod and reel.

For hooks I prefer to use the smaller variety most times. Spinners and spoons I will use in the #0 to #1 size for most of my fishing. But obviously if you're going for bigger Brook trout like record size, much bigger lures will be needed. Considering the average Brookie in most streams will be between six and 8 inches with the odd one finding the 12 to 14 inch mark,the smaller spinners and spoons will be fine.

I do however tend to use larger bait hooks when I'm fishing for Speckles. The reason for this is that the trout have less tendency to swallow the bait completely. But if they swallowed the bait down there gullet it's almost impossible to release them without seriously hurting them. So the larger bait hooks prevent the brookies from swallowing the bait completely.

Brook trout can be found in clear cool streams. Also in bigger rivers and lakes that have the right temperature. For the Brook trout to survive they need temperatures of 60°F and below. So if you can find these conditions you may find some Brook trout. Now do not overlook smaller streams, some only a couple feet wide, because you never know if the temperature is right and there's lots of cover, there very well could be some nice trout for you to catch.

Now if you would like to learn more on how to catch Brook trout, like were to go, what to look for and also what to use please visit http://www.squidoo.com/ontariofishguide

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rolland_Meigs

Fishing Trip? Why Not a Fly Fishing For Brook Trout Trip?

2009-06-22T22:19:00.000+07:00

Fishing trips are great way to spend some time alone, or with family members. Trips can range from a weekend getaway to a full-blown vacation up in the northern woods of Ontario. You can spend a little bit, or you can spend a lot staying at one of the many five-star resorts that cater to fishing.

You can rough it in the woods sleeping in a tent alongside beautiful wilderness Lake, or fly into a rustic cabin that sits on the point that juts out into a wonderful lonely lake. Either way you can make memories that last a lifetime.

Personally for me and I love taking a fishing trip into northern Ontario chasing after Brook trout. One of the most satisfying methods of catch these beautifully colored trout, is with the use of a fly rod. Now do not get me wrong I've caught many more trout using a spinning rod with lures and natural bait.

But something has to be said for catching a trout on a fly that perhaps you've made iand designed yourself. I know lots of fly fisherman who spent most of their winter's nights, designing and tying flies for the upcoming fly fishing season in the spring.

Nothing is more amazing than sitting out on a calm evening night, on a late spring night, on a lake where the Brook trout are breaking the surface of the water feeding on insects. There are thousands of such lakes in northern Ontario just waiting for someone to take a fishing trip there, and to make memories that will last a lifetime.

Ontario has some of the best trout fishing in the world. But to be honest trout can be quite finicky. Personally I have seen them go off feeding several days to a week at times. The nice thing is though even if the fish aren't biting, you will be surrounded by some of the most awesome rugged landscape in Canada.

Anyone interested in finding out more about a fly fishing fishing trip into the northern Ontario woods, or would just like to know more about how and where to catch these magnificently colored trout that are a member of the char family. Please visit http://www.squidoo.com/brooktroutflyfishing

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rolland_Meigs

Crappie Fishing Jigs #2 - Learn to Catch Crappies With These Simple Crappie Jig Tips!

2009-06-13T12:23:00.000+07:00

To Improve as a crappie fisherman it is very important that you learn to fish with artificial crappie baits. When you are first starting out fishing for crappie many beginners start fishing with live bait for crappie, but I recommend the best way to start your involvement in the sport of crappie fishing is to make your own jigs. However if you want to take your fishing for crappie efforts to the next level you need to learn the art of fishing with artificial baits. The intention of my article is to provide you with some basic crappie jig information that you can use a starting point to train yourself on the art of catching crappie with artificial crappie jigs.

#1 How is a jig used for crappie constructed?

A jig is made up of three parts which include the following:

1a. The hook

The hook can be a variety of sizes ranging from #6 to a #2 light wire hook.

1b. The head

A jig head is made usually from a molded led or other metallic material and ranges in size from 1/64oz up to 1/4oz and may or may not include a spinner blade. My favorite size is the 1/32oz size.

1c. The body

A body is the plastic material that is slid over the hook shank up to the head and has dozens of different colors, and body styles.

#2 What are the different types of Jigs Used For Crappie Fishing?

2.a Bait fish or insect Imitation jigs:

The most common of these jigs is what is called the marabou crappie jig. It is made up of a head molded to a hook and wrapped with a feather, or real or artificial hair. These jigs can sometimes have spinner blades molded in the head and normally range in size from 1/32oz to ¼ oz. They are made to imitate either insects or minnows and other bait fish.

2.a-1 A tube with a jig head is another common jig combination used to imitate a wounded bait fish. The tube is manufactured to have multiple tentacles that dart through the water, and slides up the shank of the hook to the head. These jigs come in many different colors and range in size from 1/64oz to 1/4oz.

2.b Minnow or shad imitation jig:

These jigs are made up of a plastic material that slides up the shank of the hook up to the head and looks like common bait fish that crappie eat. They are manufactured in a variety of sizes from 1/32oz to 1/4oz, with 1/16oz being the most common size used.

2.c Grub or Maggot imitation jig:

This crappie fishing jig is designed to imitate a insect grub, or maggot. Their construction is of a variety of different color plastic molded together with different color real or artificial hair, or feathers. The molded combination is slid up the hook shank touching the head. These jigs come in a Variety of sizes the most common to be in the smaller sizes of 1/64 to 1/32oz.

#3 The knot you use to tie your crappie jig is very important.

I recommend you tie your crappie jigs with the trilene knot. Follow the steps below to tie the trilene knot.

3.a Run approximately 6 inches of line through the eyelet in the crappie jig hook. Loop it around and pass it through the eyelet again. Pull on the line until you reach a small ¼ inch to ½ inch diameter.

3.b Wrap the end of the line around the standing line 6 times.

3.c Pass the end of the line back through the loop, and then pull the line snug tight by pulling the standing line, and the hook in opposite directions.

3.d Trim the left over tag about ¼ inch from the hook.

I hope the information I have provided about crappie jigs. will help you on your next fishing trip! God bless and a good day to you.

Mark Fleagle has been fishing for over 30 years. Check out his website to get some amazing fishing information and fishing articles loaded with fishing tips about crappie jigs for crappie that really work! Also don't forget to get your free copy of "78 Fishing Discoveries Unleashed" at: http://www.oldfishinghole.com Get Your Free Fishing Tips About crappie jigs for crappie Here!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Fleagle

Walleye Fishing and Weather Conditions - How Does the Weather Effect the Location of Walleye?

2009-06-13T12:19:00.000+07:00

It is critical to watch and understand local weather reports for the area you plan to fish for walleyes. Weather conditions play a big part in how walleyes act, where they are located, and how they feed. For example if it is a warm and sunny day walleyes will head for deeper waters or underwater structure to stay cool, and shield their light sensitive eyes.When the sun is out with no overcast and very little breeze, the walleye will head to the thick weed beds and underwater structure and deep for cover because the surface water is way to warm, so you will have to do your walleye fishing in these areas.

If when you get out on the water the sun is bright overhead but there is a good wave chop, you will find walleye anywhere. The waves cool and turn the water and they redirect the suns rays. One of the very best times to catch your walleye limit is right before a storm when the sky is dark and overcast and the waves are active. Walleyes tend to become very aggressive at these times. The walleye fish is a very unpredictable species of species to fish for sometimes. Using the weather conditions of any particular day is a good way to decide on your walleye fishing starting point for the day.

The weather is just one indicator when you are trying to locate walleye. It is by no means always 100%. You should still use your GPS fishing finder also. But if you use these two methods to put you on fish you can save time and increase your chances of getting your walleye catch limit. Just remember that the walleye species of fish is sometimes very unpredictable. Many times you need to think out of the box, you can't put all your eggs in one basket and think that weather conditions and a GPS fish finder will put you on fish 100% percent of the time. Be prepared to fish in other areas if these two indicators fail. Like I have said walleye can be very finicky and unpredictable fish at times. I think this one of the reasons they are one of the most sought after game fish.

Normally, walleye will move closer to shore when the water temperature drops in the cooler months. The fish then start to move to deeper water and structured areas as the water temperature starts to rise. But this not always true, I have done my walleye fishing close to shore and caught fish in the dead heat of mid summer. Use the weather conditions and the changing seasons as indicators to put you on fish but be prepared to experiment if you don't want to go home empty handed.

I hope the information I have provided about weather and walleye will help you on your next fishing trip! God bless and a good day to you.

Mark Fleagle has been fishing for over 30 years. Check out his website to get some amazing fishing information and fishing articles loaded with fishing tips about weather and walleye that really work! Also don't forget to copy "Our Make It Yourself Planer Board Design Plans" At: http://www.oldfishinghole.com/planer-board-design.html Get Your Free Fishing Tips About walleye fishing and weather Here!

Striped Bass Fishing in Cape Cod Bay

2009-06-13T12:18:00.000+07:00

Striped Bass fishing in Cape Cod Bay can be fantastic. There are many good areas to fish right off the beach, from jetties, from piers and of course from a boat. The Cape is well known for striped bass and is definitely one of the best locations to fish to striped bass. Race Point off of Provincetown is world famous for sport fishing. And there are many great charter boat captains on the Cape. We filmed a great striped bass and bluefish show called Fishguts, with Ed McDonough, Al Howard and Capt Rich Schelle onboard The Schelfish out of Plymouth. Many of the shows were from Race Point as well as Plymouth.

Another fantastic location to fish for stripers is Billingsgate Shoals off of Wellfleet. It seems on most days when you go for striped bass you will catch fish as long as you pay attention to the feed. This year looks to be a great year.

Stripers must be at least 28 inches to keep, and you can only keep two stripers of that size or larger per angler.

Another great spot for striped bass fishing in Cape Cod Bay is known as The Fingers. The Fingers can be a very lucrative spot in mid summer during the midnight tides. I prefer the black Fishguts Chum Tube Eel trolled at a slow speed of 2kts using lead core line. We have caught several fish over 40lbs in the area.

There are a number of ways to fish for Bass. You can cast bucktails, rubber eels, kastmasters or hopkins lures. The retrieve should be very slow. Of course the speed should be varied if you do not get any hits. An angler can also bottom fish for stripers. By that I mean he/she can use mackerel chunks and cast a weighted line out off the beach, pier or boat and let it sit on the bottom. Some fisherman prefer a float to keep your bait off the bottom and away from the crabs that will otherwise eat it.

Chumming also works very well with striped bass fishing in Cape Cod Bay. Chumming is done by setting out a chum slick of clams, pogie oil, mackerel chunks etc.. This can be expensive but it works. Remember not to over chum. Entice to fish to that boat but do not over feed them. After the chum slick is started, throw a live eel or float a fresh piece of bait similar to what your slick is and let it drift out with you chum. It shouldn't take that long before you're hooked up.
Some anglers swear by live eels and they do work well. There have been many books written on this quarry. I could go on and on about striped bass fishing but I can only give some of the pointers in this article.

My final tip is that the only way to catch a bass is to get out there and give it a try. You can catch striped bass from the beach, fishing piers, jetties and boats. And don't forget to get children involved in sporfishing. It gives them lasting memories and is an excellent alternative to drug abuse. And remember that if you are not going to eat the fish, practice catch and release.
See ya on the water.
Tight Lines
The Captain

http://www.fishguts.tv

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rich_Schelle

Fishing Tips For Rivers - Especially Small Rivers Where Wading is Necessary

2009-06-13T12:15:00.000+07:00

For more than 25 years I've been fishing in rivers from coast to coast and in that time I've learned some tips that will make anyone a better and more effective angler. This article contains some of the best fishing tips that I've learned for rivers. These tips came from a combination of factors.

Some of these fishing tips were taught to me by my fishing mentor and some have been learned through my own experiences. The point is that these tips will help anyone catch more fish, especially in small rivers where wading is necessary. There is no question that fishing in this manner (wading in small rivers and/or streams) has always been my personal favorite form of fishing. There is something about standing in a flowing river that speaks to my soul. For some reason river fishing while wading has always just felt right to me.

In any case, shall we get down to the tips so that you can add them to your river fishing repertoire? Sounds good.

Learn To Read The Water - Reading the river that you're fishing is integral to your success. You need to know where certain species if fish like to spend time in and when. Knowing the difference between a run and a riffle is integral to river fishing success. Unfortunately there isn't enough room to explain "reading the water" here, so a little research will be necessary. As a generals rule runs and pools hold the most fish, but there are area within theses areas that are more productive than other. Learn to read the water and you will be a much more successful river angler.
Have A "Go To" Technique - This rule is true with all types of fishing and is a great fishing tip for rivers. Although you should have two or three techniques available (such as throwing a small spinner, plug, or fly below an invisible bubble) you should also have a "go to" technique that you are very familiar with. My "go to" technique has always been drift fishing a live worm. When it comes to fishing in rivers, especially small rivers while wading, make sure that you are proficient with at least one "go to" technique.
Have An Efficient Way To Carry Bait - When wading in a river, most anglers don't have an efficient and effective way to carry their bait. This wastes a ton of time baiting up, re-baiting, and trying to remember where you bait is. This is where a bait bag comes into play. A bait bag is a small bag that hands from your fishing vest or shirt and holds your bait while you fish. This way your bait is always at your fingertips for baiting up and re-baiting, and you know right where your bait is at all times. This saves a ton of valuable fishing time. The bait bag works great for carrying live worms while river fishing.

These simple fishing tips for rivers will hake you a much more efficient and effective river angler. As I said add one or all of these tips to your river fishing repertoire and find out for yourself how effective they are.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!

Get Fishing Tips & Techniques Twice A Month For FREE - http://www.jrwfishing.com/signup.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler

Fly Fishing For Beginners

2009-06-13T12:12:00.000+07:00

Anglers interested in learning the art of fly fishing and practicing their skills on a half-mile section of Cold Creek at the Castalia State Fish Hatchery are encouraged to enter a lottery for beginning fly-fishing clinics.

There are 135 slots available for the popular program, which includes morning and afternoon sessions each Friday from April 24 to June 5. Anglers vertical jigging are doing OK also. Shore fishing can be decent if you get to a place where there are drop-offs, such as Block House, the Cattleguards or Spider Point. Anglers hook maybe one striped bass for every dozen sturgeon.

Anglers generally find the best fishing two hours before and after a high tide, but fish and other animals also become active around the time of low tide.

Beginners should remember they are banned from fishing for black rockfish, lingcod, greenling and cabezon, leaving surfperch and a few other species open. Chinook angling remains open and catches have been fair to good out of Brookings.

Fly Fishermen should take two or three steps and repeat this swing process after every other cast. Use this swing-step combination all the way upstream until all the water in the run is covered.

Bass Pro isn't dedicated to fly fishing, and their poor quality/selection of fly tackle is evidence of this. I would never recommend anyone go the White River route, especially for a first purchase.

Bass fishing is improving. Use swimbaits in the creek arms. Bass fly fishing has become an increasingly popular sport, and most anglers will agree that it's not just about catching fish.

Some anglers would even regard fly fishing as a kind of religion, and most consider it a relaxing pastime that can be enjoyed by people from all walks of life.

Bass fishing has picked up again, although the slow approach with jigs, dart-headed and Carolina-rigged plastic worms still is the best bet.

Bass fishing has been slow, but as temperatures climb, look for fish to go into their prespawn mode. That makes them vulnerable to sight fishing on the beds.

Wesley Beck is an author of fishing content and many other areas.

Fly Fishing is a great way to relax, enjoy the outdoors out and learn about nature. Fly fishing is a real art that is different in technique than any other form of fishing. To Learn how to master the art of fly Fishing you should visit Fly Fishing Guide

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Wesley_Beck

Big Carp Fishing Secrets You Cannot Afford To Miss!

2009-06-13T12:07:00.000+07:00

How often do we hook big fish and never ever realise it? This happens all the time and is especially a problem where big wary fish are concerned and is a problem every angler needs to become aware of and focus on solving. Yesterday I visited a small water with a large stock of small fish and only a few big carp; within hours I hooked and landed one of the biggest; an upper-thirty pound mirror carp. But how did I do it? Read on to find out!

In so many big carp waters today you have fish cleaning up on free baits and avoiding the vast majority of hook baits, very frequently by actually ridding themselves of your hook without running or often without giving you even a single bleep on your alarm. In fact if we truly appreciated how frequently this happens we would be more than alarmed – very shocked is more like it! Just because you hook fish and you see lots of big carp caught in the angling weeklies and monthlies does not mean you cannot improve drastically upon your own catch results compared to your fellow anglers and some edges will treble or quadruple your catches if only you truly appreciated their true power!

Over the years I’ve tried all kinds of ways of converting more bleeps on the alarm to landed carp and it really does come down to refining every aspect of your fishing in many ways so you are able to maximise every opportunity at a take you can create. I can categorically state that non of the hooks I have used straight from the packet have converted as many carp bait bites into fish for me as my own extreme-sharpened hooks. Of course you might think this sounds like I have not used the sharpest chemically sharpened hooks in all their patterns, but in my case I have used probably all the leading brands and patterns over the years and deliberately tested them.

(Please note I have not tested the new circle style carp hooks recently introduced by a British carp tackle company; the reports of bite conversions on these sound fantastic.)

For a number of decades I lived in Essex time and often combined sea fishing from the beach alongside my carp fishing and catfish fishing activities. Fresh eels from the sea are very good eating and a great saving on supermarket bills! (I happen to have a great taste for eels especially when fried; they are like chicken to me, but I detest jelled eels!) Between 20 and 30 years ago I used to catch a number of eels from the shore during the warmer months often while carp fishing ponds and lakes near the sea side. Often eels really seemed to be a pest – that is until I tried frying and barbequing them!

Since then I have determined to eat every legal size fish within the limit (and within acceptable reason) that I catch from the sea, and this has included bass, sole, dabs, eels, mullet, codling, whiting, (and even a lobster) among others. I have also been lucky enough to sample fresh sea trout and also wild brown trout and rainbow trout that I caught from Scottish rivers during a period I lived in Scotland. (I even hook a twenty-plus pound salmon in a spate river (the river Girvan.)

The idea for purposely testing hooks abilities to avoid hook shedding and converting bites into landed fish came from an unusual experiment in itself. So I gradually increased the number of hooks on more paternoster booms of various lengths in theory to improve the number of fish hooked on a single cast when left out for longer. Please note that in more recent years eel numbers in our rivers have been very significantly declining and these days conservation is vitally important; the illegal poaching of elvers has been a big reason for this as well as over-exploitative commercial fishing and barriers to spawning stretches of rivers and pollution of the sea and rivers.

I the tests what happened was the eels simply shed the hooks. I recall waiting while a series of bites indicated another eel taking the worm baits on a 10 hook rig casts. Guess what happened? Just 1 or 2 eels were landed upon reeling in. The hooks of the rest of the rigs had all been twisted and the hooks had been shed leaving a bare hook and no fish! Now you might say this was no big deal as eels are slippery customers and can ties themselves up in knots to get off the hook literally tying themselves up in knots in the line and pulling themselves off.

But I noticed some hook were massively more consistent at preventing eels getting off the hook and there were the sharpest hooks of the sharpest patterns that I had specially sharpened. Over all the faster and deeper a hook penetrates the harder it is to shake free. I found that the hooks with the longer thinner points were the most successful. (This I have applied with indisputably better measurable results in carp fishing.) But there are very few hooks suitable with ideal characteristics and even these need specially sharpening!)

For example even the short and long shank Nailer type hooks convert many more bites into landed fish when very finely and skilfully sharpened. The greatest test is when using barbless hooks which so many fisheries demand these days; lost fish due to a non-maximised hooks are completely unnecessary. In the odd extremely rare occurrence that I have lost a big fish due to a hook point breaking or bending over I know the chances are I would never had achieved a take from the fish in the first place had the hook not been so skilfully honed!

Very much comes down to the thickness of the hook wire used in the region of the first 4 to 5 millimetres from the end of the point. The next incredibly important point is the thickness of the point. When I sharpen my hooks I hone them using a diamond hook sharpener and aim to get the first 4 5 millimetres thinner than needles and thickening out more only as the bend is approached.

Such hooks are supreme in performance to such a degree that without such hooks I know I will be missing out on at least 2 thirds of fish picking up baits (as they can simply mouth baits and slip the hook with ease and this is no exaggeration because I have measured this over 10 years of testing ultra sharp hooks beside chemically sharpened hooks straight from the packet!)

At the start of my many years of testing I did not use ordinary Cyprinus Carpio carp to test hooks - but crucian carp. These are very well known to be even more notorious for playing with baits and for being especially good at not getting hooked; even hitting fish mouthing baits when float fishing is a highly developed skill requiring endless hours of practice!

My testing originally involved ground baiting a shallow slope in the waters edge with bread paste. A series of 4 feet long lengths of line were tied down to bank sticks out of the water and small hooks of various patterns were attached and baited with bread paste and soft pellets. The crucian carp would come along feed on the ground bait and take the baited hooks and guess what? They could get off 9 out of 10 hooks of different patterns tried - every time! Any hooked fish were immediately returned as I was observing and making notes of all that was happening.

The results were so surprising and the implications were so shocking that it lead me to a big re-think about hooks completely. I discovered that just because a hook has what appears to have a sharp point it most certainly does not mean a carp cannot slip off the hook very easily and often so fast it is as if they were not actually initially hooked and often the sharper the hook the more easily it came off because the hook pattern simply did not do anything but allow this to happen – which rather defeats the point of it!

Bent hooks have obviously one solution but various hook patterns used like this are well known to have caused carp damage and as such are unethical and banned on pretty much all UK carp waters. The more flexible fish-friendly approach came in the form of line-aligner rigs, but these certainly do not do not work as great as anglers think and just because a hook turns due to the angle created it certainly does do mean the hook holds achieved are ideal even where a rig designed to penetrate the flesh of the bottom or scissors is used!

Even today thousands of carp are still lost on line-aligner rigs and anglers still keep suffering the either lack of bite indication due to fish instantly slipping the hook or get single and double bleeps on alarms where carp still shed the hooks anyway due to years of practice 24 hours a day in avoiding hooks! No-one I know claims a 99 percent conversion rate even with special (ethical) stiff rigs and stiff Withy Pool type rigs and so on.) Even so-called high profile anglers are still assuming chemically-sharpened hooks straight from the packet perform well enough compared to hooks skilfully honed to perfection by diamond sharpener in both in advance and before every single cast!

I hope this all makes you think! If you doubt the veracity of my testing why not get highly skilled with a diamond hook sharpener and do your own very strict tests fishing unsharpened hooks against the very thinnest finest of hand-sharpened hook points (sharpened at least for 5 millimetres) and the difference in your big fish results will become very well proven to you too!

You can design the best carp bait in the world but if the carp can get off your hook is all wasted, but an incredibly sharp hook in the correct pattern combined with a truly great unique bait is proven to catch more big fish. This is the explanation to why when I visited that small fish water yesterday I was able to hook that that rare upper thirty within hours. For more information on the sharpest big fish edges that can double or treble your catches, why not take a look at my uniquely researched and big fish catches-proven bait secrets bibles on line at my Baitbigfish site now; see my biography or Google for much more!

By Tim Richardson.

Now why not seize this moment to improve your catches for life with these unique fishing bibles: “BIG CARP FLAVOURS, FEEDING TRIGGERS AND CARP SENSES EXPLOITATION SECRETS!” “BIG CARP AND CATFISH BAIT SECRETS!” And “BIG CARP BAIT SECRETS!” For these and much more free information now visit: For secrets of making money-saving big fish baits see baitbigfish.COM (Home of world-wide proven readymade and homemade bait success secrets bibles and further free articles!

How to Choose the Right Fishing Boat

2009-06-13T11:59:00.002+07:00

If fishing is your favorite hobby and you still don’t have a boat you must have desired for it. Is it your budget that has stopped you from buying a boat? Don’t worry. You can get a boat at an affordable price. Go for small fishing boats. They are quite useful and less expensive. If you are cost conscious these boats are a good choice for you.

Anglers often think that small boats are not good enough for fishing. If you don’t have much extra money, go by the tips given below and you will end up finding the right boat for yourself. There are a number of effective boats in the market but you need to do a little bit of research to find the boat that suits your need.

Inflatable boats do a great job as far as fishing is concerned. People often do the mistake of comparing inflatable boats with children’s toys. But in reality inflatable boats are absolutely something else. They are quite different from the small boats that you usually see in the pools. If you want a versatile and convenient boat for fishing nothing can be better than the inflatable boats. Moreover these boats will cost you much less than the traditional boats.

Different Kinds of Inflatable Boats

There are different kinds of inflatable boats. Before choosing one, follow these tips to get an idea about the benefits of each type of boat.

Mini Pontoon Boats:

These boats are ideal for fishing. Mini Pontoon Boats are becoming quite popular day by day. It is good for single angler. But it can also carry four anglers at a time. The seats are set between two inflatable pontoons. There are some Pontoon Fishing Boats which have a platform in between the pontoons. You can use this platform for standing. In early days pontoon boats were mostly used by the fly fishermen. But those were usually one person pontoon boats. These days’ traditional fishermen also prefer these boats as they are very cost effective. If you go for river fishing this is the best option you can ever have.

Foldcat Fishing Boats:

For people who search for versatile boats Foldcat Fishing Boats are perfect. These are the most versatile of all types. Foldcats can be called pontoon boats as well. But they are much larger than the Mini Pontoon Boats. These fishing boats are consisted of a pair of small outboard motor or long oars. You can carry these boats in the trunk of your car. If you are targeting at small fishing boats Foldcat is certainly your best choice. You can use these boats in rivers, lakes as well as in ponds. So go for Foldcats if you are in the market of small fishing boats.

Kayaks and Canoes:

Have you ever thought of Kayaks and Canoes? They can really make good fishing boats. These boats are very convenient and they are also easy to carry. You can carry these inflatable boats in the trunk of your car. Even if your favorite fishing spot is far away you will have no problem carrying them. Kayaks and Canoes can be used in small lakes, ponds and river. Moreover these boats are the most affordable ones.

If you can’t afford these boats then one more option is open for you. You can go for used pontoon boats. But remember that you should not buy boats from some local outlet with a poster “Pontoon Boats for Sale”. Always purchase from quality manufacture for guarantee, discounted shipping charges etc.

AUTHOR: Anita Shields is a professional writer who writes on various topics. For more information on Pontoon Boat Fishing or Pontoon Boats she suggests you to visit http://www.adventureboatclub.net/

By ANITA SHIELDS

Are Vintage Fishing Rods Worth Buying?

2009-06-08T00:04:00.000+07:00

With all the fantastic advances in fishing tackle technology in recent years, is it really worth buying a fishing rod from a bygone era? This is the question that many anglers have asked themselves, particularly fly fishers. Is there value in seeking out and purchasing an antique or vintage rod?

The short answer is that it depends on the type of fishing you do. There is no doubt that cf (carbon fiber) has revolutionized the fishing rod industry, and is much, much better than fiberglass. So buying an old fiberglass rod would be a waste of money. Also, many old rods that have been used extensively have invariably sustained damage of one kind or another, and such damage may have compromised the strength and integrity of the rod. So basically a damaged rod is useless for fishing.

However, when it comes to bamboo rods, and in particular split cane fishing rods, the answer is not so clear. There are many anglers that say that even with the latest progress in modern fishing rod manufacture, a state-of-the-art carbon fiber rod cannot match the action, flexibility and durability of a split cane fishing rod. In particular, where accurate and long casting of light weights is paramount, cane rods seem to have the edge. Also, there is the aesthetic value of a bamboo rod, which lends it to be seen as more of a work of art than a tool for fishing.

Suitability for Fishing

So it seems that if you are into fly fishing or spinning, especially in estuaries, rivers, lakes, ponds and streams, or even from coastal shorelines, a quality vintage split cane fishing rod could be a worthwhile investment. Of course, the same rule applies: a damaged rod is no good for fishing. Therefore you must check the bamboo sections carefully. Be on the lookout for water stains, discoloration, dents, splits, cracks or anything else that seems suspicious. If the bamboo is sound, and the price is right, the rod could well be worth purchasing. Most of the other fittings on a cane fishing rod can be restored to their original condition for a modest sum, so do not panic if the whippings are frayed or the ferrules are a little loose.

One of the most renowned brands of bamboo rods is Milwards of England. Vintage Milwards split cane fishing rods are sort after due to their exquisite craftsmanship, superb action and quality fittings. The fittings were bronze, brass, silver, agate and silk, while the bamboo was usually Tonkin cane. Milwards manufactured both fly fishing and spinning rods that were often specially designed for certain fishing niches. For example, the FloatMaster was perfect for casting float rigs, while the SpinVersa was magnificent at casting extremely lightweight baits and lures. Milwards split cane fishing rods are highly valued but occasionally come on the market. Your best chance of locating one is to check periodically online auction sites like eBay or the online inventory of vintage rod dealers.

Collecting Vintage Rods

Most of what is written above concerns the use of a vintage fishing rod for fishing. But how about collecting? Well, from current trends we can see that antique and vintage rods are increasing in value year by year. However, for collectors, the vintage rod must be in pristine condition, which makes collectible rods quite scarce and hard to come by. Not only does the fishing rod itself need to be in very good condition, all the extras it was originally sold with need to come with it too. For example, Milwards split cane fishing rods usually came with an extra tip section, and also came with a custom cloth bag. They also had various transfers or engravings on them. So for a rod of this kind to be considered a collector's item, it would need to include all of these additional things. But if you were to come across a vintage rod in original condition and kit, it would be well worthwhile buying, as it would no doubt increase in value over time.

In conclusion, while fiberglass rods have been surpassed by carbon fiber rods, bamboo rods are still very effective pieces of fishing gear that are unbeatable in their particular fishing niche. They also have considerable value as collector's items and as pieces of art. A good vintage split cane fishing rod is definitely worth buying!

Mike Sleddon is a self-confessed fishing nut who has only just recently discovered the delights of fly fishing, and in particular, saltwater fly fishing. This has inadvertently led to another addiction - collecting antique and vintage split cane fishing rods! Of course, his wife is not too impressed with his new money-sapping hobby! His website http://www.milwardssplitcanefishingrods.com/ has lots of great information about.....well, Milwards Split Cane Fishing Rods! He also has another website with lots of general fishing tackle information, product reviews and the like: http://www.fishingtacklegear.net/ (a work in progress!) He hopes you enjoy his articles and leave some comments! :)

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Sleddon

How to Get Started With Bass Fishing

2009-06-08T00:03:00.000+07:00

Are you interested in Bass fishing? Fishing is an activity that has been accompanying humanity for thousands of years. In some places of the World, like in the USA it is considered a sport, called bass fishing and it consists of catching the biggest black bass.

To get started on this activity, you must learn a few things. To start, you will be dealing with fish and equipment, so before even stepping onto a boat, it would be great if you would learn something about the different fish and review some equipment. Of course, this doesn't mean that you'll have to become the walking encyclopedia of bass, but reading some tips cannot hurt you. Reading about equipment will also get you accustomed to known brands, available fishing aids and more.

After you have read a little, it will be time to get some gear. Do not fall into the temptation of buying the biggest, most expensive bass fishing gear! After years of practice, I've discovered that the best thing you can do is buy good but small equipment and from there evolve. Sometimes size can play against you, as a matter of fact for beginners it will most of the time play against you!

Next you'll need to buy the tackle. Again stay calmed and buy just what you need. I'd recommend grabbing some plastic worms, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. Learn about them, explore its use. As you practice more, you'll get to know them very good and you will be able to use your intuition while fishing.

Keep a gradual approach in your efforts at fishing. It's the same with everything: the location, the spots, the fish. It doesn't matter if you don't catch the biggest fish in the lake your first day. If you work with patience you will start to gather all the necessary knowledge to be a pro in this port. And here I want to point out the single biggest factor to get started with bass fishing and succeed: motivation. Don't fool yourself, if you don't enjoy bass fishing, you will have the hardest time getting good at it.

Learn more about getting started with these bass fishing tips. Also learn more about night bass fishing and info for beginners.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Berke

Carp Fishing is Made Easy With Your Own Homemade HNV Baits!

2009-06-08T00:01:00.000+07:00

Did you know that carp we train up carp every time we bait-up in many ways, both positively and negatively? To gain the most competitive edges it seriously pays off to be able to bait with free baits that condition carp to come back looking for more of your bait rather than other anglers baits and fish bearing in mind how fish behaviours are formed - this is a 6 page article so read on!

Big carp have a higher energy requirement than smaller carp and this is a vitally important fact to exploit! Bigger carp have to therefore eat more food than smaller carp so they are in many ways more vulnerable to capture than small carp. One of the big reasons some carp fishing baits produce more big carp is because they supply more energy to carp. Many angler mistakenly think this means such baits are made from carbohydrates and of course, many low nutritional value baits teamed with concentrated flavours catch fish. But carp get far more value from protein based foods as these are the dominant food sources they have in the aquatic environment and are most evolved to be most sensitive to detecting too!

Often balanced or high nutritional value baits supply a minimum oil content and this factor is extremely energy-efficient. Unfortunately the kind of baits designed for salmonids and other species having a higher lipid energy requirement means carp all over the UK are being mass fed things like halibut pellets. Where used so much carp often suffer horribly expanded fatty livers that look so ugly sticking our of the sides of carp in altogether too many photographs! (Instead of simply being copycat drones, why do not more carp anglers exploit lower oil pellet baits specifically designed for optimum carp health and nutrition for God sake?)

Most vitally, many of the most productive carp baits have the kinds of protein content that carp can actually digest and use in their bodies for all their needs at least energy cost to them by actually finding, consuming and digesting it. Most carp baits drain energy from carp because the bulk of them are actually to a large degree indigestible. This is due to poor design and low quality of ingredients manifested as all those commercial baits being limited by carp essential amino acids not being present in high enough levels to enable carp to digest these baits.

This is where sound bait design is a vital competitive edge and also where so many commercial bait designers lose their way. I do not mean every bait has to be sorted to the third limiting amino acid but the ratios, levels and choices of combinations and individual substances makes all the difference between an average bait and a seriously outstanding big fish-hauling bait that truly lasts!

Smaller carp may well feed hard much more frequently over any given 24 hour period. In contrast, a big old highly wary carp in a very much angling-pressured environment may well really binge feed on free baits intended for carp for maybe just half an hour in a 4 day period, or sometimes much longer than that!

The big difference between much bigger and much smaller carp is generally the much longer amount of time the older bigger fish have had to develop defensive behaviours in order to avoid hook baits and hooks! Avoiding hooks is made very easy for wary big (and many smaller carp) because on many carp waters they are practicing this art 24 hours a day so they can get to masters at it. In fact some old smaller carp can be extremely difficult to catch.

This point demonstrates just how misleading and utterly pointless success really is when it is only based on the weight of fish. You can go fishing for a week to a French lake and haul out 10 fifties while not catch a certain 23 pound fish from Redmire in 10 years of trying. Size is always relative and bait is a really vital edge in overcoming fish feeding caution and multiplying the chance a way fish will make a mistake on your hook bait.

Often a water might appear to have a so-called mug big fish or two that seems to fall to fishing baits far more often than average. Other carp may not see the banks more than once or twice a year and sometimes not get banked for some years. (This applies to smaller carp also.) The fact is that each and every carp is not just a dumb fish but an individual. Each carp has its own personal preferences such as particular tastes and smells, and with a unique set of levels of sensitivities, genetic requirements and sensory abilities as well as varying degrees of strengths at adapting to situations involving danger. It is frequently the case that upon changing to a new bait you will hook a fish you have been fishing for and not caught previously due to all these aspects combined!

Carp use anything and everything internally and externally within in their aquatic environment and everything about the non-aquatic external world that they can sense in order to detect and associate with opportunities and threats. Carp instinct for survival over-rides everything else and this is why carp can appear oblivious to us at spawning times when you can literally touch them as they push each other almost onto the banks in a spawning frenzy. I saw fish damage themselves severely on the bankside gravel at Dream Lakes in France and get very scratched on snags and rushes in many other lakes over the decades because the carp desire to procreate has been so very strong!

We humans are their biggest threat and therefore everything we do at the waterside is extremely important. This is because every single action we take and all we do dynamically conditions future carp behaviours and sensitises them even more to our tackle, baits and bankside presence and movements more and more! The old art of stealth in carp fishing seems to be as dead as the dodo on most carp waters today and it seems to me that the average carp angler is so manically driven to get in a swim set up and cast out they have no idea it is far better to think like the fish and not an angler first and truly give carp the respect they deserve that will guarantee to give them the catches their strive so manically for.

Detrimental actions and presence on the bank includes human voices; this may seem contrary to the old wives tales about them not being able to hear us but carp are proven to hear within the same frequency band in which we humans speak. It is all about danger by association by repetition so if you happen to turn up and play loud live rock music on the banks this may well have no effect on carp feeding whatsoever. This is because as a one-off thing for instance, it is not associated with any potentially dangerous fishing activities and you would most likely catch in the margins despite the loudest notes (within reason that is!)

By contrast there have been very many times I have been stalking fish where I have literally been crouching hidden, motionless, perhaps watching from behind reeds watching a big fish getting nearer a marginal hook bait. Just as many other people do in the excitement of the moment have I said out-loud an appropriate expletive and this alone has literally been enough to spook the fish away!

I used to think this was just a coincidence, that the fish were even more wary than usual being in shallow water where danger is associated even more with them since the days when they were fry in the margins and most at risk of being devoured or attacked by herons, perch or even their hungry bigger brethren! But having tested talking out loud in many situations with wary fish in very close proximity it is obvious they are alarmed by it! This is why I get so mad when you get idiots shouting across a water because it is obvious to anyone with half a brain that carp will not respond to positively to such abuse and also why all those digital alarms that go bleep 30 times when turned on are so dumb.

Think about and it will become so very obvious carp can detect your lines and locate your dangerous hook baits far easier with these alarms because on tight lines these many decibel sounds travels along all your lines down to your leads - great stuff! Most anglers miss the bigger picture and think that just because carp get caught on almost any bait and on such stupid alarms that that is alright, but they simply cannot appreciate just how much better results can be in actual reality with an actual fish-behaviour related fishing approach instead of a copycat one!

Here is an example. I turn up at a swim on a small water where the fish have due to severe angling pressure over the years developed extreme sensitivity to anglers' presence and tend to only really feed when they detect all anglers lines have been reeled in! But having already done my homework I know my fish (and their extreme caution in response to anglers activities and presence,) I know my chosen swim, weather conditions, exact feeding spots (and the movements of such spots) proven fish routes in and out of the swim and their timings intimately; and I fish in response to all these factors and more accordingly!

I very carefully cast out each rod - spot on (just one cast each) knowing that any more casting is futile and will alert the fish to my presence. I know from hard experience that any more casting will either make them not enter the swim or maybe if already there, not feed there, or exit the swim, or feed far more cautiously having been alerted! I test my alarms only after attaching and positioning my bite indicators to the line where I want them and can hear my low volume alarms at the sounder box by my head - but no sound vibrates down my lines from the buzzers as they are on minimum volume which is mute on my old style buzzers.

Next some moron completely dressed like a real tree turns up with an over-loaded tackle barrow in the swim next door in full view of the fish I have carefully ground-baited for and drawn to the area. Of course he is being fully silhouetted against the sky setting up right next to the water, bang goes in bivvy pegs, bosh goes in10 kilograms of boilies and pellets immediately, thrash goes marker rods, spods, repeated casts with heavy leads, stomping about, shouting down mobile phones. You get the picture?

The excruciating constant repetitive ear-shattering bleeping of fiddling with buzzers and indicators sending shock waves for miles around in and out of the water and down the lines means that my fish are gone never to return for duration of my stay. Such people need their heads examining because this is not fishing but pretty much setting up the living room outside usually o bringing a mobile pub along too. (And these neanderthals then complain that their baits don't work?!)

For many years now I have always turned my buzzers on with the volume turned right down and it has made a big difference in my catches and not just on small waters and margin fishing as you will see. In these days of sounder boxes and remote alarms this in possible for everyone although I actually still use a sounder box with leads as my alarms are the non-digital type that do not bleep a thousand times when turned on! (In fact I had a couple of the most well-known brands of these for periods of times and sold them because they were so bloody annoying and definitely send sound vibrations down the line and not only indicate where dangerous lines are but the location of leads and rigs and dangerous hook baits too!)

Now carp are also well aware of course of constant vibrations of angler foot falls and the rumble of tackle barrows down the bank and so on. So much about genuinely consistent big fish success is about reducing carp associations with danger in particular in regard to our own personal approach to fishing as a whole. I laugh all the time at how many turn up and guys cast to the horizon - or to the nearest bush, island, or overhanging tree and completely ignore the lake record carefully cruising in and nicking the old baits they pull off their rigs and have thrown in the margin under their own rod tips!

Some of my biggest fish have been caught on single-fished washed-out baits positioned just a couple of feet out under the rod tips and often the closer to my own bank the more confident the fish appear to be too! The success of this is because virtually nobody does this and it takes courage and self-assurance to take the risk to be different and fish very close in and to go with the flow truly observing and exploiting what carp behaviours are being expressed, to leverage this to your own unique advantage and to be different to the herd!

If carp do not associate danger with a particular sound or vibration they will not be so affected by it. For instance, in many carp waters the warier fish can be actually turned off feeding completely if you cast a heavy lead more than once anywhere near them.

By contrast there are quite a few waters where constantly pounding the water with a big spod or other ground bait dropper loaded with free food acts like a feeding bell and in such situations it is not too unusual for the wariest fish to get used to homing in on just-landed spods and devouring the free food on the drop. It makes logical sense that if they have never been hooked near a spod they have little reason to fear it while it is in action and in some waters many of the biggest wary carp get caught on zig-rigs with baits fished in the top layers of waters in the region where spods are applied over head. This is learned behaviour and should be exploited as carp have associated spods with an opportunity of safe free food as opposed to being a threat.

By this is not the case on all waters and on some pounding the water with a spod will not just kill your swim, but many others nearby too! You might think carp have small brains and do not think like us humans so how can they possibly learn? Consider the fact that where the most bait goes into a water is mostly where the biggest wary fish come from over the years because they constantly feed there as it is the most energy-efficient food source in the lake. Many times I have tried to avoid the most popular swims for this reason because this is where the fish will often feed most carefully and be most hard to catch! In such situations very often locating their patrol routes to and from such areas and their safety areas can be far more productive!

Now onto the HNV bait bit finally! Because carp have the habit of monopolising food sources they can be trained by repetition to feed on particular food items o the extent they become natural to them and be treated with far less caution. This is the entire basis for creating new and unique baits that can be regularly introduced to a water to achieve this effect. It has probably proven over so many decades to be the most effective advantage over the carp we can use.

However this can backfire on us if we insist on using popular readymade baits that carp have already been hammered on a given water, because the first guys on a new bait really do get the best results on it before carp feed most cautiously on it. How do you know exactly how many big fish have already been hooked on your own readymade bait previously by others on your water and what negative implications will this most likely have on your catches now?!

Think about it because for instance, big fish angler Dave Lane baited up a water with a ready made bait for a long time at great expense of time and effort and then someone else caught the big fish he was targeting on the very same readymade bait he was using and completely ruined his chances for a very considerably long time! This is yet another solid reason to use your very own secret and completely unique homemade HNV baits!

Just because carp continue to eat a good quality HNV carp bait does not mean they will be any easier to catch on them once most of the fish in your water have already been hooked or banked on them by you (or inevitably by others in the case of readymade baits!) I remember a year when the popular readymade bait called Active 8 was used by the majority of anglers fishing on a water and it did very well initially. But as the months went by the bigger fish did not continue to come out at anywhere near the same frequency, until only a small number of small fish came out on it. By the following year you could barely get a bite at all on this bait and blanks on it were so common anglers went onto to use other baits entirely! This is why using readymade baits is a gamble and why making and using your own unique homemade bait is such a huge advantage as you will permanently be the very first person to use your bait and always be the literally the only person to use your unique baits. This way the fish do not get the chance to fear them unlike the popular readymade baits anyone has access to!

When you know far more about making and designing baits you will be able to adapt ready made baits so they become unique to you and be in effect new baits and this is an extremely vital edge to multiply your catches in the short and long-terms! This gives your ready made baits a whole new lease of life so if you are keen on using them you can keep them producing more fish all the time! Making your own recipe homemade baits of all kinds including boilies, pellets, all ground bait formats, meat and fish adaptations, special particle preparations, flavour-making, high energy oil and amino acids mixtures, and so on, teach you all the skills, and many substances to exploit. This all means you will have incredible competitive advantages over the standard approach straight from the bag instant anglers of today!

Really getting deep into the world of internal and external carp sensory systems upon which superior bait design is actually built teamed with a deeper practical knowledge and understanding of the substances that most trigger intensive feeding and which most overcome natural caution in wary fish transform and seriously multiply your big fish catches; literally for life! Find out more about topping and adapting readymade baits of all kinds and making the kind of instant and nutritionally-stimulating homemade baits that out-fish the most popular readymade baits. Why not get my unique bait making and adapting secrets ebooks plus free articles on bait and big fish success at my dedicated big carp and catfish bait secrets website called Baitbigfish, or click my link in my biography right now!

By Tim Richardson.

Now why not seize this moment to improve your catches for life with these unique fishing bibles: "BIG CARP FLAVOURS FEEDING TRIGGERS AND CARP SENSES EXPLOITATION SECRETS!" "BIG CARP AND CATFISH BAIT (AND VITAL FREE BAITS DESIGN AND APPLICATION SECRETS!)" And "BIG CARP BAIT SECRETS!" For these and much more now visit: http://www.baitbigfish.com the home of world-wide proven readymade and homemade bait success secrets Ebooks!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_F._Richardson

What to Use For Trout - What Are the Best Baits For Trout Fishing?

2009-06-08T00:00:00.000+07:00

There are many types of bait that can be used for trout fishing, both live and synthetic, but which ones are the best? In this article I will use my twenty plus years of trout fishing experience to answer this question. Although it is impossible to say which bait is the best, it is possible to list the trout baits that have always been productive for me. Then you can try them and determine which type of bait works best for you.

At the end of the day that is what the best bait for trout fishing (or any type of fishing) entails, the bait that works best for you. In any case if you want to know what to use for trout, any of the baits below will serve you well when fishing for the multi colored fish known as trout. If you don't or haven't used any of these baits for trout fishing, I suggest you add them to your repertoire sooner, rather than later.

Spinners - Spinners are an effective bait to use for trout. As a general rule, you want to stick with small spinners. If you're fishing for really large trout you can use really large spinners, but as a general rule use fairly small spinners when fishing for trout 1/16 to 3/8 ounce spinners are good sizes to start with. Have an assortment of sizes available, and experiment to find the most productive size for any given day. The same rule applies to the colors of the spinner. Experimentation is the key. Darker colors such as black and brown have always seemed like the most productive for me personally. I also prefer gold spinners. Some quality spinners are made by both Rooster Tail and Blue Fox.
Salmon Eggs - Salmon eggs can be a great bait for this type of fishing, especially in the spring of the year for Rainbow Trout. Most Rainbow trout spawn in the spring of the year, and eat each others eggs. This is a great time to use salmon eggs as bait. Rigging them on a set of gang hooks and allowing your eggs to flow naturally with the current of a river or stream is a great trout fishing tactic.
Worms - Worms are an extremely good bait for trout fishing. Both live and synthetic worms (such as Berkley Power Worms) are very effective. As a matter of fact I've had situations where Power Worms are more effective than live worms. The most effective way to rig a worm is a set of gang hooks, and the most effective way to carry live worms while trout fishing is a JRW Bait Bag. The bait bag means that your worms are always at your fingertips, rather than in your fishing vest somewhere. This is a huge time saver. If you want to know what to use for trout fishing, worms are a great place to start.

As a said in the beginning of this article all of these baits are effective for trout fishing. Your job is to figure out which one is most effective for you and the area's that you tend to fish for trout. I have all of the above baits in my fishing vest, so that I can switch from one to another as needed.

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler

Fishing Waders - Boot Foot Or Stocking Foot Which Do I Need?

2009-06-07T23:57:00.000+07:00

I've been fishing in rivers and streams for over 25 years, and I remember when I didn't know what the difference between waders with a "boot foot" and waders with "stocking foot" was. I actually didn't used to understand what these terms meant, and more importantly how they related to me. In this article I'm going to explain the difference between these two options when it comes to choosing a pair of waders.

If you're reading this article you either are thinking about buying a pair of waders or you need a new pair and don't know which option will serve you best. This article will explain the good and bad points of each wader option so that you can make a more informed decision.

When it comes to waders there are two main types of material that you want to concern yourself with; breathable material and/or neoprene. Any of the fishing waders that you might purchase need to be made from one of these two materials. If the fishing waders that you are considering are made out of anything other than breathable material or neoprene, you need to reconsider. These two materials are the most effective materials for fishing waders to be manufactured from.

Boot Foot Waders - "Boot foot" fishing waders means that the waders have the boot manufactured into them. In other words the boots are part of the waders. This makes transporting your waders and keeping tabs on your boots easy, but boot foot waders can be much less comfortable to move from fishing spot to fishing spot in. Boot foot waders are fine for the person who doesn't move from fishing spot to fishing spot very often, and doesn't have to hike into fishing area's, although these waders could be carried in a back pack. In my opinion if you are a first time wader buyer, boot foot waders are a great place to start, you simply by them in your shoe size and you're good to go.
Stocking Foot Waders - "Stocking Foot" waders have a neoprene sock sewn into them, and wading boots have to be purchased separately. Although purchasing your boots separately adds an additional cost, stocking foot waders are much more comfortable to move around in. If you are anything like me and like to cover a couple of miles, crossing the river several times when fishing, these waders are the way to go. Stocking foot waders are incredibly comfortable. As a matter of fact, once suited up, these waders feel like you're wearing a pair of khaki pants! When it comes to fishing waders, more experienced wade fishermen tend to go with this type. Although a little more expensive, because of the fact that your boots have to be purchased separately, these fishing waders are the much more comfortable option.

Now you know the difference between "boot foot" and "stocking foot" waders. Think about the time you spend fishing in waders and make your decision accordingly. The both have there good and bad points, but at least now you know the difference.

Affordable Fishing Waders & Accesories - http://www.jrwfishing.com/essentials.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler

Why Build Your Own Fly Rod?

2009-06-07T23:51:00.000+07:00

Ever thought of building your own Fly rod? This could be just one of the hobbies that sprout out of the wonderful sport of Fly Fishing, your own customized rods. Difficult option I hear you say, but with a little research, practice and a good amount of patience, you will be able to build a rod that can be the envy of your friends.

There are also a lot of benefits to building and designing your own rod. First and foremost it can save you a lot of money, as it is often cheaper to build a rod according to your own specifications. This includes the color of the wrapping, the casting action, length and the various components to add to the finished product. Secondly you will find it very rewarding when you start catching your first fish with the fly rod you have designed and built by yourself.

Prior to buying your rod blank, you have to research what blank you want to use for the new rod. You got to look at the various characteristics of each blank like the rod action which comes in slow, intermediate or fast, this naturally will all depend on your casting style.

Then you must choose what rod components you want. Depending on the size of your hand, you got to look at the various custom cork grips available on the market today. You can buy the raw grip and shape it yourself, or just order the finished product that comes in different shapes like full wells, reverse-half wells, cigar and super fine.

Now we got to look at the reel seat to complete the grip arrangement. Again there are countless options available to pick from. These reel seats are manufactured from different exotic woods, metals and other synthetic materials. They come in configurations like down-locking, up-locking and also sliding rings for the very light rods.

This is followed by the stripping guide, a set of guides (where the fly line winds through) and a correctly sized tip top to fit the rod tip thickness. You can choose between single foot or snake guides depending if you going to fish for light or heavy fish. The guides come in light wire, ceramic or titanium coated versions. The light wire snake guides are the best option for your very light rods. You can also opt for a hook keeper to keep the fly in place when not casting.

To complete and fit all the components to your new customized rod you will need wrapping thread in the color of your choice and rod wrapping finish to coat the thread. Look for good rod builders' epoxy to assemble the rod seat and bonding the reel seat and cork grip to the rod blank. Optionally you can also buy some color preserver to preserve the look of your wrapping tread and cork seal that strengthens the grip and preventing it from deteriorating from continues use over time.

Building your own Fly rod is an excellent idea to pass time on weekends, especially in the winter when the fish is scarce. You can also turn this hobby into a profitable venture by building and selling customized rods to other fly fisherman.

For more Fly Fishing Info and to get more expert advice and tips on what you will need to start fishing on the fly. Visit us at http://www.flyfishinginformation.net We provide you with the latest fishing news, books on how to Flyfish and articles about catching your first fish on your fly rod.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Fick

Backtrolling For More Walleyes

2009-06-07T23:40:00.000+07:00

When it comes to Walleye, backtrolling may be one of the most effective methods to a successful fishing trip.

Walleye may be actively feeding at times, but many times the fish will just lay or suspend in the water waiting for a quick and easy meal to come swimming by.

This is when this tactic can be the most effective, because it slows down the speed some and makes it easier to place the bait right where you want it.

Walleye love to hang out around structure under the water, many times at the bottom or close to it between rocks, in any indents in the bottom, and other small protected areas.

A fish finder with a depth function can help you determine exactly what depth is the most effective, because you will be able to see where the Walleye are in the water column.

One trolling technique that can catch more Walleyes is to locate underwater structure.

Start with a jig, and slowly backtroll while trying to keep at the same depth.

Look at the depth finder, and when the bottom rises up or drops back then head back in the other direction.

Start slow, around a quarter of a mile an hour. If this is not effective and you are not getting any bites, try speeding up a little, to around a half mile an hour.

If adjusting and varying your speed does not work and you have tried different jigs, try switching to a live bait harness, and slowly troll along the structure contours, making sure the bait and harness bounce slightly.

This technique is very effective, especially if you have a fish finder and have located the Walleye in the water.

Another tactic that many pros and experienced Walleye anglers use is to use a fat crawler or a live or artificial minnow, and to set the bait depth right above the underwater structure.

Keep the weight used to the minimum necessary to ideally position the bait on the structure. This will keep the weight from dragging down the bait below the depth you want it at.

Once you have the bait positioned at the right depth, slowly pull the rod upwards slightly, and then let it fall back down.

Do this while backtrolling around the underwater structure, making sure to cover the entire structure.

If fifteen minutes or more passes without a bite, move on to the next structure. If wind becomes a problem, tying a drift sock to the bow of the boat can help you slow down the speed even more.

This is very effective when the Walleye are feeling lazy and will only bite at bait that moves very slowly.

Give these tips a go next time you're out on the water!

Andrew Martinsen's multimedia Walleye Fishing Secrets Guide is all about you catching more walleye and bigger walleye. Sign up at his site for free walleye fishing tips.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Martinsen

Using Fishfinders to Find Swarms of Walleye

2009-06-07T23:37:00.000+07:00

Understanding the specific features and functions of these electronic items can help you get the most out of your fish finder and help you bring in not only more Walleye, but also bigger Walleye.

Fish finders are used to locate where the fish are underneath the water, and to help outline the geography and structures present as well. These electronics have a number of features and functions that can help put you on the fish more effectively if you know how to use them.

The first decision to make is whether you will be using a side pointing model, one that points downward, or a fish finder that offers both with multiple devices on one system.

Side pointed models do not show the bottom structure of the water, and only fish and underwater structures which are off the bottom will appear. many professionals suggest using a fish finder which offers a liquid crystal display unit, instead of the older cathode ray tube models.

LCD displays offer smaller display units and better graphics. Before using the fishfinder to fish with, spend a day on the water without fishing at all. Get comfortable with the fish finder you have purchased, and map out spots where you see good fish activity.

Resolution and contrast are also important, because these will determine how clearly the fish are marked on the display.

Choose a model that offers high pixel numbers both vertically and per square inch.
This will allow you to locate fish even when they are grouped close together or located next to underwater structure or the bottom.

Digital displays will allow you to determine the exact depth of the fish, so that you have a good understanding of the depth needed when fishing to get right on the Walleye.

Using a fish finder that has the ability to display the water temperature can also be a great way to locate the Walleye.

These fish prefer cooler waters, and the temperature display will allow you to determine where water temperature is ideal for the Walleye.

This can improve your success rate significantly, just by alerting you to water that may seem ideal for Walleye, but that in reality is too warm in the current conditions.

This feature can have a big impact on locating and catching the Walleye.

It will also help you catch more fish in the future when you log the temperature in your fishing log.

These pieces of equipment can be an important weapon in the arsenal of any Walleye angler, but they do not work very well in shallow waters. This means that fishing along the shore where the water is not deep, such as when the Walleye are spawning, is not the best time to get the most out of a fish finder.

Side pointing models are better than bottom pointing devices in this situation though, because the side pointing units may show the fish suspended in the shallow waters while bottom pointing units will normally not show these fish.

A fish finder will not help you catch more Walleye, but it can help you locate them so that you are more productive and successful while fishing because you are guided right to where the Walleye are.

For a limited time only, you can grab a free copy of the Secret Walleye Bait Sauce Recipe by signing up on Andrew Martinsen's Walleye Fishing Secrets website at this page:

Walleye Fishing Report.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Martinsen

Shark Surf Fishing Tournament Guide

2009-06-07T23:35:00.000+07:00

Become part of the growing interest to participate in a shark surf fishing tournament. It's the ultimate surf fishing tournament experience. Shark fishing from the surf is a team sport for the most adrenalin rush you'll ever get. This surf fishing sport is generating the interest of surf anglers all over.

In the past few years new shark fishing tournaments have been established to satisfy the enthusiasm expressed by avid surf anglers. The requirements to enter a shark fishing tournament are much the same as a regular fishing tournament with a few differences. This article will introduce you to how a shark surf fishing tournament is conducted.

First of all shark tournaments are a team involvement primarily because of the process to land, handle and release the sharks. Most shark tournaments are now conducted under the catch and release practice for good conservation measures.

Team Entries

Team entries are the norm, starting with a minimum of three members and up to five or six on a team. This is not the type of tournament for the inexperienced shark angler. Due to the dangers involved at least one member must be 18 years old. If you land a shark it's important to know how to safely handle and release it back to the surf. Team entries follow typical surf tournament conventions to participate in the event. Some tournament entry fees are based on a team fee and some have a fee for each individual member of the team.

Tournament Time Frames

Shark tournaments are usually conducted over several days and weeks. Generally they will start during the spring and summer months. Lots of tournaments will run for 30 days or more.

Tournament Fishing Boundaries

The interesting thing about shark surf fishing tournaments that you will find is that the tournament boundaries often take in an entire state. For example, if the tournament was organized in Pensacola, FL, you could fish out of Miami and submit your entry for that tournament. There are even tournaments that take in more than one state with the caveat that the anglers comply with all the local fishing regulations for their state.

Multiple Categories of Sharks

Shark tournaments will include categories for different shark species. Winning entries can be based on different things. It's pretty common to have a point system for different sharks landed with bonus points added if you can provide other criteria. There are a lot of opportunities to build your score for a winning entry. They make it easy to compete as long as you can land sharks. Even if you don't win with you're entry you'll still have bragging rights to your friends for the sharks you landed. That alone is worth a lot right there.

Prize Money Awarded

Prize money awarded for winning entries is significant. These tournaments take in a lot of money because they encompass such a large area to fish and have so many team entries. It's not unusual for a $50 per person entry fee or $400 per team. The entry fees collected add up quickly. Payouts are huge compared to other fishing tournaments an amateur angler can enter.

Tournament Rules

Tournament rules are very important. Be sure to read, understand and comply with all the tournament rules. Failure to follow the rules will easily get you disqualified. It would be a shame to have a winning entry and then be disqualified on a technicality. The rules aren't hard to follow. Just be sure you have a complete understanding of all the specifics.

Shark Surf Fishing Tournament Tips

If you plan on trying you're luck and want to improve your chances for a winning entry. Find a tournament you can enter where you can fish out of Ormond Beach Florida or New Smyrna Florida. These two locations have a reputation for high shark activity in the surf. Lots of sharks are caught from these two locations.

Before entering a shark fishing tournament do some reconnaissance at the beach during a tournament to gather techniques and ideas to improve your skills. You'll have a chance to see some sharks landed and how other anglers approach this sport. A small investment of your time will yield good results. It's pretty exciting just to see a shark landed.

When scouting out a shark tournament look for the most effective bait anglers are using. Find out what the bigger sharks are caught on. Bigger sharks score higher and get your rankings up quicker.

If you are gathering data to fish a tournament be sure to learn what part of the surf the sharks are being taken from. Sharks can be anywhere in the surf, though they seem to like the water that is 8' to 10' deep out past the sand bar.

The Internet has created a new surge of interest in surf fishing, shark fishing and the tournaments available for this type of fishing. Information and resources are easily accessed through this medium. Surf fishing in general has to be one of the most exciting experiences you will ever encounter. Don't forget that surf fishing is easy and inexpensive to get into. The equipment needed is affordable and you don't need a boat or expensive electronics to get started.

Randy Meyers is a surf angler who has been fishing the surf for over 30 years. He is the author of Surf Fishing - The quick Start Guide To This Exciting Sport. Randy owns and operates the surf fishing website Surf-Fishanybeach.com. Sign up at his site for the free surf fishing mini-course. Look for Randy's soon to be published new book "The Complete Guide to Shark Fishing From The Surf". The book will be available as a download from his site..

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Randy_Meyers

Fishing For Crappie - What is the Best Bait For Crappie?

2009-06-07T23:26:00.000+07:00

A person came up to me the other day and asked what the best bait for fishing for Crappie was and it made me think, that would be something to write an article about. So, that's exactly what I'm going to do. In this article I'm going to list some of the best baits to use when fishing for Crappie. These baits have all been successful for me at various times and any one of them makes a great choice when fishing for these tasty fish.

Let's start with the obvious. Crappie love minnows and in reality there is little need to look much farther than minnows when you're talking about fishing for Crappie. Jigs are also a great crappie fishing bait, and what do you suppose these lures imitate? Yep a minnow. The bottom line is some manifestation of a minnow is without question, the best bait for Crappie.

The main issue with minnows is which works best? Jigs by themselves, live minnows, a combination of the two, or synthetic minnows? Below I will list some tips and techniques for each of these baits, and you can figure out your favorite through trial and error.

Jigs - Jigs, either a lead head jig with a twister tail or a marabou jig are both great baits for crappie. Remember that Crappie have fairly large mouths for their size, so fairly large jigs can be used in some instances. I like to start with a 1/8 ounce jig head and work my way up to ¼ ounce. The heavier your jig head, the faster you can get in front of the crappie, especially when they are suspended. The color is determined by experimentation, but some great colors to start with are chartreuse, black, and white. Different colors will work in different situations. Many crappie fishermen like to tip their jig heads with a live or synthetic minnow. This technique is very effective.
Live Minnows - Live minnows are probably the best known and most effective bait for crappie fishing. A live minnow fished under a slip bobber is an extremely effective crappie fishing technique. A slip bobber enables you to be able to easily adjust the depth of your minnow. Another great crappie fishing tip is to rig your live minnow on a set of pre-tied gang hooks. Gang hooks are attached to your line using a small barrel swivel (to prevent line twist as the minnow swims around) and have an extra hook for more hook sets. The minnow is hooked through the lips with the top hook for a completely natural presentation.
Synthetic Minnows - Berkley "Gulp Alive" minnows are probably the most effective synthetic minnows on the market. Many crappie anglers say that Gulp minnows out fish live minnows. I've found that these minnows are just as effective as live minnows for tipping a jig, but not fishing them by themselves. Synthetic minnows certainly have their place among effective crappie fishing bait, and their convenience is unsurpassed.

The bottom line is that when it comes to fishing for Crappie, the above baits are your best options. Experiment with colors and sizes to find out which bait or technique works best for you, but the bottom line is that the minnow is king when it comes to the best bait for Crappie fishing.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 20 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his six year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!

Get Fishing Tips & Techniques Twice A Month For FREE - http://www.jrwfishing.com/signup.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler

Planing Your Fish Mount

2009-06-07T23:24:00.000+07:00

If you're planning on taking your prize catch to get mounted by a fish taxidermist, you need to do a little work beforehand. Your trophy will look its best if you take a few precautions before, during, and after your trip. Make sure your fish is in the best shape possible when you take it to the taxidermist by following a few simple guidelines.

First, understand that fish lose their color after they've been dead for a while, so getting your fish to the taxidermist quickly is important. The taxidermist needs to see the natural colors of the fish to get the most accurate reproduction. Your trophy will end up looking better if you take good care of it before you take it in. Here are some tips for making sure your fish is in good shape when you to get it mounted.

When you catch a fish you'd like to mount, record the time, date, location, type of lure used, and take a picture of the fish. The taxidermist can use this information to make your fish mount as accurate as possible. Plus, you can put this information on your trophy for everybody to see.
Treat the fish gently. You want the fish to look great after it's mounted, so handle the fish with care. Blemishes take time for a taxidermist to repair and may show up in the final mount.
Put the fish in plastic, pack it in ice, and freeze it as soon as possible. This preserves the fish and also helps keep its color. Again, the goal is to get the fish to the taxidermist in good shape.
If it's not possible to freeze the fish immediately, put the fish in the bottom of your cooler or somewhere else cold.

If you treat your catch with care the taxidermist will have a much easier time making you the most realistic trophy possible. Plus, it'll come out looking as natural as it did right after you caught it. Happy fishing!

Check out these sites for more information on fish taxidermy and fish mounts and choosing a good fish taxidermist.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Buster_Gibson

If You Want to Catch More Fish, Learn to Think Like One

2009-06-07T23:04:00.000+07:00

Yes, you can leave your fish catching success to chance, but if you want to catch more fish, you must learn how to think like the fish you are trying to catch. Consistent success and fishing enjoyment is more than just baiting up your hook, casting it out and waiting for the fish to bite. This one basic premise will improve your fish catching ability and will set you apart from the fishing novices. How do you think the fishing pros are able to consistently catch fish when other fishermen do nothing but drown their bait? They use the same fishing tackle, rods and reels, fishing lures and live bait as everyone else, but they always catch more fish.

You will catch more fish!

That little teaser should have caught your attention. However, learning how to put this technique into practice takes time, patience and persistence.

Let us start at the beginning. How do you learn to think like a fish? For starters, pick one of your favorite target fish species and begin to learn everything you can about that fish. It is important to understand things like, how it feeds, how it moves around each day, what are its migratory and breeding patterns, what kind of habitat it prefers, what type of fish or food source it feeds on, just to name a few. Also important to understand is how the current, tides and moon phases effect your target fish species' activities and habits.

One way to start learning how to catch more fish, is to learn how to find your target fish species under any circumstances. Visit your local fishing tackle and bait stores. Get to know these people, because often they will have a broad knowledge of the fishing in that area. They can be a great source of fishing knowledge and how-to tips of not only learning where to fish, but also the why and how of locating fish. Instead of just asking them where the best fishing spots are, also ask questions about your targeted fish species. Try to learn what makes the fish tick, and what are it basics habits and tendencies. You will be amazed at how willing most of these folks are to share their expertise, especially if you are returning the favor and patronizing their store.

The next thing to do is to go fishing. Prepare yourself ahead of time with the proper fishing tackle, lures, bait and a notepad. Start in an area known to hold your targeted fish, and make notes about the current conditions; including, the date, time, wind direction and speed, temperature, tidal flow, water conditions and any other specific notes you feel like making. The most important thing is to start thinking like the fish you want to catch. Ask yourself, where would you be hiding and moving to. For example, if it is a real hot summer day, and the current is slack, and a low tide, the fish may not be up on the shallow flats. They may be looking for cooler water, so they may have moved to some deeper pot holes, or slid off a ridge or shallow bank and eased into deeper waters. Keep looking and when you find the fish, make more notes. The old saying that practice makes perfect is certainly true when it comes to catching more fish consistently.

To help you along, learn your local fishing waters and fishing grounds. Locate the 'fishy' areas and mark them on your GPS unit. If you do not have a GPS, then buy a nautical chart, or fishing chart. Locate shoreline points, eddys, potholes, sandbars, oyster bars, rock piles and submerged structures, and over time you will learn which places to go to depending upon the current conditions you are faced with, and that will make all the difference in your fishing world.

Learning how to think like a fish will make you a more complete and competent fisherman and angler, and will make your fishing outings with friends and family a lot more enjoyable.

Greg Smith is a life long fisherman and the publisher of http://www.floridafishingspots.com/

Your source for free Florida fishing information, on artificial reefs, charters and guides, tackle, lures, secrets, fly, saltwater, electronics, boats and more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Greg_Smith

Homemade Carp and Catfish Bait Recipes - Ingredients For More Big Fish!

2009-06-07T22:59:00.001+07:00

Everyone would like cheaper bait at the moment and not too many angler care if it is highly nutritionally attractive or not for long-term success; they just want to know they can be sure to be able to get bites and hook fish on the very first cast. So here is a bait recipe that will hook you big carp for pennies and get you started on the road to making exceptional homemade baits that save you a fortune - read on right now!

The first point of reference you need to understand is this; how carp senses and adapted behaviours work in direct response to your hook baits in particular! This point will surprise most carp anglers who simply do not know or even care how carp end up on their hooks no matter what bait is used! But this part about bait is one of the most awesomely powerful secret keys to carp and catfish fishing success so you had better find out as much as you can to stay ahead of the fish and your angling competition using exorbitantly expensive ready made baits!

Carp and catfish have evolved to be extremely sensitive to substances leaching out from their natural foods in very low levels and this is especially indicative of the amines like the betaine and amino acids, salts, ammonia and organic acids (rather like butyric acid etc) secreted by all kinds of natural aquatic carp food items. Think about it - just how many carbohydrate foods can you think of that are found in a lake apart from plants supplying attractive sucrose and forms of essential soluble fiber for instance? On the part of catfish, fish are obviously the source of many natural feeding triggers such as those above and fish being what they eat contain stimulatory betaine just like us humans too!

Think of a bait that replicates some of the natural aspects of natural carp food perhaps in size and certain physical characteristics. You might use mussels, or shrimps or snails or bloodworm, or caddis fly larvae for instance. Sweetcorn is not notably rich in amino acids being a predominantly starch based seed, but it does contain two very sweet substances attractive to carp; sugar and betaine and it supplies soluble fiber, live enzymes and other things besides!

Many of you are familiar with sweetcorn as a carp bait so before going into a list which will literally produce a bait that is pretty much fully digestible protein (a high proportion of it being water soluble too,) I will begin in this piece with a simple and highly effective sweetcorn bait. (You can find more about protein baits and much more in my unique bait ebooks.)

Because I have made so many versions of this kind of bait I rarely repeat the same one twice - when I make instant baits I do not care if a fish have never experienced it before because that is the point. Big fish will often come very easily to new unfamiliar baits and beginners luck for those using unusual baits is definitely no coincidence!

Start off by getting a half a kilogram of very fresh or quality fresh frozen sweetcorn. If you cannot get either of these then get the sweetest strain of sweetcorn with the highest sugar content you can find. Tinned is OK and has added sugar and salt but the taste is not as good compared to fresh stuff so do experiment with a few brands until you find one you find the sweetest! This point is very important and very worthwhile!

There are obviously lots of things you can add to a simple cheap bait to improve performance but I will keep this very basic and as cheap as possible here. Next get a food liquidizer and put some cheap cordial in natural fruit flavours in to the liquidizer so you have a layer about 1 centimeter deep of juice in there and add your sweetcorn. You might add half a banana or some fresh strawberries or blueberries etc and add some water so they mix OK so you have a truly natural bait rich in natural esters and bioactive components etc, bit this adds to the cost; it is your choice. You can be sure your bait will certainly be different!

Next liquidize your mixture and if it is too thick to liquidize well just add some water - preferably mineral water or filtered water and not chlorine and fluorine poisoned tap water! Carry on mixing until you have a nice thick flowing liquid! You can of course add eggs instead of water if you want less water soluble and more resilient pastes or dough baits or wish to make boilies or pellets etc. For a higher protein bait or for catfish try adding the cheapest fresh or tinned fish you can find including pilchards or sardines in brine or oil or even tomato source!

All you need now is some powder of some sort to bind your liquid into a paste. I have used the cheapest possible including white wheat flour and maize meal and these together work fine. I go for the yellow form of maize meal just like the yellow full fat semolina instead of the pretty much valueless while stuff.

To mix just put your liquid in a big container and gradually add your powder until l you have a paste. You might use a food mixer if you are making lots to save time. One mixed into a firm dough your bait is ready to fish with or you can make it into dough or paste balls, or air dry them or go on and boil them to make boilies etc; the choice is yours!

This bait is rich in both natural feeding triggers attractors and will prove when you use it that big fish can be caught on very cheap baits! There are very many more options and variations to choose from that vary a lot from more standard fish meal type approaches for instance. Also the choices to cut the corners that seriously speed bait-making up and will save you a fortune are fantastic and will ensure your baits are well differentiated from the normal baits carp usually experience and will keep on hooking big fish. Your cheap homemade baits can be made to be completely unique and very different and this point is so very significant in getting around carp conditioning and defensive behaviours!

So why not go fishing, fish intelligently, and get your simple bait that is made for pennies in front of feeding carp and you will catch them!

If you would like much more about making protein-based digestible long-term HNV baits or want instant attractor type baits preferably designed with ingredients and components chosen to specifically highly stimulate various carp sensory systems then you will find an incredible amount of rare research and catch-proven details in my original and unique bait secrets ebooks at my site Baitbigfish; so why not visit and save yourself a fortune on bait for life?!
By Tim Richardson.
Now why not seize this moment to improve your catches for life with these unique fishing bibles: "BIG CARP FLAVOURS FEEDING TRIGGERS AND CARP SENSES EXPLOITATION SECRETS!" "BIG CARP AND CATFISH BAIT (AND VITAL FREE BAITS DESIGN AND APPLICATION SECRETS!)" And "BIG CARP BAIT SECRETS!" For these and much more now visit: http://www.baitbigfish.com the home of world-wide proven ready made and homemade bait success secrets Ebooks!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tim_F._Richardson

Northern Pike Fishing Today

2009-06-07T22:56:00.000+07:00

In May, when one goes fishing for northern pike, pike move into shallow waters to spawn. It is now pikes are at their heaviest, making the really big ones easiest to find and catch. A large female pike weighing 22 lbs or more may have as much as 2.2 - 4.4 lbs of eggs, however, we recommend that big pike must be released to maintain a sustainable high pike stock.

Which pike lures one chooses is a personal choice, but I prefer a northern fly, shallow moving wobbler or shallow moving fishing spoons. If you are interested in northern fly fishing and want a visual marker when you fish, try a pike popper.

After spawning, pike move to deeper water, and this is when you can really have fun when catching pike because they use a lot of energy and lose a lot of body mass during spawning and are very hungry. In this period anything from pike angling, throwing wobblers, trolling and fly fishing will do to catch a pike.

Jerk bait is extremely effective for pike and it will raise your pike fishing to a higher level - guaranteed! With jerk bait you can fish in any depth of water, whether shallow, deep or in between. Fishing with it will often lead to hard attacks and spectacular fights.

Fishing with topwater lures as so-called pike poppers is really exciting as they move forward on the surface and are preferable for use near weed lines and/ or underwater vegetation. Pike attacks these with deadly force and huge splashes. Extremely fascinating!

In June and July, pike prefer to enter deeper water (10-30 feet) and are harder to get in find. Pike trolling and pike bait fishing during this time of year will be the most effective way because it will be the easiest methods to enter these depths. With trolling ; cannon downriggers are among the best in the market.

A useful thing to take advantage of is to invest in a fish finder. I recommend a good one among lowrance fish finders. In the summer months pike can be harder to find because when fishing for big northern pike you have to fish in deeper waters.

With no wind it can be a challenging task to find pike so it is best to fish in the evening and the morning, since windy and grey weather often makes pike more active than in the middle of the day.

When it comes to fishing techniques during the summer you may want to fish fast and vary your technique -in other words, combine fast and slow winding.

Big bait often attracts big pike, especially after the spawning period when the pike need a lot of food.
When the water becomes colder in September and October the pike come into shallow waters again (6 - 18 feet) which allow the use of most fishing methods. Autumn and Spring are considered as the best seasons for fishing for large pike and as the water is usually colder it may be an advantage to fish a bit slower.

Never forget to invest in fishing pliers and a digital fishing scale as we all want to know the exact weight of especially the bigger ones.

I hope you have gotten some useful tips for choosing Pike Lures when out pike fishing.

Harald Hoel, expert of pike fishing.
Pike Fishing

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Harald_Hoel

Sport Fishing - Fishing For Trout

2009-06-07T22:54:00.000+07:00

Trout is the most common freshwater fish. What used to be done primarily for survival is now being done for sport and recreation. Here are a few tips on sport fishing for trout to help it be more exciting and interesting to you.

Trout are plentiful in many rivers and streams where they live. Today catch and release is a popular way to trout fish which does help keep the numbers high.

There are various species of trout but the most popular trout fish is the brown trout. It provides plenty of excitement for fishermen because of the skills it takes to catch them.

Brown trout feed on the surface which is challenging for an angler. They are cold water fish that live in lakes and streams and jump around when water temperature is perfect for them. They vary in size and the world record brown trout was 40 pounds taken in Arkansas back in 1992.

Another trout is the Brook trout which lives in cooler streams in northeastern parts of the United States. It is a relative of the lake trout. Also referred to as the "Brookie" it is found only in wilderness areas. This makes it a fantastic fish to catch because it is in the water that is pure and unspoiled.

One of the most glamorized trout fish is not even a trout at all. The rainbow trout is actually a smaller cousin of the Pacific salmon. Other trout species include the red trout which is a deep water lake trout.

A few basic supplies when it comes to fishing for trout. You need to properly be prepared with the right clothing and equipment depending on the area you are going to be fishing. This will include having the right rods, line, hooks reel, spoon and a backpack.

Other tips to keep in mind include...

1. The fish is near the rapid as possible.
2. Keep your real properly oiled.
3. Choose where you're going to go based on your budget and the type of season you're available.
4. Get the necessary fishing permits in advance.
5. Patience is a key when trout fishing.
6. You should be as quiet as possible.
7. If you have health issues do not fish at high altitudes.
8. Bring along rubber shoes and suntan lotion.
9. Be prepared in advance for potential weather changes.

In summary current laws control the population and protect trout requiring anglers to release catches based on certain sizes. With continued use of these programs via trout will continue to survive in the future.

William Hutchinson invites you to visit his Hobby Fishing Tips website for many more how to fishing tips to help you improve your fishing techniques and become a better fisherman. Visit his website now: http://hobbyfishingtips.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=William_Hutchinson

Shore Fishing Along a Midwest Hiking Trail

2009-06-07T22:52:00.000+07:00

Shore Fishing is an adventure the entire family can enjoy. Many scenic trails wind along the edge of a river or along bodies of water. Adults as well as children often enjoy hiking the trails that lead to the water's edge. Hiking trails are abundant with wildlife, wildflowers and a variety of plush greenery. A trip that starts out as a shore fishing expedition has the potential to quickly become an educational experience children will remember for years to come. Take along a camera so that pictures can become a part of the story.

After reviewing the trail systems and public water accesses in your area, you may find you are minutes from a great pan fishing location. State maps and Department of Natural Resource websites provide a large amount of information about public water. Information they provide assists the fishing and hiking enthusiast alike. Public water shores provide the opportunity for a vast variety of potential species to be caught. In the Midwest, it is not uncommon to catch sunnies, perch, northern and even walleye while shore fishing. Taking a moment to review signage that is often located in parking areas surrounding lakes or rivers can be helpful to a shore fishing individual.

The DNR constructed signage will typically list species known to inhabit the water in that area. From the information provided, one can determine the best choice of bait to use for the type of fish available. The signs may also provide information on catch and release programs. Some bodies of water may be actively practicing catch and release while other bodies of water may not be active with catch and release. Catch and release is a program that is designed to protect and encourage growth of individual species in certain areas, thereby guaranteeing many years of future fishing enjoyment for many families.

Written By:
Katherine Barnhardt
Joehank@brainerd.net

Through my writing I choose to deliver with passion and knowledge applicable information that provides both the positive and negative surrounding a specific topic or issue. It is that information being given to the reader in an understandable format that will develop interest and create discussion or action on the topic.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kathy_Barnhardt

Pike Fishing Tactics

2009-06-07T22:44:00.000+07:00

Many people think of the northern pike as a aggressive fish that attacks game fish and is seen as a monster. Well, this may be true, but the pike is often a target of just being the big fish in the lake. Yes, they eat other fish, what is so bad about that? The trout and other game fish people get upset with the northern pike, but I feel every fish for themselves. I am here to offer some advice to catch the monster water wolf.

Northern Pike fishing starts soon after ice out. You should use slightly smaller lures than you would in the summer, but still use larger baits that will get their attention. The key here is to start in the back bays that warm the fastest. Here you should be able to catch a few if you take my advice. Occasionally, you will see a trophy just sunning in the warm shallow water. Be careful, as they spook easily, and cast past the pike and reel toward him. Hopefully you will get a quick strike. Also, live large minnows or other bait fish work great early in the year when the pikes are not as active. I have caught a few big ones this way.

While this fish may not be appreciated as much as trout, bass, or crappie, it is still a great species in many peoples eyes. Give it a chance and instead of walleye fishing next time take a few casts for a big northern.

Check out the following site for more information about Northern Pike fishing.

Also, you may want to consider taking a Canadian Fishing Trip for Pike

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gus_T_Thomas

Fishing Tips For Northern Pike

2009-06-07T22:42:00.000+07:00

Many people tend to over complicate things when they go fishing. They want to have a expensive boat, electronics that can find a sunken boat in 500 feet of water, and line that costs $89. All of these things are nice, but they are not needed to catch fish, including Northern pike. While I would like to have all that, most fisherman cannot afford it. But that is okay, as sometimes simple is better.

Starting off, just make sure your rod and reel can handle a few hundred yards of line. Normally at least 10 pound line for pike. More may be better if you think there are some trophies around. Rods should be about 7 foot long and able to handle a huge fish. Make sure it is flexible enough to cast a long distance too though. Normally, this would be a medium-heavy action rod. Not rocket science here, just plain old fishing sense.

Another simple tip I can add is that to make sure you have fresh line on the reel. Nothing makes me more annoyed than some guy with 2 year old line and it breaks on the hook set. That is just plain dumb. Do not be lazy and these fish will be caught. These ideas are not new, just basic tips that people often overlook.

Your pike lures should be flashy and able to be retrieved quickly. If allowed, I like treble hooks since they always seem to hook good. Just be careful not to maul the fish when releasing him, these fish grow slowly, especially north in Canada.

Again, sometimes simple is best, and do not forget the little things, and you will catch more northern pike.

This information may help you next time you go Pike fishing.
Pike Lures

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gus_T_Thomas

Danger in the Bering Sea - Crab Fishing

2009-06-07T22:39:00.000+07:00

King crab is renowned for its rich, succulent taste and soft, tender texture. It's prized by hordes of seafood connoisseurs around the world as a delicacy. Lately, with the popularity of the reality TV show, 'Deadliest Catch' the extreme dangers of crab harvesting have captured the public's imagination. This is one tough job. King crab season lasts a few very short months, and many crab catchers are limited to fleeting windows of time, some as short as four days, in which they can actually try and make a catch. The price for such fine tasting seafood is a high one, but it's quite rewarding. This article takes a look at the art of catching king crab.

King crab fishing is carried out during the winter months off the coast of Alaska and the Aleutian Islands. The commercial harvest is actually done within a very limited time period and from there the catch is shipped all over the world. The most popular king crab season occurs between the months of October and January; in fact, technically, there are several king crab seasons in Alaska, but the largest is the one that takes place in Bristol Bay. Here, fishers target the red king crab variety, which is regarded as the top of them all amongst the three commercially harvested species within the state. The other two species are blue king crab, found in the waters off St. Matthew Island and the Pribilof Islands, and the golden king crab, which is caught off the shores of the Aleutian island chain. There is a fourth variety, the scarlet king crab, but it is too rare and small for commercial fishing. There are strict size requirements; only certain types of crab can be fished during specific periods of the year. Crabbers are imposed stiff quotas, which if violated, mean heavy fines.

During king crab season, fishermen face an extremely difficult task. They have to venture out in dangerous, cold and often turbulent waters; they work 20-hour shifts, and have to contend with flaring tempers, and life threatening situations. Alaskan crab fishing is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. In fact, US Coast Guard rescue squads are stationed near the crab fishing grabs and often have to rescue crabbers who have fallen into the sea due to harsh weather conditions during king crab season.

Crabs are actually caught in 'pots' which look like large cages. These are dropped into the sea one after another in a line covering dozens of miles. Each pot is connected to a colored buoy, which marks the drop off point. As the pots weigh at least 800 pounds, one of the most dangerous aspects of the job is hauling them back in after a period of about 24-48 hours. King crab season is a hectic time for these crabbers, but the payoff is worth it.

Alaska is home to an abundant variety of seafood, and offers some of the purest marine, freshwater, and upland habitats on the planet.

From the clear crystal waters comes seafood that is delicious and healthy. Alaskan seafood is low in fat but big on flavor and Omega-3 oils. You can study thousands of pages of nutritional research. Or, simply observe the amazing health and longevity of people in countries where seafood is the most important part of their diet. Either way, Alaska seafood is as healthy as it is delicious.

Are you are looking for a meal that is low in saturated fat, filled with nutrients and packed with good heart healthy Omega-3s oils? Then you should start with Alaska Seafood.

http://www.alaskaseafood.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Allie_Moxley

Rainbow Trout Fishing - 3 Ways to Catch More & Bigger Trout on Your Next Outing

2009-04-26T01:38:00.000+07:00

More than 25 years ago I had the pleasure of learning about rainbow trout fishing from an amazing angler who was able to catch trophy trout out of heavily fished rivers and streams in central Pennsylvania. Over the years I've used and refined the techniques he taught me to take my personal rainbow trout fishing experiences to the next level.

In this article I will outline 3 techniques that will help you become a much more successful rainbow trout angler. As a matter of fact these tips aren't reserved exclusively for rainbow trout. They are effective for any species of trout (or other fish) that swims in small rivers and streams. If you want to catch more and bigger trout, simply implement these tips into your fishing repertoire.

Be On The Water At The Best Times - When it comes to any type of fishing, including rainbow trout fishing, we always want to be on the water at the most opportune times. There are certain times of the day and month that fish are most active and many times this is determined by the weather and moon. More specifically, this is determined by the barometric pressure and the phase of the moon. Knowing the simple rules pertaining to these two forces of Mother Nature and the behavior of fish will help you catch more and bigger trout.

Get Away From Other Anglers - Trout are very sensitive to their surroundings and if there is a lot of fishing activity going on, trout will become much harder to catch. This is why you want to get away from other anglers as much as possible. This might mean walking "just a little further" down the river. Basically, you want to do what most others are too lazy to do. Is there a little deep water to cross? Cross it. Is there a bunch of brush in the path making it difficult to go on? Traverse the brush and move a little further down the river. You want to try to get to water that gets just a little less fishing pressure.

The Bottom Is Your Friend - Whether fishing a small lure such as a roster tail or live bait such as worms, allowing your offering to bounce along the bottom, while it flows naturally with the current, can make a huge difference. When rainbow trout fishing with live worms, a gang hook rig should always be used. This is the best way to present a live worm as bait. Allow you gang hook rig (and thus live worm) to flow naturally with the current, bouncing along the bottom as it drifts. Our multi colored friends find this offering hard to resist.

I realize that these tips may seem a little over simplistic, but the fact is that this is precisely what makes them so effective. My mentor believed that there was no need to overcomplicate fishing, and I tend to agree. The beauty is in paying attention to the details and staying focused. I promise that these 3 rainbow trout fishing tips will help you catch more and bigger trout.

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler

By Trevor Kugler

Largemouth Bass Bait - What Are the Best Baits For Largemouth Bass?

2009-04-26T01:37:00.000+07:00

In this article I'm going to list some of the most effective types of bait for largemouth bass. This article will list the natural baits and the more popular lures that imitate them. Any of these baits can be used live as largemouth bass bait as well. As a matter of fact, fishing with live bait for largemouth can be extremely effective, and any of these baits work great for these voracious predators.

One of the main things to remember when it comes to fishing for largemouth bass is that these fish love cover. Some types of "bass fishing cover" would include: lily pads, submerged trees or brush, flooded creek channels, and drop offs. They use cover to ambush their prey, and all of the baits below are prey for largemouth bass.

Large Aquatic & Terrestrial Insects - Large insects of all kinds are great largemouth bass bait. Depending on the body of water you're fishing in, the insects will change, but some of the more common are: hellgrammites, dragon flies, and large nymphs. The most popular artificial largemouth bass baits that imitate large insects are soft plastics, or Berkley's Gulp products (which are just like soft plastics, just more effective).

Crayfish - Crayfish are a very effective bait for largemouth bass. These freshwater crustaceans are like candy for our silver friends. Large crayfish are an excellent bait for large bass. Live crayfish are difficult to fish with, but it can be done effectively with gang hooks. Some of the most popular artificial lures would include: The bush bug, Paca Craws, and the GYCD Fat Baby Craw.

Bait Fish - Bait fish are great bait for these bass, and the bait fish that's most prevalent in the body of water that you're fishing is your best bet. Bait fish can be used live or as artificial lures. Some of the more popular live bait fish for largemouth would include: scuds, shad, minnows or shiners and sunfish. Some of the more popular artificial versions that can be used as largemouth bass bait would include: The KickTail Minnow, Rapala's, Smithwick Rogues, and the Bomber Model A.

Frogs - Frogs are a great bait for these predators. As a matter of fact, largemouth bass are so predatory there don't even have to be a lot of frogs present in your fishing water for frogs to be effective. Live frogs are very difficult to fish with, but can be extremely effective. Some of the more popular artificial frogs would include: The Spro Brozeye Frog, Mann's Superfrog, and Berkley's Power frogs. All of these artificial frogs are very effective largemouth bass baits.

So, what are the best baits for largemouth bass? Any of the above will work very well, and should be added to your bass fishing arsenal sooner rather than later. At the end of the day, the "best" bait for largemouth will vary from situation to situation. Hence the reason fishing for largemouth bass is so addictive and enjoyable, it's a puzzle that never truly gets solved.

More Largemouth Bass Bait Choices - http://www.jrwfishing.com/fishing_lures.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler

By Trevor Kugler

What Makes For a Great Halibut Fishing Season

2009-04-26T01:36:00.000+07:00

Make no mistake about it. Halibut fishing can be year-round. Alaskan and Californian waters are stocked with fish that almost anyone can have a great fishing season anytime. However, the key to making the season successful is to catch one or two of the bigger games. After all, what is a better way to end the season than landing yourself a 400-pound monster? It does not matter if this is your first time fishing, or that you are a seasoned angler, or that you are doing this on a professional basis. There are ways to ensure that you will get a great halibut fishing season this time round. Here are some tips:

Acquaint yourself with the local fishing regulations. Seasoned anglers and professional fishing enthusiasts know that nothing will defeat your purpose faster than being poorly prepared to face the fishing season. The one mistake most first timers make is concentrating on the hooks and baits to use. Although these are indeed important to any fishing trip, the primary consideration should always be the actual fishing ground.

There are many regulations and local laws surrounding specific fishing grounds. Some may impose a strict 2-catch-per-person rule. Others may ban certain fishing paraphernalia or bait. Others may be limiting the number of actual fishing enthusiasts out on boat on a particular day. Make sure that you know precisely what the local conventions are, especially if you are on a catch-and-release "license."

Acquaint yourself with the local weather situation. Halibut fishing on a balmy Californian weather is different from doing the same activity in a balmy Alaskan weather. Weather is a huge factor especially if you intend to spend the greater part of the day fishing. As a rule, halibuts start biting shortly after mid-morning and just a few hours before dusk. So if you are comfortable in your fishing gear and on your boat, you can maximize your time on the water.

However, if you are getting too warm for your clothes (in Californian weather) or your tootsies are almost falling off (Alaskan weather) you will become too impatient and lose all the really good bites. Also, make sure that the actual day you are planning to be out on the water is cloud and potentially rain free. Halibuts tend to stay less prone to hunt when the weather turns foul.

Acquaint yourself with the fishing environs. You have your bait. You have your hooks. You have been sitting on your boat doing everything humanly possible for the halibuts to start biting. But the thing is: nothing is biting - not the Pollock's, not the cods and certainly not the sand dwelling halibut. Although technically, any bait can land any fish, halibuts have been known to be "selective" predators. They do not just pounce on anything that comes floating. They may take a nibble, but that does not mean you will be landing the fish on your boat anytime soon.

The trick is to serve the halibut something that resembles the available fish food in the area. If brightly colored marine crabs are bountiful in the area, you might want to try one or two fluorescent baits. If squid is abundant, you might want to switch to baiting your lines with chunks of fish meat, intestines and gunk. These do not necessarily attract the halibut, but these do attract the squids. Sooner of later, the halibut is bound to score on an attached line, lunging for its meal.

To read wonderful stories about Alaska Fishing please visit http://www.bestalaskafishingtrips.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rick_Martin_Jenkins

By Rick Martin Jenkins

What Everyone Ought to Know About Halibut Fishing

2009-04-26T01:34:00.000+07:00

Halibut fishing is extremely popular for two reasons. One, that its white flaky meat makes for good eating. Two, these fishes are huge - and we all know catching huge fish makes for good story telling. Seriously speaking though, trying to land a halibut can be an exhilarating affair. Alaskan species can grow to a staggering 400 pounds, while its North American counterparts (particularly those that grow in Californian waters) grow to a size that is not that far behind. Spending the day out to catch these really gorgeous fishes can certainly yield great results, if you know how. However, fishing for this odd-eyed beauty is not as simple as tossing it a line and crossing your fingers. There are certain tricks on how to tickle the halibut pink.

Choose your bait with care

1. First of all, halibuts are opportunistic feeders. They will try to take a nibble (or more likely, pounce) on anything that looks remotely edible. This is the reason why many people will try just about any lure to get the halibut to bite. However, some fishes will certainly get to biting, but not that often as you might hope for and the bigger prizes will most likely stay away. So how to you coax the sand dwelling, heavier-than-normal halibut to bite more often? Well, you have to consider the delicacy of the moment. Most predatory water feeders will lose caution if they are offered something that they are currently enjoying.

For example: some Californian halibut species may have been feeding on squid for the past few seasons, and squids remain bountiful in the area. Any lure that resembles these aquatic creatures will most likely get a bite than those that resemble tastier looking "treats" like a small fry on hook or a dripping mackerel head. The same is true when it comes to Alaskan halibut species. Some may be literally gorging on the abundance of marine crabs.

Any brightly colored lure that moves like a crab will very likely coax the shy giants to have a nibble. It's easy enough to figure out what the fish is going for at the moment. Simply take a general survey as to what the most abundant smaller marine life is in one area. The more plentiful these "baits" are; the more chances that you will get more bites and a heavier catch.

Keeping the catch or not

There are some anglers who like to keep their catch, and there are those who prefer to have a few pictures taken and return the fishes to their watery domain. Depending on where you are currently throwing your lines, catches are sometimes limited to 2 per person. This allows for a sustainable sport fishing practice, and helps keep the area stocked with large halibuts.

If you are the latter type of angler, it would suit the fishes better if you use circle hooks (as opposed to J-hooks) to land a bite; and fine meshes as nets when you are hauling in the catch. The circle hooks will make the fishing process less damaging to the mouth parts of the fish. The fine mesh makes it less damaging to the delicate tail of the halibut. Any injury in those areas will mostly likely cause the halibut flesh decay, and the fish is bound to die in the water sooner than anyone wishes for.

To find the best Alaska Fishing Lodge please visit http://www.bestalaskafishingtrips.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rick_John_Jenkins

By Rick John Jenkins

Best Bass Bait-Rig of the 2008 Season

2009-04-26T01:33:00.000+07:00

Okay, this year I am going to combine both the rig and the bait for the best bait and rig combo. This season I crown Mizmo Scorpion/Picasso Shakedown as the best bait-rig of the 2008 season.

The combo Mizmo Scorpion/Picasso Shakedown shaky jig head was responsible for the most Bass caught in the 08 Bass season. The shaky rig incorporating the Scorpion was lethal. It was a great season for Smallmouth Bass numbers, as a matter of fact, because of this bait and rig combo, it has been one of the best to date!

'Easy' is this shaky rig combo's middle name. Cast it out there, let it fall to the bottom and let it sit for a bit. With the rod tip at about eleven o'clock start shaking the Scorpion. Now, while quivering the rod, slowly work it back to you then reel in the slack line. You cannot over shake as far as I and the Bass are concerned. It's a simple tactic for a simple combo.

When I first saw the Mizmo Scorpion I quickly envisioned it on my Picasso Shakedown jig head and it was Bass magic right off the bat. The scorpions slender shape and paddle tail make it appetizing for the Bass and by making it quiver while its sitting on bottom it becomes a 'no brainer' and the Smallmouth just have to take it.

When choosing the Bait of the year I put a lot of thought into it. Many good traits have to come to mind for it to be a winner. Consistency is a strong advantage of this combo as well as durability and long lasting characteristics. During cold fronts it performed well too bringing the most important trait to mind and that is confidence! I had so much confidence in the Scorpion Shakedown combo that if a cast came in empty handed I was convinced there wasn't any Bass in the vicinity! That's scary!

I have to consider the fact that it brought in not only quantity, but quality Bass overall. By using the shaky rig combo of the Mizmo Scorpion and Picasso Shakedown jig head it is inevitable that in this coming year Bass will also fall victim to its 'allure.'

Visit Nic DiGravio at http://www.probassfishing.ca

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nic_Di_Gravio

By Nic Di Gravio

The Proper Way to Load Fishing Line on to a Spinning Reel

2009-04-26T01:30:00.000+07:00

Loading fishing line onto a spinning reel is a simple process yet many anglers experience problems after they load the reel with new fishing line. There are a number of reasons for this and I hope this short explanation will eliminate them for you.

How many times have you seen or maybe even done this yourself? You purchase a new spinning reel and when you go to install the line you have someone stick a pencil through the center of the spool the line comes on, and while they are holding it you start reeling the line onto your reel. You fill the reel to where it is level with the spool lip on the spinning reel and think you have done a good job.

Ok your spinning reel is now full so you tie on a hook and weight or maybe a lure and go to cast and as soon as you open the bail of the reel your line jumps of like it was a spring that was just released. Now you get this mess cleaned up and the line back on your reel and try to cast knowing the line wants to jump off the spool this time you make sure you keep the line tight with your finger when you open the bail ah ha you fixed the problem. Now when you go to cast again your line comes off in a big tangled mess that looks something like a loosely built birds nest.

Let me tell you I have been there myself and if you will follow these simple steps you will avoid 99% of these problems.

Let's start with tying the line to the reel spool this is a simple process so keep it that way. Just tie a simple over hand single knot to the end of your line and pull it tight. Now put two wraps of line around the reel spool and again tie a simple over hand knot and pull the line tight. The knot you tied to the end of your line will snug up against the knot you just tied on the spool and will tighten as you pull on the line. Then you can trim the excess line which is left behind the first knot and you are ready to start filling the reel.

Place the spool of line down on the ground with the label side up. Now you want to stand to where the spool of line is directly under the tip of your rod. Grab the line between your index finger and thumb so you can apply pressure to the line as you reel. You want to apply just enough pressure that you can feel the tension as you reel but not so tight that it makes the reel hard to turn. Turn the spinning reel handle and start applying the line after about fifteen turns of the handle stop. Lower you rod tip a little toward the spool of line, the line hanging from your rod tip to the spool should hang straight, if it wants to twist simply turn over the spool of line and repeat this process. The line should now hang straight without twisting.

After you have the line hanging without twisting when you remove the tension of the line you are ready to start loading the reel spool with line. Continue to apply just enough pressure with your index finger and thumb to the line as you reel. Once the line is within an eight of an inch of the spools lip stop reeling and your reel is now fully loaded with line. If you are using a heavy line on the reel say anything over 25 lb. test you may want to give yourself a little more room between the line and the spool lip.

You are now ready to start fishing and you line should stay on the reel with out getting those annoying twist.

Author: Bob R. Smith
Is an outdoor enthusiast if it has to do with the outdoors he has tried it. His true passion is steelhead and salmon fishing with over forty five years of experience fishing for these great fish. He has built a web site to share how he saves thousands of dollars a year purchasing his fishing gear from eBay members. If you to would like to save on your fishing gear and pick up some helpful fishing tips along the way please visit his site at http://www.steelhead-salmon-trout-fishing.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bob_R_Smith

By Bob R Smith

Fishing Tackle Equipment - What You Need to Know

2009-04-26T01:29:00.000+07:00

I am an avid freshwater fisherman and fishing tackle equipment collector. I love the sport and the peacefulness of being out on the water without a worry in the world.

I love waking up on an early April morning before the sun comes up for a full day of great fishing! The best days are the ones when you make it to the boat ramp just as the sun is barely breaking through the grey sky on the horizon, and the water on the lake looks like a sheet of glass. This is every fisherman's dream because you know it is going to be a wonderful day for some great fishing.

Some tips every fisherman should know:

It is very important to know the conditions in which you will be fishing. First, and most importantly, what kind of fish are you trying to catch? There is a big difference in the ways you fish for different fish. If you are trying to catch bluegill you do not want to use a large crank bait.

Second, you should know the conditions of the water and weather. If it is a nice clear day you can use darker colored lures because the fish will be able to see them through the water. If the water is dark and murky you might try a lighter colored lure to draw their attention.

Third, think about the time of day that you are going fishing. If it is evening or getting dark outside try throwing on a catfish rig and some chicken liver. (Caught biggest catfish I've ever caught on chicken liver!) If you are fishing in the early morning try a floating minnow or top-water plug to catch a monster bass looking for some breakfast. If you are trying to catch something midday throw on a bobber with some live bait. (You are sure to catch some bluegill with live bait!)

Lastly make sure you bring all your fishing tackle equipment for the trip. There is nothing more frustrating than getting out on the lake and realizing that you have left your favorite lure at home or that rig that you really wanted to test out.

If you remember all of these tips you should have a much better fishing experience and you will be able to better plan that perfect fishing trip you have been dreaming of all this time!

Everything you need to know about Fishing Tackle Equipment to become a better fisherman.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_D_Reed

By Matt D Reed

What Bait to Use During Your Halibut Fishing Run

2009-04-26T01:28:00.000+07:00

It may be as easy as attaching a head of a mackerel on a line and throwing it overboard; but then again, it may not be that easy at all. Halibut fishing need not be an overly complicated process but you may want to reconsider "traditional" bait for less conventional baits, especially if the fish isn't biting. Believe it or not, you do not need to buy those expensive lures; nor do you need to learn a new fishing technique. What you have now may work fine. However there is a bit of sprucing up to do when it comes to your halibut feeding education. For this, you would need: a bit of research on the fishing area, some prep, and a lot of time on your hands.

The fishing ground

The actual location of the fishing ground dictates what sells and what does not sell with the sand dwelling halibut. You do have to remember that the fish adapts to what is currently available in the open waters. Although the halibut is notorious for being an opportunistic feeder, this does not mean that it will lose its caution when introduced to a "new" meal.

Try to see what marine creatures are most abundant in the fishing grounds. It is with all likelihood that the halibut will be feeding on these as well. So if you bait your line with one or two of these creatures (or make lures that "act" similar to these); your chances of landing several fish is good. If you want to land a really big monster, experts are saying that you need to have larger bait as well.

One more thing, seasons bring changes in the available food for the halibuts. So what may have been successful baits for the last few seasons may not be "attractive" baits now. Your catch may just have shifted to an entirely new diet.

Preparation counts a lot

An ill-prepared fisherman is a poor fisherman indeed. And that maxim is true for anglers too. If you really want to score several large halibuts, you really need to prepare big time. First of all, as stated above, you need to know the exact bait you should be using. If you have done your research correctly, you will know that some bait shops in and around the fishing area may not be able to supply you all the things you need. In which case, try to pack (from home or en route to the fishing grounds) everything you might possibly need on a day out on the water. Lines, hooks and weights are essential, of course. The question is: are you keeping your catch or are you releasing them afterwards?

The J hook would be more advisable if you are performing the former, while the circle hook will be more beneficial (to the fish) if you are performing the latter. Also try using a fine mesh net only when it comes to halibut fishing. The delicate tail fins of the fish are bound to get damaged in the larger meshed nets.

Enjoying your time on the water

Fishing entails a lot of presence. Halibuts are known to "inhale" attractive bait in an instant. But sometimes, the fish needs more time to be coaxed into actually taking the bait. Just sit back and enjoy whatever view you have. If you do all these things, you might just have a great closing entry for your day: preferably a monster halibut on your deck.

To find the best Alaska Fishing Lodge please visit http://www.bestalaskafishingtrips.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rick_John_Jenkins

By Rick John Jenkins

Stream Trout Fishing

2009-04-26T01:26:00.000+07:00

One of my favorite sports is stream trout fishing. I'll give you a little background about my experience trout fishing. I used to live in New in Jersey, where I did most of my trout fishing. And most of it was done with my friend Art. NJ stocked a lot of trout in the Spring as did Pennsylvania and New York. So I guess you could say we fished a lot for stocked trout. But we also fished year round, so a lot of the fish we caught may or may not have been for that year's stocked fish.

Art and I caught a lot of fish. We didn't keep but what the limit allowed, but we caught a lot of fish. We also mostly fished with bait, usually nightcrawlers and salmon eggs depending on the time of the year. In the Spring we used a lot of salmon eggs, the rest of the year it was nightcrawlers.

Our tackle of choice was ultra-light spinning rods and reels, Fly rods were OK, but we caught a ton more fish with spinning tackle. Again, Art and I caught a lot of trout. What's a lot? Anywhere from 22 to 54 trout a day. One day we caught 103 when our friend Fred was with us. Of course there were many days when we caught nothing or maybe one or two.

This background is so you get the idea that I'm not just some yahoo spouting off about trout fishing, that only read about it in a book. (I may be a yahoo, but of a different kind).

George Aughey shares what he learned in years of fishing for stream trout fishing in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. His experience and expertise along with his tell-it-like-it-is style of writing should be a big help to people just learning how to fish for trout. For the last 25 years Mr. Aughey has been in the Financial Services industry using an educational approach with Clients. Most people in today's economy are having a rough time financially and probably spend too much time worrying to find the time for fishing. He and his wife Mary have a company, Equity Benefits, LLC, which specializes in helping behind in their mortgages to keep their homes. To learn more about saving and keeping your home, Contact George at: 651-967-7730.

Or, visit their blog at: http://www.yourmortgageloanmodification.com/save-your-home/.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Aughey

By George Aughey

Homemade Trout Dough Bait Recipes

2009-04-26T01:25:00.000+07:00

There are obviously many types of trout bait sold in retail stores, but making homemade trout dough bait is a great way to really involve yourself in the process of catching some trout. Homemade trout bait recipes can easily be altered based on what colors, flavors, and smells are successful for trout in your area. The following are guidelines for making two different types of homemade trout bait.

The first type of homemade bait is meant to entice the trout's taste buds and sense of smell by employing cheese and garlic. First, take a quarter of a pound of Velveeta and melt it in your microwave. Then, create the dough by mixing together the melted Velveeta, 2 cups water, 1 cup flour, 1 cup cornmeal, ½ cup sugar, and 1 tablespoon garlic powder (you can always add more garlic powder to create a stronger smell). Once you have mixed these ingredients until they form a pliable dough, fill a stockpot with water and bring it to a boil. Form the dough into small balls and cook in the boiling water for 1-2 minutes as if you were cooking dumplings. After cooking, dry the dough balls out by laying them on some sheets of paper towel.

The second method of creating homemade trout dough bait is done by utilizing food coloring to attract trout visually. The use of sardines will also cater to their sense of smell. In this recipe, combine 1 cup water, ¼ cup light corn syrup, several drops of food coloring (your choice of color, just make sure it is bright) and about 2 tablespoons peanut butter in a small saucepan and allow it to heat up. Mix ½ cup flour and ½ cup cornmeal in a bowl and add this mixture to the saucepan. Continue to cook over low heat until the mixture has thickened. Remove the saucepan from the stove and add to the dough mixture ¼ cup Marshmallow Fluff and one can of sardines. You will want to puree the sardines in a blender or food processor so it is liquefied before adding it to the dough. Allow this mixture to cool, and then mix in some cotton balls, which will help give your bait some texture and shape, and then form the dough into small balls. This recipe is very smelly but the discomfort you may experience while cooking up this concoction could lead to some very big rewards the next time you are trout fishing.

Both of these trout baits can be attached to a treble hook and used with a bobber. By engaging several of the trout's sense at one time, you will find that these dough baits are some of the best rainbow trout lures you could ever use.

Steve writes about trout bait and trout fishing

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Steve_Turley

By Steve Turley

Crappie Rods & Reels - The Good, Bad & Ugly

2009-04-26T01:23:00.000+07:00

Crappie rods & reels have come a long way since I started my fishing career at the age of 5, the only thing I could or should I say was allowed to use was a cane pole and did I ever see some take off across the lake. My dad graduated me to a closed face Shakespeare crappie rod & reel setup that wouldn't cast 10 feet. Modern technology has come a long way these days, now the average person has the daunting tasks of listening to all of the crappie rods & reels salesmen tell you just how great these crappie rods & reels really are, I call them the good, bad & ugly series. Yes there are still some crappie rods & reels setups that are bad, you get what you pay for and if this is your sport then invest in one that is going to last.

There are plenty of crappie rods & reels that are around thirty dollars, you take the rod with your little pinkie and bend it over double, and the reel that comes with it you will probably strip the plastic gears when you catch a sizable crappie with it. I am going to show you that spending a little extra money will bring you a lot of great times with your new crappie rods & reels setup that will last for years to come. You have to look at the type of reel that you like, do you prefer a spinning reel, closed face or a small to medium size baitcaster.

Abu-Garcia Revo S series has 8 ball bearings with 1 roller bearing solid case with a carbon matrix drag system, 3 words for this one, bad to the bone for around 100.00, I have had mine for a few years and all I have had to do is clean & change the line. I also have enjoyed my spinning crappie rods & reels, a couple of my favorites that will cast a small jig a country mile is my Shimano Symetre with a rear fighting drag and virtually no line twist, you can adjust fighting drag as you go without breaking your line for any size crappie you bring up, then add a falcon low-rider rod to it and you can feel the slightest bump. This is a winning setup for the crappie angler for around 200.00 dollars and it will last forever.

Everyone has a budget but in my opinion these two crappie rods & reels setup will make you a hero on the boat or pier fishing with friends or family or in a crappie tournament. I also like the rods that I buy to be a medium action rod, here is the reason for this, when you are fishing heavy cover whether it may be stumps, rock piles or a brush pile you need to have a strong enough rod to be able to get them out of the structure that you are fishing. Using a light action rod in my opinion the crappie have control over you, a lot of people say that you will catch more crappie using a light 4 pound line, that is fine if you are fishing clear waters, but in murky or stained waters I use 12 to 14 lb line and most of the time catch my limit. Tight lines to you all and remember, when you want performance for years to come then do your research that will best suit you for all of your crappie rods & reels.

Take a look at our crappie rod & reels pics at http://www.fishingforcrappie.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Tannery

By Robert Tannery

Catch Largemouth Bass - 3 Highly Effective Lures and Techniques For Using Them to Catch More Bass

2009-04-26T01:20:00.000+07:00

When it comes to catching largemouth bass, using artificial tackle can be very effective. Just go to any place that sells fishing tackle and you will find that there is no shortage of bass fishing lures to choose from. You can try them all, but that will be hard on your wallet. So, which one do you choose? In this article, I will share three highly effective lures that have brought me a lot of bass fishing success and I will discuss techniques for using them effectively to help you catch more bass.

The first is a spinning lure called a rooster tail. It comes in several different sizes and many different colors. The lure has a tube shaped body, a spinning blade and a treble hook. Because of its small size and light weight, I recommend using a quality bait casting reel in order to get adequate distance when casting. Cast the rooster tail near logs, rocks and banks and let it sink a bit so that it is at the level of the fish. Retrieve the rooster tail at a quick steady speed to ensure the blade spins. Occasionally, vary the retrieving speeds from slow to fast and work your rod to make the rooster tail twitch, giving the illusion that the lure is in distress. Repeat casting and retrieving, varying your casting distance and location.

Next, is a top water lure called a hula popper. The hula popper has a unique shaped popping head that makes noise in the water and a hula skirt that drives bass wild. There are many different colors and variations. The best time to use the hula popper is at night and in the warmer months. You can cast this lure in open water, but the most effective places are near lily pads, rocks, or logs. After you cast it, wait until the ripples disappear, then twitch it occasionally while keeping the line tight, so that you're ready to set the hook when a bass strikes. This is a highly effective lure that attracts big bass.

Last, is the very simple, but very effective plastic worm. The plastic worm comes in various sizes, colors and designs. I have tried most, but find the most effective is the plain purple worm or a black worm with a pink or reddish tail. Cast the worm near logs, rocks and lily pads where bass may be hiding. Reel the worm in very slowly and be sure to keep the line fairly tight. When the fish hits the bait, you want to be ready to set the hook; slack in the line will prevent you from setting the hook effectively.

The rooster tail, hula popper and plastic worm are all highly effective lures to use to catch largemouth bass. The rooster tail and plastic worm can be effective any time of day, but the hula popper is most effective at night time. To get the most of your fishing excursion and catch more largemouth bass, try alternating between these three lures and use the suggested techniques I outlined.

For the best source on Shimano Reels visit The Reel Shack and find freshwater and saltwater reels like Baitrunner, Spheros, Tekota and more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dennis_L

By Dennis L

The Best Bait For Trout Fishing

2009-04-26T01:19:00.000+07:00

In this article I'm going to discuss some of the most effective baits to use while fishing for trout in order to determine the best bait for trout fishing. Is this possible? Is it possible that there's a "best" bait for trout fishing? I'm not entirely sure, but after fishing for these wonderful fish for more than 25 years I can honestly say that some are certainly better than others, and one in particular is certainly my favorite.

Before I get into the trout baits themselves, it's important to know the type of trout that you're attempting to catch. Not the species of fish, but the kind of trout. There are two basic kinds. Stocked (or planted) and native. Stocked trout are placed into the river or lake by the governments' fish & game department. Native trout on the other hand were born and live in the water in which they reside. Actually stocked trout can become native after living in said body of water for an extended period of time (2 or more years).

Why do I mention stocked and native? Simply because both manners of trout tend to eat different kinds of bait, and as an angler you should be aware of this fact. Stocked trout eat baits such as corn, marshmallows, dough baits, and cheese. Native trout, on the other hand, tend to shy away from such baits, and tend to eat "live" baits such as worms, minnows, and crayfish. Basically, native trout are much more savvy (and more challenging) to catch than stocked trout.

One of the most popular (and effective) baits for trout fishing are synthetic baits that are shaped into live bait shapes. These baits are shaped like worms, minnows and crayfish (to name a few) and are impregnated with fish catching scents. The most popular manufacturers of these trout baits is Berkley, and are named Powerbait and Gulp. These baits, rigged on a set of gang hooks can be extremely effective.

Another popular bait is small spinners and spoons, such as Rooster Tails and Phoebe Minnows. Both native and stocked trout will bite these lures. These baits are effective in both the flowing water of rivers and streams and still the water of lakes. The important thing to remember in regards to these types of lures is to keep them small. 1/8 to 1/3 ounce will usually suffice.

The last bait that I want to touch on for trout fishing is the old standby live bait. This may indeed be the best bait for trout fishing. Live crayfish, for example, are probably the best bait for large trout. I live crayfish that's allowed to flow naturally with the current of a small trout river is a great large trout bait. Live worms are extremely effective for trout fishing as well. As a matter of fact a live worm rigged on a set of gang hooks and allowed to flow naturally with the current of a small river or stream is a great "all around" trout bait, and could very well be the best.

Does this article give you an answer to the best bait for trout fishing? Not one single answer, but it certainly gives you the best options that are available. Now you can go out, give these baits a try, and determine for yourself which is the best.

In my experience live worms are hard to beat when trout fishing (especially in rivers and streams), but for you it may be different? The cool thing about fishing is that there's only one way to find out. Get out on the water and figure out your best bait for trout fishing.

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler

By Trevor Kugler

Trout Bait - Tips For Choosing the Best Trout Bait

2009-04-26T01:18:00.000+07:00

When it comes to fishing for trout it seems that our choices of trout bait is almost endless. In this article we're going to cut through the BS to find the best trout baits and some tips for using them. All of the tips in this article have been tested and proven through more than 50 years of combined trout fishing experience.

Trout bait comes in two basic varieties; live and synthetic. Live bait includes worms, minnows, leeches, etc. Synthetic bait includes Power Bait, salmon eggs, Berkley Gulp products, etc. Below I will outline the most popular and effective of these two categories of trout bait. You can then experiment and find your favorite bait.

There is one last thing to consider when it comes to choosing the best bait for these fish, which is the kind of trout you're fishing for. There are two basic varieties; stocked and native. A stocked trout is a trout that has been planted in the water by your states fish and game department and native trout are fish that were born in the water that you're fishing. Actually a stocked trout can become a "native" trout after living in a body of water for an extended period of time (say 2 or more years).

The point to knowing which type of trout you're fishing for, native or stocked, is that catching them is altogether different. Stocked fish eat trout bait such as cheese, Powerbait, and corn, whereas native fish won't bite such things. Native trout tend to bite live trout baits or synthetic trout baits that look and smell like live bait (such as Berkley Gulp products). All of that being said, let's discuss the most effective trout bait and tips for using each.

Synthetic Trout Bait - These trout baits include any of the numerous trout baits that are sold in little jars and molded onto hooks. The most popular f these trout baits is Power Bait. This trout bait is reserved for stocked trout and is quite effective. The best way to rig this trout bait is on a bottom rig that allows it to float off of the bottom. A single small treble hook or a set of pre tied gang hooks are the most effective way to rig synthetic trout bait.
Small Spinners and Spoons - These trout baits are effective for both native and stocked trout. The key with this type of trout bait is to keep them small. For the most part no spinner or spoon larger than ¼ ounce should be employed for trout fishing. Keep these trout baits ¼ and smaller and you will experience much more success. You would be surprised at the size of trout that can be caught using small spinners and spoons.
Live Trout Bait - This trout bait is the most effective for native trout, and actually works quite well for stocked trout as well. Minnows are very effective, but difficult to carry around. Crayfish are extremely effective for large trout, but again difficult to carry around and hard to find sometimes. The most readily available and effective trout bait has to be live worms. A live worm rigged on a set of Tied Gang Hooks is an extremely effective trout bait. Especially if your offering is allowed to flow naturally with the current of a small river or stream.

These tips will help you choose the best trout bait for your next trout fishing excursion. No matter which trout bait you choose, remember that nothing will help you catch more trout like spending time on the water honing your skills.

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler

By Trevor Kugler

Catch Crappie Fishing Minnows Amazing Method! Crappie Fishing Secret Part 3

2009-04-26T01:16:00.000+07:00

How To Catch Minnows

If you are a beginning crappie fisherman and you want to give yourself a chance to catch some crappie, Then I suggest you fish with live crappie fishing minnows. And if you don't want to spend a arm and a leg at the bait shop here is a way to catch a ton of them quickly.

The best thing about this is, crappie minnows that you catch come from the crappies natural environment, in the exact water you will be fishing. Bait shop minnows are sometimes caught at different bodies of water, and will be "foreign" to crappie which can cause crappie to reject them as a food source. Plus, bait shop crappie minnows are usually more fragile-i.e. older, and dying from being in captivity. Amazingly this is a little used crappie fishing secret , that few fisherman use these days.

STEP#1 Walk around the lake looking for "shaded areas" close to shore. The best place to catch crappie minnows is by boat ramps or boat docks. Possibly because that is where fisherman dump their bait after they are done bringing their boats in.. but also because these areas offer good "cover" for minnows, along with food sources.

STEP#2 You need to find areas that are between water depths of 4 to 8 feet. You need these depths because of the limitations of your minnow catching casting net.!

STEP#3 Cast a 3-4 foot crappie minnow net with 1/4" netting holes. This takes some practice. The Idea is to cast the net "flat" so the largest area hits the water.

Step#4 If you can't find any good areas to cast your net or your just not catching anything , then I suggest you try it at night. You will need a good submersible fishing light to be successful at night, but your chances of success will be much greater.The submerged fishing lite will attract minnows like crazy! you can either use your cast net, build yourself a minnow trap and drop it down near the submerged fishing light or use a bait store dip net. All these methods work great and you will catch your crappie fishing minnows in no time flat.

Well I hope these tips on how to catch crappie minnows help you. This concludes part there of our Crappie Fishing Secrets Series.

Mark Fleagle Webmaster. 30+ Years Of Fishing Experience Expert Author At EzineArticles.com. Click This Link To Find Out More About how to catch crappie minnows.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mark_Fleagle

By Mark Fleagle

How to Bass Fish - Remember the Basics

2009-04-26T01:15:00.001+07:00

Most insider bass fishing secrets revolve around understanding the bass itself. It also involves understanding your surroundings, your equipment, having the know how and basics under your belt and finally optimizing each opportunity. In effect, you are going about, creating the most favorable fishing experience and outcome possible.
An important key to bass fishing is what can be referred to as, 'predictable behavior' of the fish. This includes their habits, patterns, life cycles, the natural rhythm that is life and nature. By understanding how the bass lives in nature, you will increase your chances of success.

Searching for cover in rocky areas, stumps, and grasses all seem to be part of The Bass feeding habits. Taking advantage and considering this with every cast will benefit you greatly. Other factors like water conditions and clarity, the time of day you are fishing, the effects of sunlight, water displacement and vibration sensing, noise sensitivity, all add to fish survival skills. By paying close attention to these factors you will increase your odds of hooking that next trophy bass.

Understanding how The Bass perceives and relates to different colors and shade can always also help you to be more effective in you efforts. You choice in the type of lure, its color and nature of its movement etc. can all contribute to your overall fishing success.

You need to understand the habitat and those that live and thrive in it, to better interact with and enjoy fishing in it. An example of this is how the temperature of the water and available oxygen, dictate movement patterns and distribution of different fish species. Nature beats to its own drum, you have to discover and enjoy this if you are to be a successful part of it...

Practice makes perfect - there is no silver bullet, no quick-fish method that can guarantee you bites and more bass all the time. It takes preparation, hard work and commitment, persistence and rigor from the angler. Some days will be predictably better than others. No matter what the conditions, process and outcome, on the day, put it all down to experience and lessons learned. By remembering the basics logging and learning from each experience, your understanding, and confidence will grow and you will steadily improve as a bass angler no matter your level of experience.

Ken Garrett
visit http://gonebassfishing.com for helpful bass fishing tips and information

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Garrett

By Ken Garrett

Fishing Bait Worms - The Most Effective Way to Fish With Live Worms

2009-04-26T01:13:00.000+07:00

When it comes to the fishing bait worms, there is one way of rigging them that is much more effective than any other. I know what you're thinking. It's just using a worm as bait, how difficult can it be, right? Well, it's not that fishing with worms as bait is difficult, as you know it's quite simple. The issue is that there is a way that is much more effective than any other.

When most anglers use worms as fishing bait, what do they do? Yep, they take their hook and attempt to "thread" their worm onto said hook. In most cases this hook is pretty large so that not too much of the worm is hanging off for the fish to "nibble" on. This way of rigging a worm for fishing bait is the basic way that anglers have been doing it forever.

There are a couple of problems with the above scenario. First, your worm (or bait) ends up looking anything but natural. As a matter of fact your fishing bait ends up looking like some sort of worm ball, rather than a real worm. Secondly when a large hook is employed it is extremely visible to the fish and makes fishing for smaller mouthed fish all but impossible.

Neither of the above scenarios are a problem with smaller, more inexperienced fish. These fish will still bite your modified worm ball, but hooking them can be extremely difficult. And what about larger and more experienced fish? They will tend not to even bother with this type of offering. They "been there done that" so to speak. Not to mention the fact that fish rarely become large by being dumb and not paying attention to such things.

So what is the alternative to these types of situations? The first thing to consider is that when using worms for fishing bait, your worm should look like a worm. This means that it should be outstretched, just like it appears in nature. The most effective way to fish with live worms is by using a set of pre-tied gang hooks. These hooks allow live worms to be presented in an outstretched and natural manner, which makes a ton of difference in bite rates.

Gang hooks are simply a pair of small fishing hooks tied back to back. This allows live bait (especially worms) to be presented in a totally natural and effective manner. These hooks are, without a doubt, the most effective way to fish with live worms. They also work quite well with synthetic worms, such as Berkley Power and Gulp worms. The next time that you use worms as fishing bait, give these great fishing hooks a try.

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler

By Trevor Kugler

Cleaning a Fishing Reel

2009-04-26T01:11:00.000+07:00

It can be a labourious task to clean a fishing reel and ensure that you maintain it after each trip. However, most fishing reel faults can be put down to the fact that it was not cleaned properly and now has corroded parts or instead underperforms. This is an anglers most frustrating problem.

Preparing your fishing trip however should incorporate a full cleanse of your tackle and equipment, and the most important aspect of them is the reel. A good reel should last you for a long time due to the quality construction, however, like any mechanical device it also needs to be looked after.

There are however, a few things you can do in order to keep your reel in tip-top shape.

After you have removed the reel from the rod, you will need to take the handle off - these usually have a reverse locking system so you just need to unwind it. Next, with a damp cloth, wipe over the visible areas of the reel - make sure the water is clean and not salt water as this will corrode the components.

Depending on the reel you have you will then need to remove the sideplate. Some of the unclip, or unwind while others are screwed in place - you should consult the manual if you are unsure. To clean the inside of the reel, remove any dirt with a swab and be sure to get out any other debris. Apply some bearing grease, or WD40 to the bearings and gears while you are inside as well to keep them fresh as this is one of the main causes of reel failure. Once you are done it is safe to put the reel back together again.

You should finally give the handle a good wash as this is likely to have water, bait and all other dirt over it. Just rinsing in water should suffice, but again make sure it is clean water you are using.

As you can see, if doesnt take much to look after a reel, and if you do you will keep it performing like it did when you first got it. If you ever have a reel stop working while you are trying to retrieve a fish, perhaps its time to look into the maintenance of your reel.

--
Fisherman Dan is an expert angler with over 5 years experience. Be sure to choose the best fishing reel to suit your needs. If you need further advice, which fishing reel can help you.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Fisherman_Dan

By Fisherman Dan

Fishing Roaring River Trout Park

2009-04-26T01:10:00.000+07:00

Main Species Present: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Spotted Bass, Suckers

The Roaring River in southwestern Missouri is one fine trout stream by any standards. It has it beginnings in Roaring River State Park, which is designated by the state as a Trout Park.The first stretch of water, or zone 1 is daily stocked with rainbows from March 1 through October 31, and artificial lures and flies only are allowed. The second beat of water, or zone two is designated as fly only, but Missouri definition of a fly is fairly liberal, and some single hooked spinning lures including single hooked rooster tail spinners and marabou jigs are allowed. Zone two is divided into one daily stocked catch and keep section and one catch and release section. This catch and release section is well known for producing behemoth brown trout. The third section of water in Roaring River State Park is stocked twice a week from during the spring, summer, and fall, and is open to catch and keeping fishing with all bait, lures, and flies. In all, Roaring River State Park has about two miles of stream, all of which holds trout.

Trout habitat does not end at the lower end of the Trout Park. It then becomes a White Ribbon Trout Area, which means it is stocked about once a month. Access to this section is from the Trout Park, and from Roaring River Conservation Area. The White Ribbon Area is known for having a lot of shallow, fishless water, but any good pools and riffles you find will hold many rainbow trout, as well as some brown trout, and even an occasional cutthroat or brook trout that may have migrated from the Beaver Lake tailwater. Year-round trout water only stretches about two miles below the Park, but they during wintertime trout can be caught all the way to where Roaring River becomes impounded by Table Rock Lake, and even in the reservoir itself. The lower river is a good early and late season trout fishery, and provides good bass fishing in high summer. The Roaring River is a small stream, fifteen to twenty feet wide in most places. It is beautiful, and productive even by the highest standards.

Davdison Manning is an avid outdoorsman spending over 100 days per year pursuing his passion for fishing, many of them in the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas. He details many of his favorite spots on his website Family-Outdoors where he writes articles not only on fishing, but camping and hunting as well. Read more about trout fishing in Missouri on his site at Missouri Trout Fishing where he discusses streams and trout parks in the Show-Me state. His other pursuits include many days spent in the field camping and hunting. Davidson loves to share his knowledge of the outdoors in the hope of helping others to find their own connection to the outdoors.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Davidson_Manning

By Davidson Manning

Fishing Trout Successfully - Tips

2009-04-26T01:09:00.000+07:00

When fishing for trout there are several factors you need to consider to make sure you get a great catch. Your tackle is one of the most important things you need to consider first. The rod and reel you choose is at the top of the list for assuring yourself of being an effective and productive fisherman. You don't want to get the cheapest, but you don't need to get the most expensive either.

Also, don't grease the leader. This will make sure it doesn't sink too deep and will not cause difficulty getting the lure and line out of the water. If floating, it will have a shadow and scare away the trout.

Most trout are caught using the dry fly when trout are surface feeding, but using a wet fly if below surface feeding. Sometimes you will need to change your fly if you are getting no bites and this can make all the difference. Eventually you will find the fly that works for that particular body of water.

Lakes that are in higher areas tend to be more rocky than the low lying lakes and won't have a lot of brush or weed cover. The water will be very clear and will not have many places for the trout to find cover in the rocky lakes, although any trout found there will very likely be larger in size because they will like the clear conditions and deeper water.

Make your first cast your best because the trout will in most cases strike at the first thing that floats above it. Use the lightest possible line when trout fishing to achieve more success.

Although the trout are hitting in the upper or middle end, don't neglect the lower end.

Trout can be very selective and choosy and can try your patience. Sometimes using a lesser hackle fly or using a fan wing will do the trick.

Trout fishing can be a lot of fun. Use a few of these tips and you'll have some mighty good trout eating.

Did you find these tips useful? For more fishing tips and articles visit my fishing site at http://www.fishingtipsabcs.blogspot.com and get ready to do some fishing!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marilyn_Roberts

By Marilyn Roberts

Fishing the Yampa River of Northwest Colorado

2009-04-26T01:07:00.000+07:00

Main Species Present: rainbow trout, brown Trout, smallmouth bass, northern pike, channel catfish, bullhead catfish, mountain whitefish

The Yampa River in northwestern Colorado has every characteristics of a first rate stream. It has great variety, offering great trout fishing as well as excellent fishing for bass, pike, and catfish. The Yampa above Stagecoach Reservoir is really no more or no less than a typical mountain trout stream, and there are plenty of small rainbow and cutthroat trout to go around. Below Stagecoach Reservoir, it becomes a tailwater fishery, and the section from the dam to Steamboat Springs is the best known, and the most heavily fished part of the river. This part of the river provides great catch and release fishing for huge rainbows and browns. This part of the river is the only section where you are likely to see out of state fisherman. From Steamboat to Hayden, the river is really at its best. This entire section holds both world class populations of trout, and northern pike. Water temperatures, and habitat are just about perfect for both species. This area isn't heavily fished, and the both trout and pike can be quite easy to catch. Between Hayden and Craig, the Yampa begins to become a warm-.water fishery. The upper half of this stretch has some pretty good trout fishing, but the closer to Craig you get, the lower the populations. Fishing in the town of Craig is possible, as there are several access areas. Here, you will find lots of big smallmouth and pike, and the trout fishing can be anywhere from quite poor to fairly good. This far downstream, the best trout fishing will be best in the spring. Below Craig, the Yampa becomes a warm-water river. The ten or fifteen miles below Craig holds many smallmouth and pike , as well as a small trout population. Soon, the river becomes very silty, and catfish replace the smallmouth and pike.

Access is easy along the Yampa River. Every section of the river listed above has ample wading access, so finding a place to fish isn't a big problem. From Stagecoach to Steamboat Springs, fly fisherman tend to do best, and midging is often the way to go. It should be pointed out that spinners and spoons can work well here. Below Steamboat, most trout are taken on spinners or worms, although fly fisherman can still do well. Rapalas work well for the smallmouth, and mouse and frog imitations in a variety of colors work well for the pike.

Davdison Manning is an avid outdoorsman spending over 100 days per year pursuing his passion for fishing, many of them in the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas. He details many of his favorite spots on his website Family-Outdoors where he writes articles not only on fishing, but also camping and hunting. Looking for recipes for wild fish and game? Visit his recipe section at Wild Game and Fish Recipes for recipes for venison, trout, as well as most other game and fish species.

His other pursuits include many days spent in the field camping and hunting. Davidson loves to share his knowledge of the outdoors in the hope of helping others to find their own connection to the outdoors.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Davidson_Manning

By Davidson Manning

Smallmouth Fishing's Best Kept Secret - The Gasconade River of Missouri

2009-04-26T01:06:00.000+07:00

The Gasconade River that flows through the northern Ozarks of Missouri is a fisherman's paradise in every sense of the expression. It is widely considered to be one of the nations best smallmouth bass streams. It is both a good place to catch and release twenty Bronzebacks, or specifically target lunker bass in the three to four pound range. The smallmouth fishing is best from the river's humble beginnings in Wright County until Jerome. There are a lot of big bass in this part of the river, and the overall numbers are ample.

The entire river also holds catfish, rock bass, and bluegill. It is a great floating stream, and has many springs that flow into it that cause it to be navigable all year. The upper river is a medium sized or even small stream, but because of the streams such as the Osage Fork River, the Woods Fork River, the Big Piney River, Little Piney Creek, and Roubidoux Creek, the river is quite large by Ozark stream standards by the time it reaches the Missouri in Gasconade County.

The river is quite different below Jerome. It slowly becomes a largemouth bass river, probably the best stream largemouth fishery in the region, with five to seven pound bass relatively routine. Largemouths tend to hold in the warmer backwaters. There are also smallmouths in the lower river. They tend to stay in the main current where the water is colder and there is more oxygen. Catfish, rock bass, and bluegill can be found nearly anywhere. Because it has so many tributaries, the lower river can be silty at times, but it usually runs clear and is pretty. The Gasconade has far too many access points to begin naming them, but suffice it to say you will have no trouble finding a place to fish.

If you go to the Gasconade, you should also think of fishing the Woods Fork, Osage Fork, and Big Piney River for Smallmouth. If you want trout, hit Little Piney Creek, Mill Creek, Spring Creek, or Roubidoux Creek, all of which flow into the middle Gasconade directly or indirectly. In all, the Gasconade is well worth the trip if you like to catch smallmouth bass. If you need to get a canoe shuttle on the middle Gasconade or the Big Piney River, the Route 66 Canoe Rental can help you.

Davdison Manning is an avid outdoorsman spending over 100 days per year pursuing his passion for fishing, many of them in the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas. He details many of his favorite spots on his website Family-Outdoors where he has information on camping and hunting as well as fishing. Specifically, he has articles on a myriad of places and techniques. Consider reading his article Smallmouth Bass Fishing in Missouri where he provides additional tips on places and techniques for bornzebacks in the Show-Me state.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Davidson_Manning

By Davidson Manning

Fishing For a Better Lifestyle

2009-04-26T01:05:00.000+07:00

A little more than ten years ago I was sitting around my apartment thinking, I've got to stop wasting my life. I'd get off work on Friday afternoons and go home and sit in my apartment until Monday morning. Now don't get me wrong, I did laundry, grocery shopping and some cleaning. But otherwise all I did was sit in front of my television and drink beer. I was even doing the same thing when I was on vacation. Great life, huh?

Why I fell into this lifestyle

One of the reasons I had this kind of life is that I always thought I didn't make enough money to do anything fun. But I was getting sick of this lifestyle, something had to give.

So I sat back and thought, what do I like to do? Truthfully, I wasn't sure because I had been leading this lifestyle I was in for years and had forgotten.

Waking up

Then it hit me. When I was a kid, my father and grandfather used to take me fishing a lot. Whether it was at the local lake or down at the New Jersey shore where we would fish and crab in the bays, or even every once in a while, deep sea fishing on a party boat.

So the more I thought about it, the more I thought I'd like to try getting back into fishing. Of course, I was trying to figure out if I could afford it. But I started to think the initial expense couldn't be that much. I could get a fishing rod and reel at the local department store for under $30. I could get a cheap tackle box for under $15.00. Then I could by some hooks, bobbers, sinkers, maybe even an artificial lure or two for not much more money. Oh, and of course I had to give the state their money so I could have a little fun, so I had to buy a fishing license.

All in all I know I spent less then $100 that first year on equipment and fished all summer long. Now, remember, I was just doing this to get out of the house. I wasn't looking to become the next Bill Dance or anything, I just wanted to start enjoying life and the outdoors little bit.

Go fishing

Think about it, especially in today's economy. If you could find something to do every weekend for the whole summer and it only cost $100, don't you think you might give it a try? Keep in mind, that equipment will last you more than one summer.

I don't want to be misleading, because you will still have to spend a little cash each time you go fishing. You've got to buy bait, whether it's worms, minnows, or whatever you find works for you. Heck, my girlfriend (now my wife) once told me her grandfather would use chicken livers to catch catfish, and man let me tell you it works. They cost less than $2 a container at the grocery store.

Finally, if you have children think of the memories you can be creating as well as the hobby you and your children will be able to share the rest of your lives.

So, get up, grab your gear and go fishing.

Not sure where to go or what gear to buy? Check out http://www.waters-edge-outdoors.com for gear reviews, information on lakes in the southeast U.S. and more.

Paul Klaebel is a Pennsylvania native living in Memphis, Tennessee. He loves to spend his free time on the lake trying to outwit the bass.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Klaebel

By Paul Klaebel

The Basic of Fly Fishing Techniques

2009-04-26T01:03:00.000+07:00

Almost every angler catches his or her first fish on some kind of live bait. But to be a really good angler, you should be proficient with all types of sport fishing equipment: spinning, casting, and fly. Read all you can, watch videos, ask questions of people you know who fly fish or fly shop employees - but above all else, to really learn about fly fishing, you must go fishing yourself. You should spend more time discussing fishing techniques. By using a reasonable fly with basic skills, you'll start catching fish right away. You can decide for yourself which flies work best for you. Here are what I consider the eight most important things to remember, wherever you are fishing, and whatever you are fishing for. If you apply them every time you go out on the lake or stream, you are sure to catch fish!

1. Fish where the fish are. This may seem obvious, but it doesn't matter what fly you are using if there are no fish in the area.
2. Be able to cast a fly there. Good casting skills should be first learned on the lawn, and then honed on the stream.
3. Keep your fly wet. Go fishing as often as you can, and make the most of your time while you are out there.
4. Pay attention. Keep your eyes and ears open while on the water - notice rising fish, insects or baitfish the fish may feed on, and exactly where a fish was when it ate your fly.
5. Set the hook. To catch a fish, the hook must penetrate the fish's mouth. If you think that there's even a chance that a fish just ate your fly, set the hook.
6. Ask questions. Almost anyone who fly fishes loves to talk about it - your friends, people working in fly shops, people you meet on the stream or lake. Just ask.
7. Have confidence. It's hard to have confidence when doing something new. But if you have basic casting skills, use a reasonable fly, and keep it wet, you should EXPECT to catch a fish. And after you catch that first fish, the next one will be much easier.
8. Have fun. Even on days when things aren't going right, you can have fun!

With the information on this flyfishinginfolink.com - and lots of practice - you will become a successful fly angler, and have lots of fun catching all kinds of fish!

http://www.flyfishinginfolink.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sally_Chia

By Sally Chia

Ways to Catch Trout - Two Effective Ways to Catch More Trout

2009-04-26T01:01:00.000+07:00

In this quick article I'm going to outline 2 very effective ways to catch rainbow trout. Are these the only ways to catch trout? Of course not, but they are very effective ways to catch trout. These techniques will work for most any type of trout that swims in freshwater. One of these techniques was taught to me by my fishing mentor and the other has been learned through twenty plus years of experience. In any case one (or both) of these techniques will be valuable to most any trout angler.

One of the trout fishing techniques involves lures, the other involves bait. Trout bait come in 2 main forms; live or synthetic. Live trout bait involves things like worms, minnows, or bugs. Synthetic trout bait involves the various types of trout dough (such as Berkley Powerbait and Berkley's Power and Gulp products. Some synthetic trout baits will actually outperform live bait in many situations.

The bottom line is that either of these ways to catch trout will help almost any trout fisherman out.

The Spinner Technique - This trout fishing technique involves the use of small spinners such as Rooster Tails. One of the keys is to use very small spinners. I like 1/16 to ¼ ounce spinners. What color to choose is up to you, although I tend to like darker colors such as black and brown for trout fishing. Start by grabbing the end of your line and cutting off a piece of line 18 to 24 inches long. Set that piece of line aside. Now tie a small barrel swivel to the line coming from the end of your fishing rod, and tie the piece of line you just cut off to the opposite end of the barrel swivel. At this point tie your spinner onto the other end of the line that you cut off. To use this spinner effectively some weight will need to be added for casting. Add split shot sinkers above the barrel swivel for weight. The swivel will prevent line twist and allow you spinner to spin properly. Whether you're fishing in a river, stream, or lake it's always a good idea to 'snap' your rod as you reel in. This will give a great action to your spinner and result in more bites.
The Gang Hooks Technique - This trout fishing technique involves the use of pre-tied gang hooks. Gang hooks enable you to present bait (especially worms) in a totally natural manner. These hooks are also great for Powerbait trout bait. You can have two balls of Powerbait on your rig, rather than just one, which is a nice advantage. The best technique for using gang hooks is again to tie a small barrel swivel onto the end of your line. Now tie a set of pre-tied gang hooks to the opposite end of the barrel swivel. Your bait (or Powerbait) is now added to the gang hooks. Once again, weight is added by adding split shot sinkers above the barrel swivel. If you're making a still fishing rig simply substitute the split shot sinkers with an egg sinker.

These two ways to catch trout are extremely effective. Especially once they have been put into practice for a little while. As with anything, the more experience you get with these techniques, the more nuances you will discover, and thus the more effective they will become. In my opinion that's a great excuse to get on the water.

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler

By Trevor Kugler

Fishing For Smallmouth Bass - Presentation is the Key to Success

2009-04-26T01:00:00.000+07:00

When it comes to fishing for smallmouth bass the presentation of your bait or lure is the key to success. In this article I'm going to discuss some of the simple reasons why this is the case. For those of you who don't know, catching smallmouth bass is a ton of fun and these bronze beauties are widely known as the hardest fighting fish (pound for pound) that swim in freshwater.

These fish can be found in lakes, rivers, and even streams. Catching smallmouth bass out of the flowing waters of a small river or stream can make them even more fun to catch. They have an uncanny ability to use the current to their advantage when hooked, which makes fighting them that much more challenging and fun.

No matter what type of water you go fishing for smallmouth in, one of the keys to success is your presentation. The bottom line is that you want your offering (whether live or artificial) to appear as natural as possible. These fish are very smart, and unless they are extremely active, they tend not to bite unnatural offerings.

Let's begin by discussing live bait. One of the most effective ways to catch smallmouth bass is by using live bait. The best way to have your live bait appear as natural as possible is to use gang hooks. Gang hooks are a pair of small hooks tied in tandem, which allow live bait (especially live worms) to be presented in a completely natural manner.

What are some of the best live baits for these fish? Crayfish are probably the best, although they can be difficult to find and fish with effectively. Gang hooks are great for live crayfish. The second hook helps to hook 'short striking' smallies. Worms and minnows are also good live baits for smallmouth bass. Live bait is a great choice when fishing for smallmouth bass. The more your bait looks like it does in nature, the better.

Now, let's move on to artificial baits. The same principles hold true. If you're using a crawfish lure for example, it needs to look like a crawfish looks underwater. Try to stay away from unnatural and strange colors that don't look at all like the way the bait appears in nature. This is true for any artificial lure that's employed. If you're using a bait fish imitation, it needs to look like the bait fish does in nature.

When it comes to artificial baits for smallmouth bass, some of the more effective are Berkley's Gulp and Power products. These baits perform, look, and feel like soft plastics, except for the fact that they've been impregnated with fish catching scents. These baits can be as effective as live bait in many fishing situations.

The bottom line is that when you are fishing for smallmouth bass, presentation is absolutely a key to success. Make sure that your offerings are as natural as possible. The more lifelike that your offering appears to the bass the more bites you will get, it's as simple as that.

Very Natural Smallmouth Lures - http://www.jrwfishing.com/ktm.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler

By Trevor Kugler

Live Bait Rig - The Most Effective Way to Rig Live Bait

2009-04-26T00:54:00.000+07:00

Many years ago the brothers Al and Ron Linder developed the Lindy rig as one of the first commercial live bait rigs. This live bait rig is very effective and used to this day with great success. The Lindy rig is mainly employed when back trolling (trolling very slowly) for Walleye. The key to the Lindy rig is that the fish feel no resistance when they pick up the bait.

This rig comes in a variety of configurations and is a very effective live bait rig. The only problem with the Lindy rig is that it was developed for walleye fishing from a boat. This is fine, unless you don't have access to a boat in which case the Lindy rig is of no use to you.

Another place that a live bait (or just bait) rig is employed is in steelhead and salmon fishing. There are many bait rigs available for steelhead and salmon fishing that are very effective. Most of these obviously involve heavy line, swivels, some sort of spinner and a hook because salmon and steelhead are large fish. In the case of Steelhead fishing many times the bait is rigged under a large float.

There probably is no "most effective" way to rig live bait, as it comes down to personal preference and the type of fish that's being targeted. There is however one thing that is important. For the most part when live bait is used, you want that bait to look as much like is would in nature as possible. Natural presentation is the key to live bait fishing.

The best live bait rig for those of us who target fish such as trout, smallmouth bass, or even walleye but don't have access to a boat and are confined to the bank, is called a set of gang hooks. Gang hooks are nothing more that a pair of small hooks tied in tandem, which enable live bait to be presented in a totally natural and effective manner.

If you like to target fish in the flowing waters of small rivers and streams, gang hooks very well might be the most effective live bait rig that can be employed. For example, if a live worm is rigged on a set of pre-tied gang hooks and allowed to flow naturally with the current of your favorite river or stream, the results can be dramatic. These hooks are even effective when used under a bobber.

Remember, no matter what type of fish you're targeting when live bait is employed the key is to have your bait appear as natural as possible. As anglers we want our bait to look as much like it does in nature as is possible. The more natural your presentation the more bites you will receive, it's as simple as that. At the end of the day just impaling your live bait onto a hook isn't good enough.

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Trevor_Kugler

By Trevor Kugler

Colorado Fishing- Free Interrelated Resource Of Fishing

2009-04-26T00:51:00.001+07:00

If you are searching information about Colorado fishing, you will find the below related article very helpful. It provides a refreshing perspective that is much related to Colorado fishing and in some manner related to trout fish, fishing rods, fly fishing forums or fishing tournament. It isn't the same old kind of information that you will find elsewhere on the Internet relating to Colorado fishing.

The typical consumer of many fly fishing pontoon boats is avid anglers searching for something lightweight, and the kick boat style of a pontoon. The fly fishing pontoon is unlike any other water craft for fly fishing or anything else.

Anglers are always on searches for top-rated fishing tackle and accessories. For a beginner, the collections of fishing tackle and related paraphernalia can look daunting and might be costly. With the advent of technology, anglers also long for something like a Gamin fishing tackle finder to point you in the right direction. Fish finder is now an important part of all fishing trips. Here you will get some simple advises on fishing equipments.

Sport fishing and recreational fishing both describe fish catching for pleasure or for competition. Recreational fishing has standards, laws, rules, licensing restrictions and principles which limits the methods in which fishes may be caught. Normally, these exclude the utilization of nets and fishing with hooks.

Many people forget that they can get more information about any subject matter, be it Colorado fishing information or any other on any of the major search engines like Google.com. If you need more information about Colorado fishing, head on to Google and be more informed.

It is not only technique, although your skill has much to do with it, but also fly fishing can depend on the type of fly fishing lures you use.

Fishing enthusiasts can opt for deep sea, fresh water, ice or fly fishing trips. Arkansas and Kalian Rivers of Alaska are ideal destinations for trout fishing, whereas Snake River is noted for fly-fishing. Some of the most commonly found species is salmon, sturgeon, trout, grayling, steelhead, and pike.

Many anglers compete regularly in bass fishing tournaments because winning a tournament gives them recognition and money. There are anglers who even earn much of their income from competing in several bass fishing tournaments.

It was intriguing to find that many people, oblivious of their background, found this article related to Colorado fishing and other fishing tackle reels, fly fishing gear, and even fly fishing photos helpful and information rich.

So here is chance to get your free tips on Mexico Bass Fishing and in addition to that get basic information on saving money visit http://advice4unow.com/fishingnews

By DEEPAK KULKARNI

California Ocean Fishing - All About Yellowtail

2009-04-26T00:49:00.000+07:00

Few Southern California anglers would disagree that except for the far offshore species like billfish and tuna, Yellowtail is the premier game fish of Southern California. The combination of power and aggressive fight along with the excellent table fare of the Yellowtail makes it the most desired fish in these waters.

Successful Yellowtail fishermen Yellowtail (Seriola lalandei) are members of the Jack family and are sometimes also called Amberjack, though that name actually belongs to another member of the jacks. In Australia and New Zealand, the term kingfish is used for these fish. Along the Pacific coast, Yellowtail range from Southern California all the way south to Chile and on the other side of the Pacific, from New Zealand north to Japan. They can grow to 80 pounds (100 lbs. on the other side of the Pacific - like the one on the left from New Zealand) but are very rare over about 40 lbs. In the 1960's an annual Yellowtail Derby was held by the main sport fishing landings in San Diego. The biggest fish of the season could win the lucky angler a new car. Typically, the grand prize for the season was a fish in the 40 to 45 lb. class.

Yellowtail are truly handsome, fast, and powerful. After herding bait into tight balls, they sweep through schools of squid, mackerel, or anchovies with ferocity, gorging themselves on their prey. When they strike a fly or lure, the angler knows it instantly and they follow the first vicious strike with punishing, deep diving runs, only yielding when exhausted. The angler's gear and technique needs to be in top form to land these wily creatures. The first yellowtail I'd ever seen hooked on a fly, about an eight-pound fish, hit a blue and white streamer fly on a 10-weight graphite rod with 30 lb. tippet (some say enough stick for sail fish). The angler, the editor of a fly-fishing magazine and no slouch at fly fishing for big fish, had no chance in stopping the fish's first run. That ‘tail ran immediately for the kelp paddy we were fishing near, balled the line around the kelp strands and snapped the line like it wasn't even there.

The Yellowtail populations went into serious decline throughout the 1960's and 1970's. This was due, in no small part, to the decline in the kelp forests from over harvesting. In addition, commercial gill net fishermen followed the kelp cutter ships and set their nets directly into the recently cleared waters killing all of the fish, juvenile and adult alike. In the 1980's, Yellowtail fishing in California was an unpredictable affair, restricted to San Clemente Island, far offshore, and the Coronado Islands, just across the Mexican Border and off limits to American commercial fishermen.

With the banning of gill nets, the cessation of kelp harvesting and some early and strong El Nino years (years when the water temperature is warmer than usual), Yellowtail have staged a remarkable comeback in the 1990's. Sport fishing harvests in the late 90's have been the highest in 30 years and this magnificent predator is now a staple of the sport fishing industry.

Typically, in early spring when the water temperature rises above about 62 degrees, Yellowtail arrive in Southern California from Mexico in search of schools of squid. They winter far down the Baja coast in deep reefs. They feed throughout the summer as far North as the Santa Barbara coastline but seem to prefer the offshore islands. By October, they begin working themselves South and usually seem to disappear during the winter. However, there are home guard Yellowtail who chose to spend the entire year in California, presumably to take advantage of the winter squid spawn, as evidenced by catches all winter.

Catching Yellowtail

Successful Yellowtail fishermen Yellowtail take just about any type of bait or lure. You can catch on trolling feathers while trolling past kelp beds or floating paddies that break loose from the main body of kelp. You can catch them with blue & white, green & yellow, squid purple, or "pissed off squid" mottled black bone jigs. They'll strike a rubber swim bait, especially when fished deep, in brown herring, blue shad, green sparkle or root beer colors. They'll hit an anchovy, a sardine or perhaps their favorite food, live squid. I've even caught one on a piece of cut squid when fly lining for calico bass near the kelp beds. In addition, any fly imitating any of these bait fish can be used to fool yellowtail, particularly when frenziedly feeding on chum.

Preparing Yellowtail

Yellowtail may be prepared in a variety of ways. Filleting is probably the best, though some like to steak the fish. The collar is one of the finest eating parts of the fish, as are the bellies. On a six pack trip a few years ago, I had the deck hand save all the collars and bellies from all the yellowtail we caught (several dozen), then took them home and smoked them and had a big party for the people from the boat and their spouses. Everyone raved at how good the parts they normally threw away were. The roe of Yellowtail are also very good eating, as are the heads, if you like that sort of thing.

Eating Yellowtail

One of the reasons Yellowtail are so esteemed by fishermen is partly for their fight and partly for their delicious flavor. Yellowtail are an oily white meat fish that may be grilled, broiled, baked, sautéed poached, or smoked, all with exceptional results. It's not ideal for frying, though, since it tends to trap in the fish's own oil. As with most fish, yellowtail are best when very fresh. Very fresh Yellowtail make excellent sashimi, also, so don't miss out on this taste sensation if you're a raw fish fan. Just ice it down and slice it up for some melt-in-your-mouth flavor. Yellowtail keep well frozen, too, especially when vacuum packed.

Jeff Spira is a fishermen and writer of fishing and seamanship books. His web site California Ocean Fishing offers further insights into this fun sport and has links to online sources for his books on the subject.

By JEFF SPIRA

How to Bass Fish - Understanding the Spawning Season to Catch Bass

2009-04-26T00:48:00.000+07:00

During the winter Bass are found in the deeper regions of the body of water in which they are located. During this period both the level of activity and the rate of metabolism are greatly reduced. While the fish will still feed during this period it will take several days to digest any meal.

As the water temperature increases in spring, the activity of the bass will also begin to increase. The activity level of bass will remain slow until the water temperature rises above sixty degrees. Once the water temperature rises above sixty degrees bass become a great deal more active and begin preparation for spawning. The greatest activity occurs when the water temperature reaches sixty five degrees During this time the bass begin to move out of the deeper waters toward the shallow regions where spawning will occur. All of these actions are a result of the biologic programming of the bass. Having an understanding of this activity will permit the angular to use it to his advantage when trying to locate fish.

Spawning usually occurs where the water is three to five feet deep and where the bottom is composed of clay, gravel or hard-packed sand and covered with a thin layer of soft mud. The male will create a circular nest from twelve to twenty four inches across where eggs can be placed on the roots of submerged grasses.

Early in the spawning season only small bass will be caught in the spawning areas. Fishing at this time should be shifted to areas near deep water where larger fish will be gathering prior moving into the spawning areas. After spawning the male will remain to protect the nest until approximately a week after spawning. During this time he can be provoked into attacking perceived threats as he "guards" the nest.

After the spawning cycle is complete the adult bass will once again return to the deeper waters to be found in their typical haunts.

By understanding the spawning cycle, both the water temperature that triggers it as well as the actions of the bass themselves during spawning, the angler can better predict where and how to find fish and to be a better bass fisherman.

Ken Garrett
For more Bass fishing information go to http://gonebassfishing.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Garrett

By Ken Garrett

The Secret of Better Bass Fishing - Understanding the Food Ladder

2009-04-26T00:45:00.001+07:00

An easy way to quickly improve your bass fishing results is to understand the feeding ladder of bass. As any bass fisherman knows minnows, shad and other small fish are a staple of the bass diet. Any one who watching these small fish circling a fishing light at night has also seen the larger fish that lurk on the outer borders of these circling bait fish feeding upon them as they pass by. A better understanding of the feeding habits of the bait fish will make it easier for you to locate the bass that feed upon them.

The basic source of food for the smaller bait fish is the animal form of plankton called Zooplankton. Where this Zooplankton is found the bait fish will be present in abundance. At the bottom of the food ladder is the diet of the Zooplankton. The only thing that Zooplankton feed upon is the plant form of plankton called Phytoplankton.

Phytoplankton is composed of algae among other things. All of the plant forms that are covered by the term phytoplankton contain chlorophyll. This will cause the water to become discolored or stained when phytoplankton are present in large numbers. A sudden increase in the phytoplankton is also often referred to as a bloom.

When a fisherman is able to locate a bloom then he is certain to be very successful because the entire food ladder will be present in great numbers. The large number of Phytoplankton will attract an increased number of Zooplankton. The increase in Zooplankton in turn will attract large numbers of the small bait fish with the hungry bass following close behind. By fishing the borders of the swarming bait fish the bass fisherman will find that his fishing success will have stepped up to a higher level.

Ken Garrett
For more Bass fishing information go to http://gonebassfishing.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ken_Garrett

By Ken Garrett

California Ocean Fishing - All About Albacore

2009-04-26T00:42:00.001+07:00

California Ocean Fishing offers further insights into this fun sport and has links to online sources for his books on the subject. ">One of the most fun and exciting game fish to be caught in the Southern California ocean are Albacore. These members of the tuna family are fun to catch and great to eat.

The fastest, most wide ranging and least net-able of all the tuna, Albacore (Thunnis alalunga) are one of the most welcome visitors to Southern California. Only in years when the water temperature remains in the low 60's Fahrenheit until mid-spring will the Albacore arrive at all in Southern California. In warmer years they arrive in Central and Northern California coasts. Albacore are the best table fare of any of the tuna. They are the only fish allowed to be sold as "White Tuna" in cans. Fresh the meat is light and delicious with a decidedly meaty texture. Because of their habits of moving in very fast, very loose schools, It's nearly impossible for net boats to catch Albacore in commercially viable numbers. Nearly all fish are caught on hook and line, either trolled lures or by jack poles from commercial boats chumming with bait. This means there are always plenty of Albacore around for the sport fishermen to hook up.

Catching Albacore

Albacore are sometimes called "long fin tuna" for their distinctive extra long pectoral fins. They can get as big as 90 lbs or so but are commonly in the 25-50 lb range. They'll eagerly snap at almost any silvery object in the water when in a feeding frenzy, even bare hooks, and once on the line put up a classic, powerful tuna fight. Just because you get it on the end of your line, doesn't mean you'll land an albacore. It's dogged determination to get loose and seemingly herculean endurance make it a favorite among Southern California anglers.

Something like 90% of all albacore are taken in water between 62 and 67 degrees F. I recently discovered this fact in my research but my personal experience had already taught me that if the water wasn't within a degree or two of 65, there weren't going to be any albacore caught. I first came to realize this when commercial Albacore trolling in Central California in the early 1970's. I was holding a hose supplied by a pump in the boat that took the seawater directly from a through hull fitting to the hose, and was washing down the deck. Suddenly I felt the water suddenly change from cold to warm indicating we'd just passed a thermocline. Immediately all eighteen of our trolled jigs had fish on! Then I realized the importance of water temperature for albacore and had a remote reading sea water temperature gage installed in my boat. From then on I noticed the water temperature when we ran into albacore and found it was always very near 65. Albacore are caught by trolling in likely tuna feeding areas especially over offshore banks until a school is located, then fly lining with live bait. Sometimes Albacore will be fussy with their diets and won't touch a sardine - only anchovies. It can be tricky at these times to keep you anchovy lively when fished on bigger hooks and heavier lines needed for Albacore fishing. Also a bait fish imitating lure or fly, if properly fished, will catch its share of these wily predators. Again, a fast retrieve with rapid, darting motions is the hot ticket. Fishing blue and silver single-tailed rubber lures "on the slide" is another very effective fishing techniques for Albacore.

Preparing Albacore

My personal preference when Albacore fishing is to not allow deck hands to butcher my fish. They'll toss the best parts of the fish overboard to settle on the bottom and become crab lunches. Know what the BEST part of an Albacore is? It's the belly. Toro (Bluefin Tuna belly) in sushi bars is one of the most expensive things on the menu. It's also one of the tastiest. OK, even if you can't stand the thought of sushi, smoke those bellies for a taste sensation that will put Prime Rib to shame. It's melt-in-your-mouth fabulous. The kama (collar) and head of the tuna are also delicious eating and are parts that get tossed overboard every day by deck hands who are too busy making a few bucks than coaching tourists on how to eat great fish meals. I get my tuna gutted and gilled, then take it to my friendly local sushi bar for proper butchering. I've never seen nor heard of anyone eating tuna roe but would imagine if you found some it would be very edible.

Eating Albacore

Albacore may be universally prepared in a wide variety of techniques. It's great as sashimi, baked, broiled, grilled, steamed, poached, sautéed, smoked, marinated, just about any way you can imagine. About the only way not fantastic for eating tuna is deep fried. The oil content of the fish is sufficient that frying tends to trap too much oil in the fish. Lately, I've been enjoying Albacore marinated in soy sauce, sweet sake and grated garlic, then grilled on the barbecue. Tuna cooked in this manner melt in your mouth and would delight even the most ardent "I hate fishy tasting fish" picky fish eater. One of the last fish I personally caught last year had the fattest, most delicious bellies for sashimi I've ever tasted on any fish.

By JEFF SPIRA

Tackle fishing oppor-tuna-ties from every angle

2009-04-26T00:39:00.000+07:00

Whether you prefer the excitement of an hours-long tussle with a yellow fin tuna or the solitude of dropping a hook in a lake, the Alabama Gulf Coast has fishing opportunities covered from every angle – and for every angler.

Charter boats can take fishermen and -women to the deeper blue water of the Gulf of Mexico, or a family can bring a picnic basket and a bait bucket to a freshwater lake for a day of relaxation.

Whatever your skill level, if you want to get hooked on fishing, the local tourism website has all the resources needed.

The first thing to do, of course, is visit the “Fishing” tab on the website. On the drop-down menu, look for “Fishing information” to learn about purchasing the needed licenses. Any person 16 years old to 65 years old who is fishing in any body of water in the state is required to purchase a license. Buying a license is easier than ever, because they can be purchased via the Internet or a toll-free telephone call.

While the Alabama Gulf Coast tourism website provides an overview of fees, it recommends – and provides a link to – Outdoor Alabama, the official Web site of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The link is at the bottom of the “Fishing information” page. This way, prospective anglers can find the most current information available on fees and regulations.

Once you have the legal stuff taken care of, it is time to decide where to fish, what to fish for and how to catch it. Under the “Fishing” tab, look for “Charters & Cruises” in the drop-down menu. Here, you will find a list of companies offering fishing excursions ranging from a few hours to a couple of weeks. Some services in both Gulf Shores and Orange Beach welcome walk-ons, but it is recommended to book ahead if possible to ensure a spot.

Those who have their own watercraft will want to visit the “Fishing” tab and select the “Marinas” link from the drop-down menu. Marinas in the area offer the full range of services, from fuel for the boat and its occupants to dry-dock facilities.

Even those who prefer not to deal with bait and hooks can enjoy the experience of seeing magnificent marine life in its natural habitat. Numerous charter services offer dolphin cruises, a relaxing way to spend a few hours on the Gulf.

Whether your fish tale is about “the one that got away” or seeing “the one that got to stay,” you will be able to make lasting memories with a visit to the Alabama Gulf Coast.

Get hooked now at www.thebeachiscalling.org

By APRIL BOONE

River Bass Fishing Tips - Effective Strategies For River Bass Fishing

2009-04-26T00:36:00.000+07:00

River Bass fishing is very popular due to the easy accessibility that fishing in the river provides. Oftentimes to reach the best fishing spots in a lake, you need a boat. But this is not the case with bass fishing in the river. But there are some differences to bass fishing in the river. The following quick tips for river bass fishing should remind you of these differences and help you land more fish.

Ask the local bait store what the bass have been biting on. Common natural river baits include minnows, shad, crayfish, and worms among others. Follow the recommendation of the local bait store, and fish with either that live bait, or throw lures that resemble what the fish have been feeding on.
Downsize your offering. While river bass fishing remember that generally speaking, the bass will be smaller than in the lake. This is due to a variety of factors including them having to swim against current, size of water body, and availability of food. You will find that jigs that you use to catch Crappie on the lake, will be very effective for Bass on the river.
Cast upstream and reel your bait back slowly letting the current carry it downstream. Bass position themselves with their head upstream waiting for their prey to come floating down the river. Remember if you cast downstream, and reel back upstream, the fish is going to have to fight the current to catch up with your bait.
River Bass fishing can be outstanding in the early spring. During the early spring bass will run up the river and into the feeder creeks to spawn where the water is warmer. Go fishing from late February to late April for your best opportunity for a good catch.
Fish around deeper holes in the river and around structure. The bass love to stage around these areas because the current is not as strong.
Fish the shallower water in the morning and just before dark or on cloudy days. Fish the deeper holes later in the day or on bright sunny days. A good technique is to cast your lure on shore, and bring back into the water slowly. Many times you will find a bass waiting to swallow it.

Remember these differences in river bass fishing and lake bass fishing so that you can be effective on your next river Bass fishing trip.

River Bass fishing can be a blast. The bass are strong and the bite can be fast and furious. I hope that these river Bass fishing tips help you land more fish.

But if you would like to learn more about river bass fishing and lake bass fishing, then who better to learn from than a 3 time angler of the year and member of the Professional Bass Hall of Fame. Bill Dance has come out with a Bass fishing DVD series called the Complete Bass Fishing Course. Bill teaches you how to catch bass from A-Z in a very simple and understandable manner. I encourage you to check it out.

Don't overlook river bass fishing. Go fish today and take someone you love with you!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lonnie_Sallas

By Lonnie Sallas

Tuna Fishing Techniques - 3 Effective Tips to Consider to Catch More Tuna

2009-04-26T00:33:00.000+07:00

There is truly something special about fishing for tuna. These magnificent saltwater game fish are truly gifts from the Lord. Unfortunately, attracting and actually catching tuna is a lot harder than most people imagine. Before you spend hundreds of dollars trolling around the ocean catching nothing, here are three tuna fishing techniques to consider before you even leave the dock.

1. Control Your Speed - When fishing for tuna, troll at speeds of 5 to 8 miles per hour. Most professionals like to use a typical 'W Pattern' while trolling. This pattern consists of 2 long lines held out on each outrigger, 2 shorter lines held out flat and one deep line straight down the middle. Additionally, it is helpful to display a flashy presentation of multiple lures. The more they splash, sparkle and shine the better. What you want is to trick the tuna into thinking that it has stumbled across a panicked school of bait fish.

2. Pay Attention to Nature - Anytime that you see diving birds, pay special attention. Diving birds typically means that there are schools of bait fish nearby. Where there are bait fish, tuna tend to also be some place close. Additionally, large schools of tuna like to travel near pods of dolphins or sharks.

3. Pay Attention to the Season - During the warmer summer months, tuna love to hunt near the surface of the water. Feeding tuna are easy to spot on clear summer afternoons as the water looks like it is being destroyed from beneath. Additionally, tuna like to feed in low light conditions, such as the late afternoon. During the winter months, tuna tend to hunt in deeper waters and are much more difficult to find and catch.

These are but a few of my favorite tuna fishing techniques.

To learn more advanced tuna fishing techniques, visit http://fishingtuna.info

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Ethan

Trout Or Steelhead Fishing - Tips on How to Make Several Great Catches

2009-04-26T00:25:00.000+07:00

Trying your hand on trout or steelhead fishing for the first time can be a really great experience, since this type of fish can really put up a spectacular fight. However, if you are harboring notions about getting your fishing gear wet in Alaskan waters as your baptism of fire, you might want to backtrack a bit. Although a 7-pound steelhead may not seem such a big thing to handle, Alaskan trout or steelhead fishing regulations are very stringent; and you need to successfully return your catch to the open waters with minimal damage to the fish.

Try catching first one or two steelheads from a freshwater stream as a practice before moving on to the Alaskan fishing grounds. This way, you have some working knowledge on how to catch, unhook, and release a live one back in the water. Here are some trout or steelhead fishing tips for beginners.

1. Wear the clothes. Naturally, you can wear plain tees and jeans when you fish. You can wear your sneakers and have your iPod attached to your arm as well. However, when the fish starts moving away from the shorelines, and into the deeper waters, then you have nothing but your iPod to keep you company. You do have to remember that when it comes to fishing trout and steelheads, these animals like moving in the coldest parts of the rivers. If you are trying to catch one during the fish's annual migratory runs, then you may need to wade into that water yourself. Try to bring along a good pair of waders, preferably something made from neoprene. A 5-millimeter material should provide you both buoyancy and warmth. Keep the iPod at home. You need to be able to hear your surroundings clearly.

2. Bring the proper equipment. If you are fly fishing for the first time, then bring a 2- handed rod that measures 12 to15 feet as your choice of equipment. You can use the floating lines if you want to fish on the surface (a process called nipping) or use a sinking line if you would rather catch steelheads from the shallower areas of the river (a process called swinging or swinging in a streamer.) Your best lures would be bait made of cured steelhead chunks, salmon eggs, or sand shrimp.

3.You can also use artificial lures that mimic the erratic movements of crustaceans or the colorful outer layers of fish and amphibian eggs. Using nets on these delicate fishes is really never a great option. So in case you were able to snag one, try to keep the fish on the line for as long as possible. This tires the fish out, which makes it easier for you to haul it to the surface.

4. There are two things you might want to do in case the fishes are not biting. One: change positions often. Keep moving to potentially great location. Steelheads are quick to learn which parts of the river usually attract the most predators, and will most likely avoid those areas. If you can wade out into the wade, wade carefully so as not to spook your quarry away. You can also move upstream in case you find yourself in the opposite direction of the water's movements. During the migratory runs, all the fishes will be heading upstream anyway. You might as well wait for them there.

5. Lastly, practice the catch and release fishing method here. You have to remember to keep the fish out of the water for only a short period of time, and handle your catch delicately. It is also essential to keep your hands wet to minimize the friction on the steelhead flesh. Be extra gentle when it comes to removing the hook from the fish's mouthparts. And slide your catch gently back into the water.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rick_John_Jenkins

By Rick John Jenkins

Carp Baits And Rig Secrets - Exploiting Milk Protein Baits and Rig Methods

2009-04-18T00:12:00.000+07:00

Using milk proteins as pastes instead of boilies, is the most efficient method of delivering these type of baits carp come and eat me signals!

There is no damaging heating of the proteins in the boiling process and no coagulated protein barrier on the surface of dough or paste baits to affect and slow down attractors, smells and carp feeding triggering amino acids leaking-off.

This affects all coagulated egg skinned boilies! There are many ways to avoid or reduce this effect. (Like using a binder other than conventional eggs.) Or like skinning the baits for e.g. a maximum of 10 seconds.

Or by combining the use of skinned’ ‘boilie baits and air-dried dough paste baits as free baits on the hook, or in poly vinyl acetate or ‘PVA’ water-soluble bags attached to your hook rig.

I like to use a more selective method, by using fresh paste, plus air-dried paste baits (previously soaked in liquid extracts, molasses, corn steep liquor, etc) placed in a PVA water-soluble bag, filled with hemp oil. This leaves a small flat spot on the water surface to feed more paste baits very accurately to, creating a fantastic fish drawing ‘hotspot’, which carp are drawn to very quickly.

For a very unusual method, try wrapping your hook baits in more than one type of base mix paste, how about 3! A carp may prefer one to another, but has no choice but to pick it all up.

How about this unique heavy running lead method, using a 6 inch back-stop on the line behind the lead, to drive the hook point home? This very special rig really hooks big fish, by getting the hook into the mouth undetected: It is awesome!

First make a hook rig with 2 looped hairs

. One is attached to the back of the hook, just below the eye, the other comes off the back of the bend. These hairs are very fine and made from 5 pound monofilament. They are 3 or more centimeters long, from the hook to the end of the loops.

The hook is a tempered especially strong one. With a long curved point and wide gape. The gape is the distance between the hook point and the shank of the hook. I find wide gape hooks seem to hook very well and I invariably use a size 4 hook for this type of rig.

Actually hand select hooks from the boxes or packets, rejecting the ones with the shorter points, or blunt points. Use a ‘Fox’ diamond hook sharpener or similar, to sharpen the hooks selected, past needle sharpness.

(I do exactly the same for my sea fishing hooks, as I know I’m hooking 3 times more fish and retaining far more fish that would otherwise ‘wriggle and twist’ off the hook in the currents and waves.)

This effort produced 15 forties pretty much on the trot for me on a water in the UK and many big thirties from more difficult lakes.

Please note though, only severely sharpen the last 3 millimeters of each hook point. I have sharpened more than this length and lost a number of forties or bigger at the landing net, as a result of the hook point ‘bending-out’ under pressure! (But would these fish have been hooked initially, if it was not for this extreme sharpening?!)

Specially made tiny homemade boilies of only 6 millimeters diameter, are threaded onto the hairs so there are 6 on each hair. These boilies are made from milk protein ingredients and have been just scalded and then left to harden for a few days.

When you are actually fishing, around each whole end rig, mould fresh milk protein dough, so it covers each hair and hook to ABOVE the hook eye by about a centimeter or more, leaving the hairs positioned off the back of the hook and the wide gape hook point proud. I even glue 1 or 2 tiny beads above the hook, to hold the extra dough above the hook eye.

It is just fantastic for big wary carp; they take the whole soft melting lot into their mouths, have never dealt with a rig quite like this very much before, and bang – they are hooked! It is interesting to note that most of the big fish from the hard fished lakes were hooked perfectly deep in the mouth scissors.

I love to use this kind of sneaky edge, the results are outstanding and proven for me over many years and came as a result of trying to hook difficult feeding winter fish that would just sit over the bait and not move off! With a free running lead and a back stop the fish cannot use the lead as a pivot as much in order to twist and shake themselves off your hook! This fishing bait secrets books author has many more fishing and bait secrets in his bait secrets volumes and the best secrets are not free; as they are so very valuable!

By Tim Richardson.

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By TIM RICHARDSON

Making Homemade Big Catfish Baits For Specimen Fish!

2009-04-18T00:05:00.001+07:00

I’ve caught cats to over 110 pounds on homemade baits and over 25 above 60 pounds here in the UK so I know these baits work! Making your own homemade baits has massive advantages. Homemade big catfish bait and homemade big carp bait design has many similarities especially in how you use nutritional essential requirements to trigger each fish into feeding!

You have full control over just how unique and potentially powerfully attracting these baits can be. These baits may be very simple or complicated, but they all catch to varying degrees of success some catching more bigger catfish than others.

Catfish are very fast growing fish and are especially in need of baits that supply energy and digestible protein. The many types of tinned meats in your larder will do great for a basic start. Live moving natural baits can be used, like various species of worms, leeches, and other amino acid secreting creatures.

Untold big catfish have been hooked on luncheon meat, spam and similar variations on this pork theme. Meat meals in carp fishing are rapidly gaining favour as fish meals and shellfish meals become less sustainable and these are very successful too.

Many dried and tinned cat and dog foods make excellent catfish baits and are specially full of taste enhancers and enzymes (like betaine) and bacteria to make the food as palatable, tasty and attractive and digestible as possible. In fact I researched this area for carp baits and discovered in some brands that up to half the ingredients were actually ‘commercially produced bacteria.’

In one instance there were twelve types of this in one canned dog food and this demonstrates just how important they are to great taste development (for dogs) and better digestibility. Match fishermen have used pellet type soft cat food extremely successfully for similar reasons I’m sure.

There seems no doubt that these fish love fatty meats. But it interesting to note that some brands catch more fish than others. This may be due to their better digestibility and solubility and breakdown and release of attractive amino acids, oils and bait fragments into the water.

Liver and congealed blood baits are very popular and the high protein content and massive amino acid leak-ff contribute much to their success. I may sound funny, but the wels catfish here in Europe and the UK are primarily surface feeding predators, sneaking up and ambushing potential prey from near the surface.

They can spend long periods of inactivity between ‘feeding binges’ and I find carp are much easier to catch regularly because their feeding seems far more regular. That is my observation using home made baits on the bottom or in buoyant form, from about 8 years of fishing for catfish. I have even caught fish to 40 pounds on the surface itself.

On one occasion, I used a very large garlic sausage bait which was sandwiched between foam to make it float. I had set-up fishing in the dark, and while in the still dark early morning hours I began to get lots of ‘line bites’ this went on for a while as waited with baited breath. As the first rays of day lit the foggy morning I could see that my baits which were only 2 yards from my own bank side, were actually sitting upon a dense bed of Canadian pondweed and so in fact one bait was half out of the water!

I put this down to another lesson of not wishing to shine a light at the water to check, and accepted it feeling positive that the catfish would track it down if they really wanted it. Half an hour later that bait was gulped down and a very hard-fighting 40 plus pound catfish graced the net!

There are so many opinions about catfish baits and I can only tell you my opinions based on my captures. One thing I will emphasise as in carp baits, is the use of ‘curing’ or part ‘fermenting’ your baits. This actually creates new flavours on and in the baits and release more amino acids, sugars alcohols, flavours etc. All very attractive!

You can try this with anything from herring or squid chunks to boilies. All you are really doing is heating the baits for a while to get bacterial enzyme activity working on starting to break down the bait. It seriously stinks and works a treat! (But don’t go spilling your squid in the car like I did, and you are best handling baits with gloves!)

Many types of boilies will catch big catfish including those of meat, fish, and shellfish varieties. The poultry types like chicken seem popular right now.

If you wish to enhance your boilies potential for catching catfish I cannot recommend enough liquidizing squid and soaking your baits in this or in liver powder or squid extract powder plus amino acid supplement like ‘Minamino,’ along with some pure salmon oil and sea salt.

Having said that, many preparatory preparations have the same effect as the above. It does seem to me that catfish fishing is very largely about soaking as much attraction into your baits as possible (including pellets) and ground baiting specifically to get your swim ‘alive’ with small fish to draw in the big catfish. This method may take some time or not!

But I have regularly caught enough big catfish on this method to satisfy me.

‘Live-baiting’ is not my thing. I once fished a 2 pound gold fish supplied by a fishery, on a water that held a catfish in excess of 100 pounds. All I could think was – this is just wrong!

I find that fishing over sweetcorn is interesting in that catfish seem to enjoy eating it too, although I realise many anglers reading this may prefer fermented maize or pellets of many descriptions. One memorable session I had was when I baited up with fermented herring and squid pieces of about one centimetre in diameter. I never saw so many tench bubbling on the baited area for hour after hour!

Tench seem like catfish magnets and this activity produced the biggest catfish in the lake not surprisingly!

After so many cat fishing experiences and big captures, I can honestly say, that I believe they can learn to avoid some baits in certain rich water situations if they get hooked on the same bait a few times, and I would always keep rotating and changing my baits and attractors.

To this end I leverage my experience and knowledge in designing baits for carp and very often fish paste or dough type baits which I know offer superior attractor leak-off of those all important essential amino acids, minerals, oils etc and very often provide far quicker results for big carp and catfish too. I now rate designed paste bait, maximizing certain aspect of catfish essential dietary requirements, over any other bait.

In fact I hooked one Lake (UK) record cat, just 10 minutes after arriving; I believe purely due to the massive leak-off of specialist attraction ingredients and additives from the bait and PVA bag paste baits and powders exploited, in order to maximise attraction and pulling power of the hook bait and baited area.

Well, these are just some very basic things to start you on your way instead of you religiously using whatever it is that perhaps is the reason you are reading this article!

Bait testing, experimentation and taking risks with new bait variations and versions while also utilising a control bait that you trust, will definitely massively multiply your results and keep you permanently ahead of the catfish and the crowd! This fishing bait secrets ebooks author has many more fishing and bait secrets in his bait secrets ebooks.

By Tim Richardson.

By TIM RICHARDSON

Information On Fly Fishing

2009-04-18T00:01:00.001+07:00

The sport of fly fishing has been around for years and years. In medieval times, anglers fished for food, but the sport has evolved over the years to become a real test of skills. Anyone who has become involved in the sport of fly fishing knows how addictive in can be - but in a very good way!

Fly fishing is markedly different from regular fishing. With plain fishing, you use lures and often live bait to bring fish to your line and hook them. When you are fly fishing, you use a fly that resembles a real insect that the fish feed on naturally. The line is longer and you mimic the movement of the fly or insect on top of the water so that the fish thinks they are biting at a real insect.

Casting is constant in fly fishing. You put the fly out in the water and then draw it back several times so that the fish thinks the fly is landing on the water and then taking off again. With regular fishing, you cast your line and let it rest until the fish bites making the bobber sink into the water.

You can catch some pretty hefty fish using either method, but when you are fly fishing, you have the opportunity to "battle" the fish for survival. This can be extremely satisfying as man battles nature for the top position.

Flies are made out of natural materials in fly fishing while regular fishing utilizes latex and plastic lures made out of man-made materials. Many avid fly fishermen say that the fish are much more attracted to the natural lure rather than the man-made ones. This, they say, makes fly fishing an amazingly satisfying sport.

You can fish just about anywhere - a local pond, a lake, or even a reservoir. When you are fly fishing, you will want to go where the fish are most plentiful. That means traveling (perhaps) to rivers and streams where fish like trout and walleye are known to live. The challenge in fly fishing lies in making the fly look real to the fish below water.

Fly fishing in remote places like Alaska and Canada are great vacation getaways. You can plan a fly fishing trip to many different spots including Mexico, South America, and even Russia. That can be a great adventure - much more so than just fishing your local lake or pond.

Chess has been called "the sport of kings", but many avid fly fishermen consider fly fishing to be the real sport of kings. It takes skill, finesse, and a lot of patience to get good at fly fishing. Thousands of anglers couldn't agree more. When you've been fly fishing once, you'll want to go back over and over and over again. May the fish bite well for you!

Information on grouper fishing can be found at the Tips For Fishing site.

By JACK SAFFORD