Fishing Techniques and Tips

Fly Fishing Is A Popular Angling Sport

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:39:00 +0000

The term 'fly-fishing' is used to describe a method of angling in which fish are caught through the use of an artificial 'fly' which is cast using a fly rod, reel and a specialized weighted line. The 'flies' that are used for this activity are often tied by fishermen themselves to resemble food organisms or other natural invertebrates. The techniques used in casting these flies and also 'lures' (objects attached to the end of fishing lines which are designed to resemble and move like the prey of certain fish) are significantly different from those used in other forms of fishing and casting. The techniques used in fly fishing can also greatly vary according to the terrain in which it is being practised, with the approach used in large rivers being considerably different to that used in small streams.

Fly fishing can be practised in both salt and fresh water. In Britain, for example, a clear distinction is made between 'game-fishing' for species such as trout and salmon and 'coarse fishing' in which the target species include carp, bream and chub. The practise of fly fishing has been occurring for several hundred years, as shown by the publication of 'The Treatyse on Fysshynge with an Angle' as long ago as 1496.

Unlike many other methods of casting, fly fishing is often viewed as a means of casting a line rather than a lure as the fly on the end of the line is far too light to be cast and as a result it simply follows the unfurling of a properly cast fly line whereas in other non-fly types of fishing, the weight of the lure is utilised to pull line from the reel after being cast. The types of cast being used in fly fishing depend almost entirely on the conditions. The most common cast used in fly fishing is the 'forward cast'.

The 'Forward Cast' involves the angler whisking the fly into the air and over his shoulder until the line is almost straight and then cast forward, primarily through the use of the forearm. The aim of this technique is to "load" (bend) the rod tip with stored energy and then transmit this energy to the line itself. This is intended to result in the fly line (as well as the fly itself) being cast for an appreciable distance in contrast to the short distance resulting from just bending the rod back and releasing it.

Fly fishing

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How To Catch Any Fish - Smallmouth Bass on Bait and Lures

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:37:00 +0000

Description

Smallmouth bass are slightly less widespread than their cousins, the Largemouth Bass. I have caught a few hundred of them in various places but I don't feel I know nearly as much about them as the Largemouth. They tend to frequent colder waters than the Largemouth although in many places the same lake will hold both species. Smallmouth also tend to spawn and generally hang out in deeper water, so perhaps that makes them feel less familiar than the Largemouth. They tend to hit many of the same lures although often you will have more success if you downsize a bit.

Smallmouth Bass do not attain the same large potential size as the Largemouth. A 5lber is a very big one and they top out around twice that. They are scrappier than Largemouth pound for pound and their fight is usually noticeably better.

I have never eaten one, so I don't know how they taste. I always release them.

Tackle

I have never fished for Smallmouth with anything heavier than a light spinning rod and 6lb test line. A Daiwa Certate spinning reel is an excellent choice for these.
Techniques

Smallmouth hit both bait and lures. They are often found near week edges or sunken timber. Beaver houses are a good bet if they are present.

Lures

The number one lure for me has been the Senko. Colors that have worked for me include Green Pumpkin and Watermellon. I like the 4" version for Smallmouth.

Small jigs with a Gulp Craw or similar crayfish imitation trailer work well in many places. The Bitsy Bug is a great jig in natural crayfish colors.

I have also had some success fishing tube jigs in Green Pumpkin or Watermellon. I like the Strike King Kevin Van Dam Pro Tube. I like to cast these out and let them sink slowly, occasionally twitching on the way down. Most bites happen on the sink so you have to pay a lot of attention to how your jig is falling. If something stops it, reel in the slack and set the hook. If it sinks and you get no hits then twitch it while reeling a foot or two and then let it drop and repeat all the way to the boat.

Another common lure for Smallmouth is a crayfish imitation crankbait such as the Rebel Craw but I have not really fished those much. When they are hitting topwaters (typically early morning and in the evening) the Heddon Baby Torpedo can be good.

Baits

Minnows and leeches are supposed to be good baits, but I have not fished for Smallmouth much with baits. I'm guessing crayfish work well given how much Smallmouth like them.

Where to get the big ones

The two biggest Smallmouth ever caught were in Dale Hollow, Tennessee so that seems like a good place to try. For numbers there are many lakes in Ontario, Canada that have tons of small to medium size ones.

Check out great tips on catching over 70 other species of gamefish, as well as unbiased tackle recommendations and high quality fishing photos at my website: http://www.howtocatchanyfish.com

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How To Catch Any Fish - Yellowfin Tuna on Bait and Lures

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:36:00 +0000

Description

Yellowfin Tuna ("Ahi" in Hawaiian) are a beautiful and tasty fish found throughout the world in warm waters. They are probably the most commonly caught offshore gamefish.

Yellowfin Tuna swim great distances during their lifetimes. They attain sizes in excess of 300lbs, although fish this size are only found in the Eastern Pacific and are generally caught in Mexico. Many nice fish in excess of 200lbs are also caught in Panama.

Yellowfin Tuna are very common in sushi restaurants. They are also good seared.

Like all tuna they pull hard for their size. When you get them near the boat they turn sideways and swim in large circles making it a long process to get them in the boat. It's virtually impossible to horse the larger ones in quickly no matter what tackle you are using.

Tackle

You should scale your tackle to the size of fish targeted. Small schoolies in the 10-15lb range are great fun on light tackle in the 15lb range, while the large ones require heavy gear and 100lb braided line. For the big guys I recommend an Accurate Platinum ATD 50.
Techniques

Yellowfin Tuna can be caught with bait and lures. Many techniques will work. These tuna often feed near the surface so topwater techniques can be used.

Lures

For trolling, you can try tuna feathers, cedar plugs, and plastic skirted trolling lures. Rapala type plugs also work.

If you find a school of feeding fish you can cast lures into them. One fun way to catch them is with poppers. Both traditional chugger type lures retrieved in a "pop-pop-pause" rhythm. Ranger type lures skipped over the surface on a steady retrieve often work.

Baits

Anchovies and sardines work well for the smaller school size fish. Pacific Mackerel work well for the larger ones, while the biggest ones can be targeted with large live Skipjack Tuna in the 2-5lb size. Many baitfish work; just try whatever is in the area that the tuna might be feeding on.

Very large Yellowfin Tuna can be caught fishing baits below a kite. The kite keeps the baits right at the surface. The baitfish splashing on the surface often works when nothing else will.

If you are trying for giants you can try slow-trolling a live Skipjack. That also works well for Marlin if they are in the same area. If you are going to try this make sure your boat has tuna tubes to keep the Skipjack alive.

If live bait is not available you can try "chunking". This entails cutting chunks of a large bait fish (perhaps a Skipjack) and then tossing them over the size like chum. In one of the chunks hide a circle hook and let it drift down naturally with the rest of the chunks.

Where to get the big ones

The biggest Yellowfin Tuna are on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. The San Diego long range fleet targets these in the fall and most of the biggest ones are caught on these boats. Puerto Vallarta also has some giants, as does Hannibal Bank in Panama. Lousiana is supposed to have a good fishery for the 100lbers if you want to be in the States. All of my big ones were caught in Puerto Vallarta though.

Check out great tips on catching over 70 other species of gamefish, as well as unbiased tackle recommendations and high quality fishing photos at my website: http://www.howtocatchanyfish.com

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How To Catch Any Fish - Black Marlin on Bait and Lures

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:34:00 +0000

Black Marlin Description

Black Marlin and their cousins the Blue Marlin are the largest game fish in the world, with large specimens sometimes exceeding 1,000 pounds. There is no sight more awe-inspiring in fishing than the sight of these massive fish leaping into the air right behind your boat when they are hooked. Because they are large apex predators you often have to hunt for a long time to find one, but when you hook one you forget how long you had to wait.

Black Marlin are found in tropical seas throughout the world. Personally I have fished for them in Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama. It's very hard to fish for these on a budget but I did manage to land a 400lber while fishing from a small panga in Costa Rica.

Black Marlin Tackle

Most fishermen will likely find it easiest to just charter a boat that has the appropriate tackle for these monsters. I personally like to bring my own when I can, and when I do I bring a heavy trolling outfit (I like to use an Accurate Platinum ATD 50 trolling reel and a custom roller rod) loaded with at least 130lb braid and a 300lb mono leader. You don't want to go through all of the expense of going to a distant location and hooking the fish of a lifetime and then losing it because you pinched pennies on the tackle.
Black Marlin Techniques

There are two main ways that people catch Black Marlin - slow trolling large live or dead skipping baits like skipjack tuna or faster trolling with large skirted marlin lures. I have no source to back this up but I would imagine that at least 80% of all black marlin are landed using one of those two techniques.

Black Marlin Lures

Most marlin hunters use rubber skirted lures such as Moldcraft soft heads, Black Barts, and Pakulas.

These are dragged behind the boat at varying distances until a marlin is sighted coming up to look at the lures. At that point you can either hope that it bites or drop back a large live or dead bait to see if you can entice it with that.

Black Marlin Baits

Most fish in the 1-10lb size range that are found offshore where the marlin are will make good live baits. Probably the most common are smaller members of the tuna family such as skipjack. These are caught by trolling small rubber skirts or other lures and then quickly placed alive in "tuna tubes" (Note: if you are thinking of chartering a boat to fish for black marlin it is generally advisable to get a boat with tuna tubes so that this kind of live bait fishing is an option). Once you have enough baits you can bridle them and slow troll them until something smashes them. A good approach is to troll one bait on each side of the boat and then have another one down deep on a downrigger if you have one. Most captains now use circle hooks to get a better hookset and ensure a cleaner release.

When a fish takes the bait you can ease the tension on the reel until the line starts going out at a good clip that and you can't stop the spool with your thumb. That usually means the marlin has taken the bait. At that point the captain can gun the engine and (if you are using a circle hook) you can steadily increase the drag tension in order to set the hook. Sometimes marlin play around with the baits by whacking them with their bills, other times they swallow them immediately and head for Guam (note: this does not happen in Guam). You have to pay attention and feel what is going on with the bait through the line. Marlin have tough mouths and it can be difficult to drive a hook in, which is another reason to use circle hooks.

Other Black Marlin Tips

The best advice I can give here is to do your research and find a good captain who knows what they are doing and has caught a lot of Black Marlin. Figure out the prime season for the area you are going to, pick an experienced captain, and hopefully you will get some shots. Marlin fishing is never guaranteed no matter where you go, so you have to stack the odds in your favor.

Where to get the big Black Marlin

Australia is the best known place to land the giants. Fish over 1,000lbs are routinely landed during the peak season off the Great Barrier Reef near Cairns. Panama also has a consistent fishery for mid size (200-600lb) fish and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico can be very good in the fall. The captains I have fished with have liked the periods a few days before or after the full moon.

Check out great tips on catching over 70 other species of gamefish, as well as unbiased tackle recommendations and high quality fishing photos at my website: http://www.howtocatchanyfish.com

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How To Catch Any Fish - Lingcod

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 20:30:00 +0000

Description

Lingcod are a gnarly-looking bottom fish with a wicked set of teeth. They have huge mouths and basically hang out in the rocks on the bottom and eat whatever swims by. For this reason they are relatively easy to catch. They don't put up that much of a fight but they are pretty tasty.

Lingcod are found from Northern Baja up to Alaska. They are caught in the same areas as the Rockfish. Their unique and fierce appearance makes them one of my favorite bottom fish to catch. Lingcod do not have a swim bladder, so they do not blow up if reeled up from deep water. This makes them very easy to release if you are not keeping them to eat.

Tackle

Any medium weight conventional set up should work fine. I recommend braided line (at least 30lb) for almost all bottom fishing because it doesn't stretch and so you can make a much more effective hookset. It also decreases the chances you will get stuck in the rocks where Lingcod live. Unfortunately you will inevitably get hung up sometimes (if you don't you are probably not fishing close enough to the bottom) so you may not want to go with super-heavy line as it will be tough to break off. An Accurate BX 400 is a good choice for these.
Techniques

Lingcod are caught on both lures and live or dead bait. Interestingly, they often latch on to smaller Rockfish that you hook and if you don't lift their head out of the water you can sometimes net or gaff them without them even being hooked.

Lures

Many Lingcod are caught on metal jigs. The jigs don't even have to have much action; you can just bounce them up and down near the bottom. Personally I have had more success with shiny silver jigs. You don't need anything that fancy. Once you hook one you have to pull hard initially to get them out of the rocks. I like to use jigs with stinger hooks on the top of the lure rather than treble hooks on the bottom. This helps you snag less.

Lingcod will also eat large plastic grubs or swimbaits. These are harder to keep on the bottom especially when there is strong current.

Baits

Lingcod eat live or dead baits but obviously live usually works better. In So Cal or Baja it's hard to beat a large live mackerel. Just fish a one or two hook dropper loop and put it one crank off the bottom. Most of the time this results in a bite within 5 mins.

Where to get the big ones

In general the farther north you go, the bigger these get. The real monsters can be caught in Alaska. Great action can be had in Northern Baja, but you have no shot at the 70lb+ fish they have in Alaska.

Check out great tips on catching over 70 other species of gamefish, as well as unbiased tackle recommendations and high quality fishing photos at my website: http://www.howtocatchanyfish.com

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Fly Fishing Equipment: Reels

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:08:00 +0000

Your fly fishing reel can be as important as your fly fishing rod. At one time, many people thought of the fly fishing reel as just storage for your line, but it has evolved into so much more. The reel can make a big difference in being able to drag in your fish or failing to do so.

Most fly fishing reels are made of aluminum. When using, the fisherman strips line off the reel with one hand while casting with the other. He (or she) then retrieves the slack line by winding it back up on the reel. The type of reel you use depends on the fish you are trying to catch. Some reels are better suited for larger fish as well as more demanding conditions while on the water.

Your fly fishing reel should have a solid handle that is easy to manipulate. Some reels come with double handles - one on each end of the spinner - that makes it much easier to grab hold of and wind up. Which one you choose is up to you!

The spool holds the fishing line. Attached to the spool on the outside is a small weight called a counter balance. This assures that the reel spins smooth and true without any interference from the rod or the angler. Many spools have exposed rims. This actually serves a very useful purpose when you are struggling with a fish. You can cup your hand on the outside of the room so you can play with the fish and save your tackle if you are using light flies.

The drag on a fly fishing reel creates pressure and prevents the line from free spooling or back lashing. You can have a click drag on your reel which are springs that put pressure against a gear stopping it from moving. These reels are noisy, though, so keep that in mind. Disc drags are either pads or gears that have calipers like brakes on a car. As the pressure on the gear increases, the pad clamps down stopping the drag.

The reel clamps to your fly rod with a "seat" that clamps down on the handle with "feet". All reels are made to the same standard so the seats that are on fly fishing rods with handle all fly fishing reels. So, basically, you can pick out your rod and then choose the reel you want and not have to worry if it will fit your rod.

Choosing your fly fishing reel depends a lot on what type of fishing you will be doing. If fishing for large game fish, you will want one that can handle the pressure of the weight of the fish. If you are just fishing for trout and bass, you will want a standard reel that will make bringing your fish in just a little bit easier.

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Planning a Fly Fishing Trip

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:04:00 +0000

So you've decided that it's time for you to take your very first fly fishing trip. You've been practicing your casting and you've got all your flies ready to land a big fish. What do you need to think about when planning this fly fishing trip?

The first thing to decide is where to go. There are many, many excellent places to hone your fly fishing skills at. Some great locations to consider are Washington state, Oregon, Northern California, Texas, and the Great Lakes region. Pick a place that is readily accessible for you and that won't break the bank when it comes time to pay for it.

If adventure is your game, look into taking a Canadian fly fishing trip. Most of the best fishing in Canada can be found in remote mountain lakes and streams with lodges only accessible by air or train. Most of the lodges will offer you trained guides to lead you to the fishing spots and transportation is included in the price of your stay. We've even seen one lodge that will give you use of its cabin and you are left on your own in the wilderness. This can be an amazingly liberating adventure!

Be sure and find a lodge where everything is included in the cost of your stay. This means transportation to and from the fishing spots, guided tours, along with your rooms. Many places have restaurants in their establishments, but you might want to find a cabin with full kitchen facilities where you can cook your own food when you come back from the river or lake.

Fly fishing trips are much more fun when you have a group of people who share your same interests. It's a good idea to join a group who share the interest and try to plan a trip with them. Many organizations plan and launch trips on a regular basis. The friendship and camaraderie you will find can be a wonderful experience.

You can also combine your fly fishing with other things while on a trip. Think about where friends and family live. Can you spend a little time fishing and then, in your downtime, do a little visiting? Is there someplace you've always wanted to visit but never really had a reason why? Try taking a fly fishing trip there.

There are so many beautiful destinations you can go to when you want to take a trip to do some fly fishing. Pick one, plan well, and then just enjoy. You'll be opening up a whole new world to yourself on a trip like this. And, you might just bring home some prized fish as proof of your prowess. Then you can start planning another trip!

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Tips That Could Be Found In A Fly Fishing Book

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:04:00 +0000

Fly fishing is becoming a very famous sport, but it also is a very popular entertainment activity. People of all ages, boys and girls, men and women, enjoy spending their spare time in such a relaxing manner. When fly fishing is performed for recreational purposes, the skill does not matter at all. However, everybody wants to improve themselves. This necessity determined some people to write fly fishing books.

These books provide people with valuable tips and even lessons on how to do fly fishing. Such books are available all over the world, either in book stores or in stores that sell fishing gear. Nevertheless, there exists the possibility to find fly fishing books on the Internet.

It is best to take lessons from an experienced instructor. This is also one of the tips that is typically found in a fly fishing book. While the tips that are commonly found in a fishing book are rather generic, the ones that are offered by an experienced instructor apply in particular cases. The instructor is able to show the less experienced people how to cast the fishing line, how to retrieve it, and much more. In some cases, the instructor will also reveal information about the best places to practice this technique.

According to the fly fishing books, beginner fishermen are advised to meet other more experienced people. Even though the book provides many tips and tricks, the personal contact with a person that has experience in this domain has a greater impact. Fly fishing clubs offer people the chance to meet other people who have the same passion. Practicing is very important. When the person knows the technique of fly fishing, he or she must practice it at least a time per week.

Before beginning the practice, however, people should know what fishing reel and what fishing rod to use. Fly fishing reels have been improved significantly since the day they were first used. The construction of these reels is a simple one, if it is compared to the other types of reels. It features a drag, even though the first models presented a click mechanism. Operating this type of reel is very simple.

People must cast the fishing line with one hand. The other hand is used for retrieving the fishing line. Right-hand reels are the most popular in our days, although the left-hand reels tend to be used frequently, too. Fly fishing rods must be long, thin and flexible, according to the fly fishing books. The material they are made from is either fiberglass or a combination of carbon and graphite or carbon and boron.

The author Joseph Elmes is the manager of the website online that offers you a chance to get fly fishing reels, other fly fishing tools and a free fishing guide On offer is also an expert information on fly fishing basics. Joe is offering a free copy of fly fishing for beginners on this site so head over now to get your copy.
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Information aubout fishing boat typessome interesting facts

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:00:00 +0000

A fishing boat used in catching big game fish should be an angler’s best friend. If fishing as a sport appeals to you and buying a boat is part of your plans, then you may look for the smaller-sized ones of about twenty feet or so. Vessels must show reliability in features, however, as they are designed to help you navigate against bad weather at sea, they should also provide speed and safety to you or your crew. A larger fishing boat reaching up to 100 feet in size may transport many more anglers than a small boat could, perhaps even thirty crew members.

Although having a personal fishing boat for leisure activities sounds great, very few people go for buying one. Most anglers would rather rent a boat, go to the fishing areas and finish the return formalities when they get back on land. Having your own fishing boat with all the required electronic equipment for orientation and location may turn up very expensive. In addition to renting the boat, most anglers also hire a crew or captain who knows the fishing grounds very well and can easily direct them to sea area where the looked for type of fish live. Even so, only the equipment and the hiring of the boat may cost pretty much for a regular middle class angler to afford. That is why joining a fishing expedition on a fishing boat is a prerogative for wealthier anglers.

As far as the fishing boat types are concerned, vessels come in many different shapes and sizes. Some are created for commercial purposes while others aim at recreational fishing only. The first type of fishing boat ever used by a human being looked more like a canoe that could not go far from the shore. Nowadays, our technologies have developed a great deal and boats have increased in size and scope as well. The commercial fishing boat, for example, can really impress the viewer if we were to consider not only the size but the storage capacity too.

The most well known type of fishing boat used for commercial purposes is the trawler that is equipped with many nets so as to maximize the volume of the capture. Other types of boats include seiners. Long liners, factory ships and so on. They are designed up to such quality standards and according to internationally used manufacturing procedures that they no longer pose any risk for the crew. The recreational fishing boat also comes in various shapes and sizes that include flounder boats, pontoons, charters and kayaks. Presently, the private fishing boat has converted into a vessel used more for leisure purposes than for fishing as such.

Pete is an avid fisherman and owns two sites about fishing one is a fishing social network Fishing life today and his blog Game Sport Fishing more articles like this at
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Interesting facts about Fishing Lure Types

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 12:59:00 +0000

Recreational fishing relies most on the use of fishing lures. They consist of objects hung at the end of the line and they are designed to look like the prey of the fish that you want to catch. Color, vibration, movement and shape, all influence the capture as such. If there were no lures attached to the lines, the bait could pass unnoticed by the fish. All fishing lures have a hook on the end for the attaching of the bait. This hook also has the purpose of impaling the fish when it attacks the bait.

Lures can also help fishermen look for and actually find the places where fish may be hiding. Anglers move the fishing lures with progressive regular hand motions that make the plastic or fiber material look like swimming. The movement of the lure will also make light reflect and thus attract the attention of the fish.

Fishing lures fall into several categories depending on the manufacturing concept and the purpose they serve. A first type is the jig, a lead hook with a sharp tip onto which artificial or natural bait is placed. This is usually shaped like a minnow, worm or crawfish. Another category consists of the surface fishing lures that got their names because they are lighter than the jigs and therefore meant to float on the water and look like surface prey. The spoon lures are also for surface fishing; their shiny thin surface attracts the attention of the fish that mistake them for spawn.

Another category is that of plugs or crank-baits; these fishing lures allow rapid back and forth motion like that of small fish prey. In the popular group of artificial baits, bass worms and flies are extensively used.

Fishing lures are not an invention of our times, as they have been part of fishing ever since the appearance of this occupation. The change results from the possibility to manufacture the lures artificially; thus the most common materials for fishing lures are rubber, cork, plastic, wood and metal. Somehow, the decreased use of smaller fish species as baits poses no longer a threat for the survival of such small-sized specimens; consequently, the food chain will remain unaltered if regular living baits are not used extensively.

Another advantage of today’s fishing lures is that they encourage recreational fishing without causing death of caught and released fish. The hooks attached to the fishing lures are no longer that dangerous for the fish and do not harm the mouth as deep as the old type hook varieties used to. Therefore, more and more fish survive after being released by amateur anglers.

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Blue Marlin Fishing

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 20:08:00 +0000

Marlins are characterized as big game saltwater fish. The average weight of a blue marlin is anywhere from one hundred to five hundred pounds. Their bodies can reach the length of ten feet and they are mainly found in the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. The blue marlin is known for its ability to fight, so you must be willing to match the marlin's will to live in order to take the sport seriously. Just like any other fish, the importance of learning the habits of the blue marlin is essential before trying to make them submissive to a hook.

When marlin are in their primitive habitat they will feed on many things including mullet, cero, whole ballyhoo, dolphin, flying fish, bonito, skipjacks, squid and Spanish mackerel. The reason for understanding the marlin's eating habits is to know what bait will be useful to catch these mammoth fish. Any combination of the aforementioned fish will be more than sufficient bait when trying to catch your marlin.

A simple technique used in marlin fishing is the lure of the "bonito" bait. You take the bonito and hook it through the tops of their eye sockets. The bonito will stay alive for hours, making your job more about patience.

Make sure that you have half of the line on your reel because marlin have a stubborn streak and they will try to fight you until you are tired or are dragged under by the weight and persistence. Wheel in your line consistently after the marlin first takes a bite of the bait. If your line seems to be too tight, loosen up the slack in order to give the marlin a little more room. This technique will also allow you to take a small break here and there. Loosening your line will also decrease the chance that the line will break, which is a common cause of anglers losing their game.

Another traditional method for finding marlin is the study of their behavior. Marlin will usually follow schools of fish. They will also be more susceptible to trolling. Trolling is simple enough if you employ logic when you use the method. For instance, if you spot a marlin following a school of fish, do not drop your bait in front of the fish because they will scatter and scare the marlin. If the sun is positioned in front of the marlin, he will be oblivious to your bait because he will be unable to see it.

The best way to find marlin is through the use of modern technology. An ultrasound sensor is a tool that is used to spot marlin. However, the gadgets for fishing are not cheap. Unless you are someone who is dedicated to solely fishing for marlin, be careful of the purchases that you make. Often times companies will make products that are specifically designed for a certain type of fishing, in a certain location, or even a region. Make sure that you do your research before you buy any electronic fishing tool.

The one thing to keep in mind about marlin is their will to survive. A fight with a marlin could last for hours without the slightest bit of relief. If at any time you feel like you are becoming exhausted and the fish is still going strong, cut the line. If you land a blue marlin you will feel an exhilarating sense of accomplishment, but there is no achievement that should allow you to put yourself in danger at any time. Marlin fishing should be a hobby, but it is a hobby that should be approached with intelligence. You should always know the strength of your opponent before you take the challenge of a fight. The marlin is a beautiful fish, that if you become good enough, can make you a lot of money, but it will take a will that matches the fish to beat the fish.

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California’s Top Freshwater Fishing Spots

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 20:06:00 +0000

If memories of your favorite vacation include fishing gear and long hours on a lake, why not share that legacy with your family? Everyone should know the thrill of pulling in a huge lake trout or swapping fish stories over a campfire! Give your kids the fishing vacation of a lifetime by exploring the freshwater fishing spots of California.

Southern California Freshwater Fishing
Whether you’re a shore fisherman or an avid boater, you’ll find the perfect vacation spot in Southern California. Fly into Los Angeles and make the two hour drive to Lake Isabella. There you’ll find every kind of fishing, from Largemouth Bass to Crappie. While you’re there, fish the adjacent Kern River for its famous Rainbow Trout.

Also north of Los Angeles, you’ll find Castaic Lake, a bass angler’s dream. Fish, swim, hike and camp at this scenic gem in Southern California. For a chance at a monster-bass, check out Lake Dixon, a small lake near Escondido. It’s produced record-breaking bass in recent years, and offers numerous inexpensive campsites.

Before heading north, stop by San Vicente Reservoir. Fish from the island, in a boat or on the shore, and take home your limit of catfish, bass or trout. You could also enjoy the gorgeous scenery at Lake Perris, near Riverside, and fish for Largemouth Bass, Black Crappie and catfish.

Northern & Central California Freshwater Fishing
If you venture into Northern California on your vacation, make a stop at Lake Berryessa, about halfway between Sacramento and Santa Rosa. With 165 miles of shoreline, there’s lots of room to fish and camp. Watch for eagles as you enjoy trout, bass and bluegill fishing.

If you’re in the Sacramento area, why not vacation at Clear Lake? At the largest natural lake in California, Clear Lake fishermen regularly catch bass over ten pounds. In fact, professional bass fishermen flock to the lake from all over the nation! Why not treat the family to world-class bass fishing, then take the kids on a hike to the site of a Native American village?

If you’re after King Salmon, plan to stay at Lake Shasta, just north of Redding. This enormous lake is home to two species of trout and bass, as well as catfish and bluegill. Fed by four rivers, Shasta Lake sits at the edge of Shasta Trinity National Forest and offers your entire family the opportunity for an unforgettable vacation.

South of Sacramento, Lake Amador is nestled in the foothills of the Sierras. Here, the fishermen in your family will find bass up to fifteen pounds, as well as the Lake’s own “Cutbow” hybrid trout. Let the kids catch their first trout in this well-stocked lake, and try their hand at snagging one of the forty-pound catfish!

And no fishing trip in Northern California would be complete without stopping by the Lakes Basin Recreation Area, which is north of Sacramento near the town of Truckee. Actually made up of fifty lakes and streams, LBRA offers excellent Rainbow and Eastern Brook Trout fishing.

You’re going to love fishing in California! Bring the whole family and plan to camp and stay at one of the Golden State’s prime fishing lakes. You’ll go home with your minds full of memories and plans already started for next year’s trip! A note to all of the RV campers out there – many of these California fishing locations are near RV campgrounds.

This article is courtesy of El Monte RV, your RV and motorhome rental source. An RV is an excellent way to start off on your next California fishing trip. Be sure to check out the El Monte RV website for more information about California RV Vacations and California RV Rentals.

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Reasons Why You Need A Fishing Rod Holder

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:39:00 +0000

Fishing is a sport designed for relaxation. It is where fish lovers pride themselves of the fish caught while celebrating it with friends and family.

The rod holder is a fishing tool that allows fishermen to multi-task easily. It was invented because fishing requires the use of both hands in the whole process of luring, hook clearing and removing the fish from the hooks. With all these tasks, letting go of the pole is difficult. The fishing rod holder was intended for anglers to be able to make use of both hands.

The first design of fishing rod holders had two parts. The first is a pole-binding device with a strap placed on the railing to tie up to the fishing pole. The second part is a Velcro strap that could be tied on your limb, arms or waist.

The first designs needed improvement because when the straps were placed on the waist, it is wedged into anything you hit. Therefore, a new design of rod holder was invented which has four parts - two pole clips and two straps.

Depending on what fishing position you are in, the short strap is used to be wrapped around your wrist or forearm and the long strap is wrapped around your ankle or leg.

There are also rod holders which come with a remedial solution for seasickness. This curative fishing rod is capable of providing the user with an acupressure stimulator. Providing that the strap of the holder be worn all throughout the trip, it would remain efficient since the pressure is exerted continuously.

The rod holder is best for fly-fishing. Fly fishing is done in locations with rocky rivers and it is impossible to use your other hand for any purpose other than the fishing tasks. Because of the clips wrapped around your lower leg, you have a choice of putting the rear of the fishing pole into the clip so that no water could go inside it.

The upper pole clips could rotate to 360 degrees. It allows the user to do any movement since the pole is more flexible. The fishing rod holder could be used in any location whether in boats, on land, or at the dock. It prevents the fishing rod to slip from your hands and it allows you to release the rod easily.

The best fishing rod holders are those done homemade. However, many fishing stores offer high quality rod holders that would best suit your kind of fishing.

To read about types of dolphins and endangered dolphins, visit the Facts About Dolphins site.

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Top Fishing Spots in Kerry, Ireland

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:35:00 +0000

With miles of coastline dotted with pretty little fishing villages as well as well stocked rivers and lakes, County Kerry has some top fishing spots. It's a fantastic hobby; think about it, no traffic, and no stress, just the sound of the water and plenty of fresh air. Kerry boasts some of the best waters for fishing in Ireland, so check out our guide to the top fishing spots in the county and hopefully you'll be hooked.

River Feale…

The River Feale, near Listowel in North Kerry, is an excellent salmon and trout river. The best spot for fishing along the river is on the banks near the bridge as you enter the town. Another great spot is in Finuge, located about 2 miles outside Listowel. This area for fishing is known locally as "The Wall". Our advice is to get here early, as it's a very popular place.

A salmon licence is required for the Feale, which can be purchased from Halpins Fishing Store in Listowel town.

The River Laune…

Fantastic for spring salmon, sea trout and brown trout, the River Laune, and in particular the town of Killorglin, is a fantastic base for an angling holiday. The scenery is breathtaking to say the least, against the backdrop of the McGillycuddy Reeks, and Killorglin itself is a fairly lively town with plenty pubs and restaurants. A fishing permit is required.

River Blackwater…

The River Blackwater is a top spot for salmon, brown trout and white sea tout. It's roughly 10 miles long from the source to the sea and flows into Kenmare Bay. All types of angling can be done here, fly-fishing, spinning, and worming etc. Our top tip is to use a fly rod with bright colour flies, preferably in the evening. Also make sure you have a fishing licence as there is a fine.

River Flesk…

If you've ever travelled along the N22 between Killarney and Cork you'll have passed the River Flesk. It's 3km in length and has easy access from the main road. Salmon enter the river in early spring and stay until late May, while brown trout and white sea trout enter the river in July. Spinning would be the best type of angling method used here, although fly rod and worming are commonly used on this river as well. A permit is required.

Barfinnihy Lake…

Barfinnihy Lake is stocked monthly by the regional fisheries board. It's located about 6 miles from Kenmare town with stunning views of Molls Gap. You'll find rainbow trout in abundance here and spinning and fly-fishing are the most popular methods used.

Killarney Lakes…

Killarney is a popular tourist destination and offers some of the best fishing in the country. There are three main fresh water lakes: Lough Leane, Muck Ross Lake and the Upper Lake as well as numerous smaller lakes and rivers, making it an ideal base to fish. No permits are required for the Killarney Lakes.

Caragh River…

Surrounded by breathtaking scenery and located just outside the town of Killorglin, Caragh River is a good salmon and white trout river. The river is divided in two and known locally as Upper Caragh River and Lower Caragh River. It drains a large catchment area before flowing into Carragh Lake.

Lough Currane…

Lough Currane, in southwest Kerry, is a great game fishing lake. Surrounded by stunning mountain views, sea trout are in plentiful supply, as are salmon. Fly-fishing using ghillies (small boat) is the preferred choice.

Mairead Foley writes for the Ireland travel and accommodation website http://www.GoIreland.com

Visit GoIreland for all you need to know before visiting Kerry, like what to see and where to go. You can also book B&Bs, hostels, guesthouses, self catering and Kerry hotels.

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The Twisted Terminology of Fishing

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:35:00 +0000

If you are just getting into fishing, you can quickly become confused by some of the quarks in the terminology used. Here are some of the oddities that reveal you shouldn’t take everything as it seems.

Oddly, the first area of odd terminology is in the very classification of the person fishing. When you say a fisherman or fisherwoman, you probably picture a person with a rod and reel. In truth, any effort to capture a fish makes you one of these. If you throw dynamite into the local pond, you are a fisherman. So, are people who fish with just rods and reels called anything in particular? Yes. They are called anglers. Why? Because they are!

Another area of head scratching can be bait. Bait is classified in a few billion different ways. One of the simplest is live versus dead bait. Seems pretty simple, huh? Well, it isn’t. Most live bait is not alive. It is just recently dead or not spoiled. Dead bait is spoiled and you aren’t going to catch much with it. If you are new to an area, just ask advice from the locals in the bait shop. They will usually steer you right.

If you delve into fly fishing, the terminology will only get more confusing. Fly fishing is a unique niche of fishing that focuses on using flies to catch trout and such. It is either incredibly relaxing or frustrating. Regardless, you are strongly encouraged to find someone that knows a good deal about it before getting involved or you wont understand a word that is being said.

All this being said, much of the fishing world is as straightforward as you would probably presume before getting into it. The number one most common bait in the world are night crawler worms. Where did they get the name? They come out of the ground and crawl around at night. It doesn’t get any more straightforward than that.

Don’t sweat the small stuff when it comes to fishing. If you get completely lost, just nod occasionally and nobody will know the difference!

Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com - makers of rugged fishing journals that make unique gifts for men.

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Occupation: Attorney and Traveler

Rick Chapo is with Nomad Journals - makers of writing journals. He is also with BusinessTaxRecovery.com - information on taxes.

http://www.nomadjournals.com

Going Fly Fishing Anyone

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:30:00 +0000

There are thousands of live-bait anglers, who are excellent sportsmen, but the fly fisherman can practice better conservation from the beginning.

Basically, fly fishing is not only one of the fastest growing sports; it is one of the foremost forms of conserving natural resources as well as providing aquatic recreation.

Fly fishing is, very simple when three things are right: you must have a suitable rod; you must get a line to match it; and you must learn correct casting technique.

For people who wish to know some tips on fly fishing, here is a list of some pointers that could help anglers harness their fly fishing skills:

1. Material of the rod

For one of moderate means, and especially for the beginners, hollow glass is advised since it will require less care than bamboo and will not take a set if improperly handled or stored.

2. Line

Your fly casting skill will not progress with a mismatched rod and line. About 99 times in 100, the troubled fly caster has a line much too light to bring out the action of his rod.

That is why it is important to know that on any given rod, the fly fisherman should use the same size line for anything from small trout and bluegills up to the largest sea fish.

In choosing the size line, anglers should get a C level, an HCH double-taper, or a GBF three-diameter. This choice is based on the fact that a high percentage of fly rods bought nowadays are hollow glass, and that a great majority of these works best with lines of those sizes, almost regardless of lengths or weights.

3. The correct casting technique

In casting, it is important to get about 20 feet of line out front. Anglers should always remember to cast a straight line. Avoid jerky movements even if it is on a faster mode in order to do so.

Best of all, the angler should be relaxed because taunt muscles will ruin his casting.

Boiled down, there should be no reason why you should not learn the fundamental principles just as easily as those who now enjoy fly fishing.

Probably, the best and surest way to learn to cast successfully is to spend a day on the stream with some fisherman who is a competent caster.

Lessons learned on the stream are the best tips you can acquire anywhere in your quest for learning fly fishing.

To learn about types of dolphins and endangered dolphins, visit the Facts About Dolphins website.

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Author: Jed Segal

Fishing And Boating At The Same Time

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:02:00 +0000

Author: Jed Segal
One of the most satisfying activities you can do while boating is fishing. Boating is a fun activity and so is fishing. When you combine the two, you'll find that fishing while boating can be an amazing way to enjoy two sports at once.

Fishing boats are designed to be able to maneuver easily so you can get to some isolated sports on a body of water where the fish are readily found. They have comforts that make it easy to enjoy a day on the water with extra seats and areas to stand so you can see the fish where they are hiding.

Another great aspect of fishing while boating is that you can enjoy it with other people. Fishing boats have plenty of room for a fishing partner, and let's face it, fishing is much more enjoyable when you have someone to share it with.

Your fishing boat should come with an aerator to store fish in after you catch them. There are also other compartments to easily stow equipment. You won't have to lug your rods and tackle around. Just place them in the storage areas of your fishing boat and you'll be ready to go fishing and boating at a moment's notice.

There's really no doubt about it that boating is a great way to reduce stress. Fishing while boating doubles that stress reduction factor. From the moment you put your boat on the water and pull away from the dock, you'll find yourself almost overcome with the excitement of not only being on the water, but also the possibility of bringing in a prized catch.

You can enjoy fishing while boating in many different places. Whether you want to take in a local lake, a small pond, or the ocean, fishing boats can adapt to any kind of water. Plus, you'll have the advantage of catching different kinds of fish which makes angling very satisfying indeed.

There are many fishing tournaments you can participate in while boating. There's something exhilarating about competing to see who can catch the biggest and most fish. Fishing tournaments make boating a real challenge that is a real blast.

Find out what experienced anglers already know: fishing while boating is one of the most enjoyable activities you can engage yourself in. It's fun, challenging, and a great way to spend a beautiful summer morning or a lazy spring day. Take up fishing on one of your boating adventures and double your pleasure along with your fun!

To learn about types of dolphins and endangered dolphins, visit the Facts About Dolphins website.

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Going Fishing In The State

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:00:00 +0000

Author: Jed Segal
Fishing as a sport and recreational activity is very popular in the United States. It has been a traditional hobby of the Americans as well as tourists in the USA. The Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, including the many streams of water across the country offer greater opportunities for Salt water fishing. United States of America has many rivers, lakes and inland streams for fresh water adventures.

Fishing in the U.S.A. is very diverse because of the fish migrating every season. The weather, however, is one factor that restrains people from fishing. Rain, fog, snow, and wind affect the fishermen since these conditions may sometimes be dangerous to them.

Since the fish are diverse, fishermen have a lot of fishing techniques depending on the type of fish they are targeting. They can do surf fishing, fly fishing, bait casting, pier fishing and many other techniques.

Florida for example, is one state that has long been famous for fishing. Everywhere in Florida you see a lot of men and women of different ages getting excited about fishing. You see them holding fishing lines in bridges, causeways, riverbanks and piers. Also, Charter fishing boats are popular in all coasts of Florida.

Florida is known for its saltwater fishing and fly fishing. You need to be versatile to get the most out of Florida's fly fishing adventures. Fly fishing and saltwater fishing are your choices depending on the time of the year.

There are abundant Redfish in Daytona Beach, Titusville and St. John's River. Spotted Sea Trout are also found in Florida. You can find a local guide in the area and they will be able to help you enjoy your fishing experience.

Florida has been a hot place for fishing especially during the start of October. There are large numbers of Redfish until mid morning. There are a lot of Snooks being caught. During the afternoon when the temperature is high, there are a large numbers of jacks, ladyfish and trout that keep the fishermen in action.

Americans and tourists have a variety of reason why they fish in the U.S.A. Some love to see the sunrise and sunset in the water. Besides fishing, some love to watch dolphins, whales and birds. But still it is the catching of fish that really thrill them. Fishing in the U.S.A is a meaningful pastime whether in groups or all alone. The money you will spend is worth the fun and excitement including building relationships.

Read about dolphin facts and pink dolphins at the Facts About Dolphins website.

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5 Secrets To Preparing for Cod Fishing Overnight Trips - By An Expert

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:47:00 +0000

Author: soulfulpenny
Some say that the real fun of having fish is the actual process of fishing.

Fishing is known to be one of the best team building, friendship enhancing and family picnic antics in recent years. However, like every outdoor activity planned, if you do not have the proper infrastructure in place for your cod fishing tips, you may face a lot of problems. Here are some tips that you should keep in mind while Preparing for Cod Fishing Overnight Trips.

1. Food For Thought: Fishing can either be very exciting or very boring, but nobody can deny that fishing makes a person hungry. Therefore, stock up on foods that you would think would be needed for the overnight trip. Since the trip is overnight, it would be a good idea to pack some light dinner too. Ensure that the food is not too heavy, lest it make the entire fishing trip fall in a deep slumber. You will also require coolers and ice for the fish as well as your food. Also, make sure that you take several plastic bags to store the fish in.

2. Maps and Identification: Although the night may be one of the best times to catch certain types of fish, it is by no way safer than broad daylight. Therefore, keep the documents that identify you, like your driving license or some other photo identity card with you while Preparing for Cod Fishing Overnight Trips. Also, ensure that you carry the maps of your local area if you are hiring a boat for fishing. It is a known fact that things look different in broad daylight and nightlight; therefore, even the most experienced person can lose their way in the night.

3. Fishing Apparatus, and then some: The most important of the fishing trip, the fishing apparatus. Ensure that you have two sets of almost anything that you feel will be lost or will get exhausted. Any apparatus that is exhausted midway is quite an irritant and your entire fishing trip can be cancelled because of the non availability of one ingredient.

4. Clothes for the occasion: Fishing may seem to be very romantic and simple, but it is not so. In fact, every fishing hunt is fight between the hunter and the hunted, and you have to be ready for this battle. Therefore, ensure that you have the right clothing depending on the weather and the season. You will require boat shoes in the summer and waterproof shoes in March, May and April. You will require boat shoes in the summer.

5. Camera: You are about to fish, and it is certain that you will have several interesting anecdote to share, but what are those anecdotes with proof! Therefore, ensure that you have the proper camera, loaded and ready to take the photographs.
Though all these materials will go a long way in making your fishing trip a success, the most important aspect of fishing is to have the right attitude and the decision to have fun!

Imagine learning the Secrets of catching the perfect COD every time. You can instantly learn the art of cod fishing and Preparing for Cod Fishing Overnight Trips In my brand new ebook titled Cod Fishing Made Easy. Please visit http://www.codfishingmadeeasy.com to learn more!.

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Tips on Finding a Fishing Guide

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:44:00 +0000

Author: Jeanie Smith
1. Open Communication matters. It is important that you provide the guide all the information they need so that they will figure out what kind of fishing trip is best for you. Be sure to be honest in telling the guide how much experience you have regarding fishing. This will help them to know what advice and tips to give you so that you can make the most out of your time.

2. Seek the help of friends and relatives. Ask your friends and relatives who have fished and if not they may be able to provide you with some referrals. It is better to ask them about their experiences, the things that you need to do and things that you have to look for in a guide. They may be also to provide you referrals of the guides they have tried and found effective for them. This will be a chance for you to ask if the guide they are referring you to has enough knowledge or is accommodating to clients.

3. Browse the Internet. The Internet can provide a lot of websites where you can find the best guides in a certain location. You can also post messages and questions regarding the website and they may be able to find the information you need.

4. Determine if your prospective guide is licensed. It is better that you know that the person you are working with is working according to the law. A licensed guide is also sure to be relied on especially with the matters of integrity and trust. Ask the guide of their name and phone numbers including the state-licensing bureau. A guide who is not willing to provide you the information you are asking for is not worth your time.

5. Find out exactly what you are paying for and how long the amount would cover. You need to know this information for you to be able to manage your schedule before the fishing trip and plan the things that you need to bring which are not covered by the payment you made. Some include the price for lodging in the package while other guides may charge extra for that. Asking the coverage of your fees will also help you assess if the services you will get is worth the money you will be spending.

6. Get to know the guide. Evaluate if the guide that you will be working with can get along with you. If not, you will just be wasting your time and money. Fishing is a time to learn and enjoy but if the two of you will not get along well, the whole trip might just be ruined. Get to know the guide first before you set foot on the boat. Exert a little effort to call the guide and make a small chat to break the ice and make the two of you comfortable on the day of the actual fishing.

7. Also make time to find out how long the prospective guide has been on his job. This will make it easier for you to assess the level of experience the guide has earned in that field. It is better that you choose a guide that has been in fishing for many years. They are the ones who usually have the skills and teaching techniques that will be of great help to you.

For tips on goldfish care and freshwater aquarium fish information, visit the Aquarium Fish Care website.

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Make Big Carp Fishing Baits With Nutritional Bait Feeding Stimulators!

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:41:00 +0000

Certain big carp baits have endured the test of time over many decades. Some have especially proved themselves far more productive long-term for the bigger specimens. Many anglers desire consistent big carp catches and baits that can possibly 'level-out' differences between an angler’s angling abilities, time available, monetary and tackle resources, experience and so on.

There is no doubt among those anglers that use high or balanced nutritional value baits, that they produce long-term big fish results. Providing the essential dietary requirements of fish can very much determine the initial and repeated behaviour a fish has towards such a bait. Refining the taste of the bait is a very important part in this too. But what is the mystery and incredible cumulative effects of specific nutritional baits can have and how do they really work both short and long-term to achieve the hooking of a fish?

Comparatively few anglers understand why such baits work and often, when asked about them, a vague something to do with protein, oils, flavours, minerals etc is offered. It seems to me that many anglers drop the deeper questions about bait, when things get any further than the name or label, or flavour a ready made products is marketed as. But anyway, why would an angler even benefit from knowing how and why their ready made baits work; they catch fish after all?

It is common for an angler to see an advert or advertorial with their current favourite fishing heroes and buy the ready made bait being recommended and use that. This is fine for very many anglers, but then very many anglers make up the majority who only achieve the kind of results the average angler achieves. If you want more certainty about better than average results, you require more control over this vital aspect of your fishing.

There is of course nothing wrong with borrowing confidence from recommendations of successful and high profile anglers. They must use bait of some sort; so why not think If it is good enough for them, it is good enough for me. Many anglers over-look the fact that most of these anglers would also do very well on any quality bait and crap baits too... If you team up an exceptionally talented angler with outstanding bait, the results will be as expected, but then they will do it with humble baits too. Think Dave lanes catches off the surface at Horton or Rod Hutchinson’s results at Redmire on particles for instance. Many an angler would turn to a tiger nut or peanuts, hemp or maggots, if boilies and pellets were banned on their water.

The days of the cheap crap value semolina and soya flour baits with a flavour (and similar) that dominated many waters in the past have been replaced by a completely different generation and quality of baits used today. (Sure there are artificial or fake baits being used today, but these are hook baits only!)

Quality baits are those designed specifically to provide for the needs of a particular species of fish using a balanced and broad spectrum of highly nutritious fresh ingredients which have more favourable digestibility and therefore higher nutritional value. The bioactivity and solubility and components of such baits varies extremely widely being designed with various different approaches and angles of stimulation and attraction in mind.

Anyhow, some club water committees seem to like banning such baits due to the changes in feeding behaviour of their target species which may be roach as opposed to carp. (These guys need to adapt their tackle and baits!) Sure, you need to check on certain particles like peanuts and so on, but then particle baits are easily available, ready prepared these days.) Why would you ban quality nutritional boilies and pellets anyway; many fish species grow bigger, faster by regularly feeding on them and meeting their essential dietary needs so much more efficiently.

Not only this, pest and disease immunity can be improved, especially over the winter and spring periods and general health and condition is improved, if not fish longevity too. Why would any responsible fishery owner not want such benefits? If over-stressed fish need to they can often turn-off boilies and pellet baits and thrive on the more abundant natural foods made available by the far lower dependence of fish upon them. Most lakes have one or a few so-called natural feeders that are never, or extremely rarely caught on anglers’ baits of any kind.

I’m sure this has much to do with the way their receptors are developed, actively adapted and coded for various substances in their environment. In a related way, it is not dissimilar to an individual who is unable to put on muscle due to the way their genetics, body chemistry and metabolism are set-up even when eating a high protein diet. In contrast, a different individual can seem to put on the pounds, or remain muscular even on a vegetarian low protein diet.

Blind spots in physiological processes are very common types of developmental adaptations, mutations etc in nature. These contribute to diversity and the ability of organisms to survive threats like changes in food availability and opportunities involving the need to adapt to new foods available in the environment and so on. We are to a great degree a product of the diet our ancestors and the foods available in their environment, just like carp are. (In fact the links and commonalities between humans and carp are very significant when it comes to designing fishing baits.)

I’ve seen exceptionally talented anglers dominate catches on a lake using crap baits, but would an average ability angler fare so well on highly pressured waters? Indeed many more famous contemporary anglers have swapped the bait company that sponsors them fairly frequently; how confusing is that for those anglers who know very little about bait? There are definite advantages to having a general background in fishing of many kinds before going into carp fishing.

Learning about the behaviour and feeding habits of different fish and the kind of baits, tackle, methods and principles to catch them effectively gives a carp angler huge advantages. New anglers starting in carp fishing have far less real grounding to apply to carp and are far more dependant on help from other anglers on the bank and magazines and so on. This can be disadvantageous because certain biases can develop which can obscure what is really going on and far better baits and tactics to overcome challenges.

Statements like: Pop-ups do not work here, or You need to be in on this bait to catch or This set-up is the one to use and so on. The advice can be well-intentioned and certainly effective at the present, but things can change very rapidly, especially when fish are being caught by anglers using the same or similar baits and tactics. Thinking ahead of current successful baits, methods and approaches etc is one of the more ‘hidden’ aspects of successful carp angling.

If you are user of food type baits like modern boilies and other baits like pellets and dough baits specifically designed for catfish and carp, then you are familiar with ‘the jargon.’ This refers to the theory that nutritionally balanced fishing baits will induce better results as a results of consistent bait introduction and positive recognition. This can result in fish treating your bait as natural food that they derive significant dietary and energetic benefits from.

The common focus of many anglers in regards their baits is the flavour it has, or less degree its protein content. High protein boilies for example have been very popular in the past and there have been situations where anglers have used bait ingredients to achieve the highest crude protein levels in their baits. Often , milk proteins have been used because many milk derivatives and fraction have very high protein content, with quite a number quoted as having 88 to 96 percent protein.

Carp for example do not require protein at least whole protein as such, but certainly have essential dietary requirements for nitrogen and amino acids among very many other ‘essential’ requirements. The protein content of a bait is often quoted as doing all the major stimulatory and attraction work of the bait. Certainly, the soluble components of such a bait do much of the work compared to the insoluble and least digestible components.

Some nutritional ingredients have stimulatory effects which can be as or more important than the nutritional benefit to the fish upon attempted digestion. I’m referring to milk proteins like casein for example. Enzyme treated casein is far better from a nutritional and stimulatory perspective than whole casein powder, it having significantly more solubility for a start. The taste and smell of milk proteins is undeniably very potent to carp, even the humble normal milk powders used every day. Used in ground baits for example, these readily prove their worth.

Things have changed drastically in carp fishing in the UK over the last 50 years. The commonly held popular theory of milk proteins seemed to be a product of the age, where few anglers used much bait if at all, and the secrets of nutritionally stimulating baits were not yet being exploited by the majority of anglers using ready made baits as they do today. Also there were far fewer carp anglers in the past and far less carp in any numbers of any significant size.)

The fact is that the use of two to ten kilograms of free bait boilies or pellets, or other baits for a single night session, is a common practice for many modern carp anglers. The fish are getting filled up and sustained on more food than they need on many waters. The long periods of time during a season where no fish are caught, as in the winter period on many waters demonstrates how many fish no longer really have to feed all year round. A spring and early summer binge is commonly being replaced by the ‘traditional’ UK October pre-winter feeding binge of 20 or more years ago.

The popular UK theory about bait was that carp ‘preferred’ high nutritional value ones where lower nutritional value baits were introduced. (These were mostly carbohydrate based baits made predominantly from soya flour and semolina.) When fishing with fish and milk protein based baits, on some waters in the 1970’s and 1980’s depending on many variable factors, this may well have been the case. However, I have always fished a variety of baits side by side of both low protein carbohydrate type and of high or balanced nutrition types.

On balance, the baits which caught most fish were the ones I used the most, it became clear that a balanced nutrition bait had a frequent edge especially for bigger fish with greater nutritional and energy requirements. In this respect the bigger fish can be easier to catch as the nutritional baits appear more big fish selective. Many American anglers and those in countries ‘crawling with virtually un-fished for carp’ have yet to discover this experience. I’ve yet to notice maize, plastic baits, hemp, sweetcorn etc to be as big fish selective...

But it is very often the case that the introduction of large amounts of a variety of baits, from pellets, peanuts, maize, boilies and so on, can massively impact on the feeding habits and feeding locations of fish in any individual fishery. Even if it is a 50 / 50 semolina and soya flour mix, on many waters where this is introduced, if enough is regularly introduced it can for a while dominate catches. Carp generally tend to exploit any readily available regular food source.

I remember it striking me that carp often have the habit of binging on large amounts of bait smaller fish cannot handle. Just imagine all the occasions where lots of ground bait, maggots, sweetcorn, pellets and dog biscuits have been used over the course of a day and build up in an area or swim. At some point, often in the evening or following morning, the carp will move in and devour everything left. So there appears to be efficient energy benefits to eating a new bloom of food appearing in a swim.

Of course carp are conditioned by repetition into behaviours so they will respond to bait being introduced. On some lakes they will roll over a freshly baited area upon its initial introduction, but wait to feed on it for 3 or 4 days if they have been constantly subjected to heavy fishing pressure. (Fishing over washed out nutritional baits is a well-known edge where fresh boilies used as ground baits may even act as a deterrent.)

It is not necessarily the new wonder HNV bait that dominates a water all the time. There are factors here which complicate things. For instance, just how much of the fishes dietary requirements satisfy them to the extent that they do not actually need to consume all the nutritional baits being introduced? How does this affect the impact of newly introduced nutritional baits? (Is it healthy for fish to feed on beds of 20 kilograms of ‘Marine pellets,’ or oily fish meal baits? Oily ‘glugs’ are still being promoted by some names in fishing magazines.)

I remember fishing a water in the early 1980’s to 1990’s against someone who is now the boss of one of the biggest UK tackle manufacturers. This guy had access to all the refined extracts etc available from the Far East; money was no object. Over all, he told me himself, for the time I did and what I knew about bait and how it worked at that time, I did extremely well for catches. (Although my fish were often not as consistently big as his on his more refined often far more sophisticated enzyme active, self-digesting baits.)

My point here is that despite the series of sessions where this guy pre-baited heavily with a new special pre-digested bait etc, he did not eclipse me all the time, even on my less refined attractor combined nutritional style baits. Being able to pre-bait while actually fishing (or beforehand) and keeping your HNV bait going into a water every 2 or 3 days at least, is very important in getting it established. This practice is a key part of exploiting balanced or high nutritional value baits.

That said, the results of many contemporary anglers using different companies ready made ‘HNV’ or ‘biological nutritional value’ type baits can often be very similar, as all these baits become ‘natural food’ fish become dependant on. In such situations, using new baits you have made yourself, or ready made baits that you have been adapted and enhanced, can prove highly productive.

Such baits certainly can produce for you as many, if not more big fish than the standard versions of popular established ready made baits. This fishing bait secrets books author has many more fishing and bait edges. Just one could impact on your catches!

By Tim Richardson.

__LongTerm__

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Occupation: Designer / writer

For the unique and acclaimed new massive expert bait making / enhancing ‘bibles’ ebooks / books: “BIG CATFISH AND CARP BAIT SECRETS!” And “BIG CARP BAIT SECRETS!” (AND "FLAVOUR, FEEDING TRIGGERS AND CHEMORECEPTION SECRETS") SEE: http://www.baitbigfish.com Tim Richardson is a homemade carp and catfish bait-maker, and proven big fish angler. His bait making and bait enhancing books / ebooks are even used by members of the “British Carp Study Group” for reference. View this dedicated bait secrets website now...

http://www.baitbigfish.com

Tips To Succeed In Saltwater Fishing Tackle

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:39:00 +0000

Author: MIKE SELVON
Have you ever been deep sea fishing? It is great fun and many people consider it the adventure of a lifetime. Saltwater fishing tackle is specialized equipment that is made just for this particular sport. Most coastal towns have a tackle store that should carry everything you need. Here is a guide to purchasing that equipment.

The starting point is to gather as much information as you can on saltwater fishing and the tackle you will need, as well as other important factors, including the weather and sea conditions, location, the type and size big fish likely to be found at the site, and even the number of people who'll be making the trip with you. Once you have the answers to these, you will be in a better position to select the kind of fishing rod, reel and tackle that will be ideal to meet your needs during your expedition.

Selecting sea fishing tackle can be a pretty bewildering exercise, considering the hundreds of choices available to you. This shouldn't be much of a problem, because you can consult any experienced, deep sea fishermen who will willingly give you some valuable advice. On the other hand, there are several online reviews and articles on fishing tackle, as well as printed literature and magazines that you could read to gain knowledge on the subject.

Good tackle choices can make or break the success of your deep sea fishing trip. Some saltwater fishing tackle you will need include swivels, leader, flies, sinkers and lures, along with hooks. These items need to be purchased specific to saltwater fish, with the swivel being the most important part of your terminal tackle.

Swivels help to keep your line from breaking when it twists due to the weight of a fish that you might have on the hook and the twisting that the line will undergo as the big fish fights to break free. Different types include the snap swivel, the barrel swivel and the crane ball-bearing swivel.

A leader is another important item. It prevents your fishing line from being severed on the teeth of the fish or any debris or rocks it may rub up against. There are many different types of leaders you can purchase. Which one you buy will depend on what you are fishing for and where you are fishing.

Lures are the same. They are specialized based on the type of fish you are after. A fishing tackle shop should have a good saltwater fishing tackle set that you can buy in one kit if that is what you would prefer. This option can save you a lot of time and money.

Mike Selvon owns a number of niche portal. Please visit our portal for more great information on saltwater fishing tackle, and leave a comment at our fishing guides blog.

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Surf Fishing

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 00:33:00 +0000

Author: Jeanie Smith
Surf fishing might look like a great deal of calm and easy fun. Some people make it seem easy, but surf fishing is a lot harder than you may think. There are many calculations that you have to make in order to have a successful day like the wind, the current, wave height, floating kelp, and the positioning of the rocks. All of that information needs to be calculated in before you can cast your line and get started.

The first thing that you need to do before you attempt surf fishing is to prepare ahead of time. Most places will require you to have a fishing license. If you get caught without one, the fine will more than ruin your mood.

You will need to find out as much information as possible about the best times to go surf fishing. The best time to go surf fishing is high tide, before all of the beachgoers that scare fish come to the beach. You will need to learn to develop a great deal of patience when you go surf fishing, so bring lots of bait and get ready to settle in for the day.

You do not need to buy a special type of rod to surf fish. The rod that you use should be determined on how well you cast. When deciding how well you cast, be realistic about what you can accomplish so that you can catch the maximum of fish that you want. The advantage to a shorter rod is that it allows you to be more mobile so that you can continuously move from spot to spot. You do not necessarily need to cast out very far because the fish are usually swimming just at the break line feasting on dead and decaying matter.

If you can find them, sand crabs will be your best bait for surf fishing. If you are surfing in the summer, you can find the deep holes that they have dug into the sand and fish them out. Many times, you can find them washed up on the beach, and this is fine because the fish will swim to the surface to catch anything dead or alive. If you are all out of crabs, you can use frozen anchovies, salted anchovies, shrimp, mussels, or some clams.

Make sure that your bait is somewhat firm, otherwise it may slide right off of your hook. For a rig, you will need something that is capable of sinking the line without putting undue pressure on it. The fish can be scared off if they can feel the weight on the line. Many people will use a sliding sinker rig when they surf fish.

There are many good reasons to consider going for a day of surf fishing. You can catch perch, corbina, stingrays, bass, rockfish, and sometimes even hammerhead sharks. It is also a good way to spend a day at the beach. However, if you decide to fish when there are many beachgoers, try to find a spot where there are not many people in the water. Many times surf fishing will attract sharks and they will swim right up to the shore for fresh food. Unfortunately, sharks do not see very well and they will oftentimes mistake surfers for tortoises or fish because of their legs hanging off the wooden board.

If you do not have the money or the time to invest in a boat, surf fishing is a way that you can see the benefits of the catch and save a little time also. There are some extra preparation plans that you have to account for when surf fishing, but you would have much more prep and cleanup on a large boat. Surf fishing is an enjoyable hobby that will get you out of the house and maybe even offer up a chance to come home with fresh dinner.

Read about goldfish care and freshwater aquarium fish at Aquarium Fish Care.

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Spring Crappie Fishing Techniques

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:14:00 +0000

Early spring crappie fish can be the most enjoyable and production fishing of the season. Don't wait for the spawning run. Learn how to catch more crappie right after ice out.

It has been a long hard winter and one of the most anticipated events in the spring is wetting a line on open water. While ice fishing is fun and productive, there is nothing like being out in the boat after taking a few months off. What really adds to the open water fishing experience is the thrill of catching slab crappies.

There are many fishermen who wait in the spring for the crappies to move in to spawn. Don't get me wrong; if you find crappies on their spawning beds, the fishing can be fantastic! But why wait to the spawn when you can have your cake and eat it too. Crappie fishing right after ice out can be equally rewarding.

The water temperature right after ice out will be very frigid. After a few bright warm sunny days the lakes ecosystem will start to come alive. Many crappies in the early spring will be found deep. These deep water spots typically will be the last spots the ice fisherman were having success. By using light jigs and minnows in these deep-water spots, chances are you will have good success. But if you really want to find fast action think shallow water.

As the water starts warming up, the insects will start hatching and small baitfish will move closer to shore. When that happens the crappies will move in right behind the food to feed. The best thing about early season crappie fishing is that the best times of the day to be out is during the peak of late afternoon and early evening when the weather is the nicest. Every lake is different, but the best early season lakes are the more shallow and muddy bottom lakes because they tend to warm up quicker.

If the lake has a small bay or channel the crappies will be drawn in there like magnets. Fallen trees, sticks brush and last years weeds will attract more insects that are hatching that the crappies will feed upon. This combination will become your "A" fishing spot. The water temp that typically starts this early season action is about 50 degrees. There are many fishermen who incorrectly think the crappies at this time are coming in to spawn. They are simply coming in to feed at this time. Crappies will move in to spawn a little later in the spring when the water temperature is about 65 degrees.

There are many fishermen that will use a jig and minnow. They will catch fish, but if you really want the fast action switch your presentation to a tube jig. The best depths typically here are about 6 feet or less. When you rig you tube jig, place a small bobber a foot and a half up from the jig. Cast and retrieve it slow. The bobber basically just keeps your jig at the same depth. In detecting the bite, crappies will often grab your jig and swim side to side or the bobber will tip up and then move slowly down. The tube jig body is plastic so give the crappie a little time to suck it down. The best thing about the tube jig is that if you miss you will often get another bite right away. When using minnows for bait, you miss your done.

Once the crappies move in, the action can get very fast. This spring crappie pattern usually lasts a few weeks. After that the crappies move slightly deeper staging for the spawn and then move back in. So why wait for the crappies to spawn? You waited all winter. Early spring crappie fishing is a real bonus. Have Fun!

About the Author

Stephen Long is an author for Sportsmans Article Resource Directory. Learn how to catch more crappie as well as other fishing tips at http://www.profishingtips.info

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Top Water Bass Fishing Secrets

noreply@blogger.com (FishB) — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:13:00 +0000

There are many ways to catch bass, but there is nothing more exciting than catching bass with top water lures and techniques. Learn more on how to put the thrill in bass fishing.

It's early in the morning and you're already on the water. The water is like glass and all is quiet around you. Next to you in the boat is a cooler filled with your favorite beverage (whether it's beer or coke is up to you!). As you approach your favorite fishing hole, you pick up your rod and tie on a surface lure. You cast your line toward the shore and present your topwater offering.

All of a sudden, the water explodes and you are in the battle of your life with a lunker largemouth! He feels like he goes maybe 3 or 4 pounds. As you get him boat side, you reach down and lift him out of the water. Larger than you expected, around 5 pounds! You turn and drop your prize into the live well and prepare for the next cast...

The thrill of topwater bass fishing is addictive. There is a BIG difference between catching that elusive largemouth off the bottom, from the middle or from the surface. Topwater bass fishing is a more visual experience than other types of fishing. There are specific types of rods and lures for topwater bass fishing.

Rods

Most anglers will tell you that a 6 to 6 Ѕ foot rod with a medium action will suffice. If the action of the rod is too stiff, you will yank your bait right out of the fish's mouth when you set the hook. A medium action rod is the best fit for topwater bass fishing.

These rods are available in a price range of about $20 to over $200. Do you need to spend a bunch of money on a rod? Regardless of the price tag, medium action is medium action. On the other hand, if you go with a $25 rod, you can expect $25 worth of performance. Chose a rod somewhere in the middle price range and you won't go wrong.

Lures

When it comes to lures, there are a great many to choose from. Here is a list of the top ten I have read about recently:

1. Heddon's Zara Spook.

2. Custom Bait's Senko.

3. Yum's Floating Worm (with a Texas style rig).

4. Zoom's Superfluke.

5. Heddon's Torpedo.

6. Lazer Eye's Buzzbait

7. Smithwick's Stick Bait aka Hard Jerk Bait.

8. Rebel's Pop-R bait.

9. Snag Proof's Tournament Frog.

10. Any spinner bait. These are manufactured by numerous companies.

All these lures have their own unique presentations. When presented properly, these baits are historically known to produce quality bass. This is true across regional boundaries, weather conditions and water tempuratures.

A big tip

Now you have the rod and the lures you need for topwater bass fishing, there is one more thing you should know. Here it is: Since topwater fishing is a visual type of fishing, most anglers will set the hook too soon and jerk the lure right out of the fish's mouth. To prevent this, do NOT set the hook immediately when you see the strike! Wait a second, reel in some slack and when you feel the pressure of the bass on the line, THEN set the hook. You will land more lunkers that way and be a much happier angler to boot.

About the Author

Stephen Long is an author for Sportsmans Article Resource, providing you the latest fishing and hunting tips and techniques for the outdoorsman. Sportsmans article resource is an article resource directory for free online articles.