Imagine…..

Imagine a calm day, perfect light breeze…Your standing on the bank ready to land the fish who’s been chasing your bait but hasn’t quite felt the need to strike. Suddenly he does it… He takes the bait and the fight is on! You’ve been waiting for this moment your ready, your prepared….. or so you thought. Your reel is doing it again seems like no matter how much you lube it, when it gets tension it starts jamming up making it harder and harder to reel. That old rod you’ve been meaning to replace has started making that crackling sound, and then…. your worst fear… You lost him! You’ve been working that fish all morning! Snagged him and “Bam!” Your rods snapped, your lines strewn all over the lake, and that reel has finally locked up! You then realize its time for some new tackle, this will not happen to you again.

So on that note lets take a look at some of what 2017 has to offer the ultralight fisherman

2017 has a promising line of ultralight fishing gear available so you wont lose that hard to catcher

Let’s take a look at one of the top rated rods on the market for 2017:

Falcon has just released the new BuCoo SR rod

It’s features include:

Cross directional carbon fiber with “cobra cloth“ reinforcements, Fuji exposed blank reel seat for direct contact and EVA split grip handles for less weight

With multiple flex, action ratings and three different handles to choose from this ones definitely a keeper for 2017

Check them out here: http://www.falconrods.com/bucoo-sr.html

Next we will be looking at one of the top open faced ultralight reels of 2017:

Okuma has just released the Helios SX Spinning Reel

It’s lightweight carbon fiber, corrosion resistant, and as well as having TCA keeps the internal mechanism of the reel in perfect alignment. “You don’t have to worry about grinding and jamming after a month of heavy use”

Cyclonic Flow Rotor designed to create airflow, which significantly increases the air flow through the ported rotor.

This thoroughly tested design allows for a much faster drying time if the reel becomes wet, minimizing corrosion possibility through out the reel.

Check it out here: https://www.okumafishing.com/en/product/Helios-SX-Spinning-Reel/helios-sx-spinning-reel.html

These are just a taste of what this year has in store for us there is a lot to choose from out there and more to come before 2017 is over!

Now the next time you got a good one on the line don’t be caught with your pants down and keep your gear up to date!
“Old Betsy” isn’t going to last forever and it never hurts to splurge and try something new for a change

http://ultralight-fishing.com/Besides the rod, reel, waders and flies, there’s something else that sets you apart from other sportsmen. You love your game enough to do it all day, every day. As a dedicated fly fisherman, you relish the idea of spending the rest of your life getting better and better at the only outdoor sport that really matters. We add to your ongoing quest for knowledge with these 10 tips to improve your fly fishing.

1. Start Out Shallow

You’ll eventually get all the way out there, so don’t storm the river without exploring that shallow water first. Take your time, ease your way in with a few short casts, and enjoy the salmon and trout that rise to your shallow presentations. Ignore your buddies’ sideways looks while you get the fishing day off to a productive start. You don’t always have to be hip-deep to hit serious action.

2. Add Accuracy to Those Short Casts

Now that you appreciate the overlooked art of staying shallow, you realize that you haven’t had much practice with the unappreciated short cast. It isn’t easy, but it’s a technique that you can master over time. Until then, give your rod an advantage with an overweight. It sounds too simple to be true, but overweighting by just one line weight can turn you into a master short-caster.

3. Stay on the Move

Don’t enjoy that shallow action so much that you start working one spot over and over perfecting your presentation. You know the raw aggression of a salmon anywhere near a good fly. Trout make up for their short feeding season with a frenzy. Give them your best, and move on with your chin held high when they ignore you. They aren’t the only fish in the river.

4. Learn to Read That Foam

Develop a talent for foam reading, and you’ll always be on top of main current seams. As the water flow moves the foam, you know it’s moving the buffet that entices hungry fish, so follow the flow line. It’s also an excellent strategy for catching minor drag problems. If your fly isn’t moving in synch with the foam, it’s time to make some adjustments.

5. Go Prepared for Anything

Are you ready to catch something besides chinook and rainbow? Don’t limit your chances for action with a two-species mindset. Surprise your guide the night before you head out with an idea to fish for something that isn’t salmon or trout. He’s your go-to guy for everything it takes to catch something outside the tackle box, and he’ll appreciate your sense of adventure.

6. Let Go of Perfection

If you could nail every cast on the money, you probably wouldn’t be reading this list. If you’re like most other fly fishermen, you sometimes miss the mark, and that’s OK. Relax, and take a deep breath. While you figure out what went wrong, just go with the drift. Fly fishing is as much mental as it is physical, so don’t wear yourself out casting for perfection every time.

7. Short Drift for Line Management

If you routinely stake a claim on the river with long casts, you’re probably overshooting and setting yourself up for line management problems. Think in terms of a short drift that’s equal to what you can cast, and start from a location that lets you move on a few steps as you work the river. You’ll get the same coverage and reduce line problems.

8. Check Your Fly

You really shouldn’t need reminding, but serious action can get in the way of common sense. Whether you miss that rainbow or land it, always take a quick look at your hardworking fly before you cast back out. Check the hackle, make sure the wings are still positioned just right, and dry it off. Crystals and pads are great, but your shirt sleeve works too.

9. Be a Friend to the Fish

The thrill of landing a 10-pound salmon doesn’t make him any easier to coax off the hook. He’s fighting for his life, and he’s one heck of a handful. Catch and release rules, so make this part of the game easier on you and that fish. Quickly turn him upside down, and he becomes disoriented. Yes, confuse your fish first, and then remove the hook.

10. Practice, Practice and Practice Some More

This may be the one tip that every fly fisherman frames and hangs over the fireplace. You don’t take this one to heart because it makes you better on the river. Of course, it does, but this is everyone’s favorite tip because it’s also a perfect excuse to go out there and do it over and over again for the rest of your fly fishing-loving life. We don’t claim that this list is the final word on improving your fly fishing powers. There is no such thing, and that’s the way it should be. Please feel free to improve on our ideas, and add your own. Better yet, come join us here on the high banks of the Kvichak River. Your invitation to drop by No See Um Lodge in Alaska is always open, and we really want to hear your best fly fishing tips.

In the case of common predatory species such as the Redfin (European Perch / Perca fluviatilis), which are undoubtedly a ‘prime catch’ in the UK, Europe and Australia, they have particular traits that, if exploited, could land you a decent meal. This fish is very similar, both in looks and in nature, to the American yellow perch (Perca flavescens), and fishing styles between the two are remarkably similar.

First and foremost, what an angler needs to know about Redfin is these fish are primarily predatory and usually ambush their prey. In order to achieve this, the fish will inhabit weed beds or hide between rock crevices, where they are practically invisible to their unsuspecting prey. This however only occurs when they are not schooling with others, fish which are schooling tend to do so in the open, and schooling fish will be much easier to lure than those which are hiding on their own.

The natural behaviour of sole dwelling fish can pose as a serious obstacle because weed beds, as even a novice angler would know, can cause snags. Knowing what lure to use is essential in redfin fishing, as using the wrong lure not only means no fish, but it also means you might end up losing your lures too. Depending on the environment that you are fishing in, whether it’s a stream, lake or creek, it is crucial to note and take into account the physical geographical aspects of the ‘fishing matrix’.

There is a variety of suitable redfin lures to choose from. All spin lures will be suitable for catching redfin, however you will want to adjust the weight depending on the distance you are casting, along with how deep the water is. Small hard body diving lures are also good to use in water which is around 2 meters or more deep, and finally the preferred method by many, the soft plastic grub style lures.

Before even considering casting your line, determining areas that have weed beds, driftwood or rocks needs to be done visually in order to decide which area you plan to tackle first. After determining the area, the next task would be to mentally mark out the ‘angling area’ for your first series of casts, and finally, decide on the type of redfin lure you will use, not that these lures are specifically for redfins, but these fish do respond to the aforementioned lure styles more so than most other fish.

Using soft plastic lures is highly recommended by most seasoned fishermen, due to a variety of reason including ‘lure action’, which often imitate the actions of a prawn. However achieving the ‘lure action’ techniques will require a lot of practice as casting your line and slowly retrieving in a manner that makes the lure ‘look and behave’ like a meal for the fish is not an easy task. The best method is casting the line, then taking up the slack and a pause for a couple of seconds to allow the lure to sink, then a quick one or two jigs upwards and continue to retrieve for another meter or so, before repeating this again.

Having the right kind of accessories will help in this instance, light weight rods are normally the best starting point for freshwater fishing. Ideally a highly flexible spin rod with a 7lbs line will normally be sufficient.

Using either Fluorocarbon or mono-filament fishing line does not make a significant difference, but note that fluorocarbon lines sink faster. The tendency for the line to sink can divert the lure to an unintended position, as the line will sink towards weed beds at the bottom of the water. It is advised that regular and cheap mono-filament fishing line is best for beginners.

Another popular method of redfin fishing is using conventional fishing methods such as bait fishing, the best and most successful bait is definitely live earthworms, as it is for most other fish species. Threading regular live earthworms through a long shank hook, or double hooking a single worm using a regular or “suicide” shaped size 6 hook is more than enough to attract a good sized fish.

Prawns are also know to have produce good results when it comes to perch fishing, raw peeled prawns can be used, or live freshwater prawns (known as yabbies in Australia) can be collected by placing a net in the water and a piece of raw chicken in the middle. After an hour or two you can come back and drag the net out of the water to find the freshwater prawns clinging to the chicken. It is usually best to hook live prawns through the tail with the hook facing upwards at first, once the prawn has died, the hook can then be threaded through the head and exit in the middle of the tail underneath.

The best places to target are always going to be areas that are not often visited by fishermen, in places like these the conditions can often be good enough to land anglers a bucket full of good sized catches. As the professionals know, fish that have been hooked once are far less likely to take a hook again in future, they become far more cautious of hooks after being released, and their fear can also cause a similar reaction to other fish in the school they are in. So fishing in rivers that are not often accessed makes landing a catch on bait or lures far easier.

A lasting tradition of value, performance and quality, Buck has been one the leading manufacturers of one of the best and finest knives made in USA today. For over a century now, they have been known to make their knives so well and that’s the reason why they put their name on every knife that they make. Although the times have changed, the need for a fishing knife that is reliable continues to be the same. This is the reason why the Buck knives continues to find a way in which to improve their fishing knives so that they can meet the needs of every fisherman.

Despite all the challenges that our economy is experiencing, Buck knives strives to earn confidence and trust from their clients with each fishing knife they buy. Whether it be one of their famous series knives or a custom made fishing knife, Buck knows that they have the right fishing knife for you and at a reasonable price. The Buck Model 110 is without a doubt one of the greatest knives ever made for fishing, find out more here.

Steel is the soul and heart of a knife. This is what buck does with steel which distinguishes them from their competitors. There are three factors that can be used to measure the degree of a quality blade: strength and ductility which determines how much force your blade can withstand, edge retention which is how long the sharpness or edge of the blade will last and lastly corrosion resistance which is how well your blade is shielded from the Mother Nature elements as well as yourself.

The process of the combination of raw elements at the Bucks’ determines the desired Rockwell Hardness and the level of quality of their fishing knives. These knives are made under the direct supervision of their in-house expert who makes sure that all the above qualities are met in every knife made. They take their knives through a precisely controlled process, changing raw steel into a perfect combination of ductility, hardness, corrosion resistance, hardness and edge retention.

Another crucial step that they take in the manufacturing process of their fishing knives is the grinding process. Grind refers to the gradual slope from the top all the way to the cutting edge of the blade. In their years of experience, Buck have found that the best grind for stronger, sharper blade is the semi-hollow grind, which is used in all their knives.

Lastly, the final test that Buck makes on every fishing knife as well as all other knives, is their final process which involves from testing the Rockwell Hardness of the newly made blades to the last test by their quality control team.

Ultralight fly fishing is a great way to catch fish, but many people do not know where to begin. Not only do people not know about casting, rigging or knot tying, they simply do not know where the best areas are to fish. This January and February, however, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is putting on a plethora of events to help the public learn how to fly fish. The event is aimed towards those that either want a refresher or that have never went fly fishing before. While the pros will not learn much at the clinic, it is going to be a great clinic that costs a mere $5.

Two ponds are being filled with 1,000 catchable-sized trout in anticipation for the clinic. Brook, rainbow and brown trout have already been stocked on December 20^th. If you want to go to the clinic, it is best to pre-register so that you know you will have a spot available. There are only 40 spots open for each clinic and they fill up fast.

The event will take place in Fayetteville and anyone interested will be able to call the Pechmann Center for more information. Currently, three clinics are scheduled occurring on:

• January 18^th
• February 1
• February 15^th

All clinics will begin at 9 am and end at 3 pm. Those that attend the event will be catching fish using the proper technique and equipment. Loaner rods and bait will be available so that participants do not need to worry about purchasing their own gear for the event. This is a great opportunity for anyone near the Fayetteville area to learn how to fly fish. Among the basics that will be taught are:

• Casting
• Rigging
• Knot tying

Anyone that is interested in going to the clinic can call the Pechmann Center at 910 868-5003.

The fish finders have a sensor that you tie onto your fishing line before you cast it out. Then you throw your line, and the sensor will send sonar beams into the water, receive them, and send them back to your device.

 So far, Humminbird is the only company that makes these fish finders – there’s also Hawkeye, but Humminbirds are much higher quality. If you are a Lowrance or Garmin guy, you will have to wait until they come out with their own!

 The device will show you whatever the sensor is picking up – so you know within seconds of a cast if there are any fish in that spot or not. If there aren’t, just reel up your line and cast somewhere else!

It’s so versatile that you can take it literally anywhere. As long as your cast is within 100 feet of you, you can receive a pretty strong signal. If you are superman and can manage to throw a fishing line further than 100 feet away, you can probably dive in the water and grab the fish yourself!

 So now, instead of waiting, waiting, and waiting, you can know right off the bat, and not delay your lunch any more than it needs to be.

 Lunch? I want dinner! You may say. No worries – the portable device has a backlight, so any fish that tries to outsmart you thinking you can’t find it at night is gravely mistaken. It’s not that you won’t find it – it will find you, staring down at it as it lays roasted on your plate.

 The assembly is pretty simple. When you open the box, there will be a fish finder, a transmitter, and an instruction manual. You can tie the transmitter onto anything as long as it’s a string of some sort. So whether it’s a nylon fishing line or just some thread you stuffed into your backpack as a precaution, the fish finder won’t fail you.

Barry Foster has enough passion to compel fishermen across the world to get out and enjoy an afternoon of fishing. The host of Gulf South Outdoors, however, believes that are the most vital aspects of being a successful fisherman. These two traits, are the foundation that any prospective fisherman or hobbyist will want to adhere to greatly.

Patience

Oftentimes, people will pack up their gear for the day and call it quits after just one hour of fishing. This usually ends with the next person catching a plethora of fish in the same spot. While many do not realize it, fishing is very scientific. There are many factors that will determine a good fishing day from a bad one. The weather, fish behavior, time of day and the current bait being used will change every time. This leads directly into the next point.

Self-discipline

Fishermen have to be prepared for the unexpected. This means that instead of relying on heavy-duty tackle, bring along all of the appropriate gear for ultralight fishing as well. Those that are consistently reeling in fish have learned that they need to be prepared. The plans for the day never turn out exactly how a person has envisioned. Instead, fish will bite all throughout the day on Sunday and will be scarce on Monday.

Ultralight Tackle

Every person that is serious about fishing will need to divert from the heavy-duty tackle and test the waters with their ultralight fishing gear. A good assortment of equipment will include:

• Lighted fishing bobbers which are great for night fishing.
• An ultralight rod and reel. Graphite rods are the perfect choice.
• Super lines are becoming extremely popular as they are very durable, yet thin.

Learning when to persist with current gear or when to finally change tactics can lead to a great day outdoors. Never put all of your trust in one method as factors can and will change quickly. Bring along both heavy-duty and ultralight tackle to make the most out of the day. If the pros are doing it, the hobbyist will need to as well.

Guess what happens when you hook a 7lb Bass on your ultralight rod! ACTION! This video reminds me why I love my ultralight tackle,  a 7 pounder is a big boy by any standards, but with the light tackle it becomes a catch to remember. BIG, HEALTHY 7Lb+ LARGEMOUTH BASS ON ULTRA LIGHT TACKLE RESUSCITATE AND RELEASE. Big wide tail gave me 4 high jumps and multiple long drag runs in shallows. An absolute power house early prespawn not a blown up flabby belly. Respect them and they will flourish.

Catching trout with Ultralight spinning reel