Fishing Stores

How to Increase Your Fishkeeping Fun

2008-10-10T09:28:00.000-07:00

Do you really get the fullest amount of enjoyment out of your
fish?, or is it hampered by little worries and anxieties?
Do you sometimes worry that you may be spending too much time
with your fish? I often hear people remark that although they
enjoy their hobby, the routine maintenance tasks involved detract
from the fun.

In this month's feature we will explore how we can increase our
fun by maybe taking a different approach to those mundane
activities that are so essential if we are to keep our fish in
tip top condition.

Create a plan

When you get some time to spend with your hobby do you go through
a sort of mental conflict wondering what to do?... and when you
finally do decide, half of your time has gone already.

WELL...you are not on your own, most aquarists share the same
dilemma. BUT... it is possible to overcome this problem, to even
double your fishkeeping enjoyment. HOW? Well, certainly not by
adding more tanks or even devoting more time to your hobby...
the answer lies in a change of mental outlook, a change of
approach.

Have you ever noticed that some people always seem to be on top
of their work?, how their fish rooms and tanks are always tidy?
how they always seem to have lots of time to enjoy their hobby?
Yet others never get a minute to live, they always seem to have
lots to do and yet nothing seems to get done.The most important
ingredient in our formula for increased fishkeeping fun is
planning.

Most of us lead busy lives, holding down a full-time job, and
taking care of family commitments etc. Without a plan it is all
too easy to put off our fish maintenance tasks until another day
when life is a litle less hectic. Unfortunately, more often than
not life doesn't get less hectic and our maintenance jobs build
up until our tank(s) become dirty and our fish begin to suffer.

That's when the pressure starts to build.

Include the family

This can be particularly difficult when your partner doesn't
share your love and enthusiasm for the hobby. It is only natural
that they will have different priorities for your time than you
and if harmony is to be maintained then some sort of agreement
must be reached. Having a plan that includes both the family
needs and your hobby needs goes a long way to ensuring that
everyone's needs are satisfied. The biggest obstacle to overcome
in any hobby is distraction. It is very tempting when we have the
time to spend with our fish to waste that time on trivial matters
or even just admiring our fish.

Now don't get me wrong... I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't
take time to admire our fish, after all that is the reason we
started keeping fish in the first place. What I am suggesting is
that there are probably more suitable times to sit and admire our
fish. We can fit in time for that when we are relaxing with the
family, for instance.

What I am saying is that during those precious occassions when
we can devote some dedicated time to maintenance, we should
concentrate just on maintenance activities.The most important
ingredient to making the best of our valuable time is one of
mental outlook and organisation. Clear thinking about your fish
is the key to getting maximum pleasure. No matter what your hobby
or interest is, there can be no pleasure in it if it causes
anxiety and frustration. Your hobby will only be pleasurable if
it brings you satisfaction and relaxation.

Be realistic

Ask yourself ... is your thinking absolutely clear about your
fishkeeping? Perhaps when you get some time one evening get a
pencil and paper and make a few notes along these lines. Have you
ever considered how much time and money you can afford to spend
on the hobby? Give it some thought and write it down. You might
think, for example, ......I can afford to work 2 evenings a week,
3 hours each evening and 5 hours every other saturday. ......I
can afford to spend £10 a month or £20 a month. Be as specific
as possible even though any one week may have to be changed. The
main thing is to have a clear idea of time and money commitment.
These will be different for every aquarist, of course. The
important thing is that they are commitments that you are
comfortable with.

One of the common traps that many of us fall into is letting our
hobby get out of hand. We become involved with fishkeeping, either
through a visit to a garden centre, pet shop or through a friend
and set up a tank in our lounge. Before long the bug has taken
hold and we introduce another tank, then another and before we
know it we find we can't cope with the water changing and
cleaning the glass etc. that we have to do just to be able to see
the fish!

One of the interim steps that we might have to consider is
shutting down one or more of our tanks, maybe just as a temporary
measure until we get better organised.

Next...

The next step is to set a specific objective for yourself and
your fishkeeping. This is not necessarily one to be achieved
immediately but it must be specific.

"To keep and breed every species of fish" is possibly a dream of
many breeders but hardly a specific objective. When setting your
specific objective, keep within your time and money commitment.
The great thing about fishkeeping is the wide range of possible
goals you could pursue. If you are a fish breeder for instance,
you could specialise in one fish and set a goal for a breeding
programme. If you are not a breeder but enjoy collecting you
could possibly try to collect every species within a genus.
Whatever your interest make sure you narrow it down to a specific
objective, one that is practical within your time and money
objective. It could be "Collect as many species of Dwarf Cichlids
as possible", "Develop a strain of albino Discus" or set up a
tank housing only the species from a particular geographical area
- a Madagascar tank for instance.

Having decided... think about your first step towards achieving
this goal. This is your short term goal, something to be achieved
in the near future."Find a good source of dwarf cichlids and buy
one pair" or "Keep adult discus alive for x months".

Give some thought to it but having decided write it down and
remember your previous decisions all the time.

OK, Next Step...

With your new goal in mind, go and look at your set up. Ask
yourself - "does everything in my current set up contribute
towards my short term goal?" The answer will almost certainly be
NO. There will probably be odds and ends of fish and equipment
that have nothing to do with your goal. NOW comes the hardest
bit....Everything that does not contribute to your goal should be
sold or traded in and the proceeds put towards your objective.
When you have achieved this you could well find that you have
doubled your tank space without buying a single tank!!....

NEXT

Create a list of priorities

Most aquarists have regular jobs that they do over and over
again. Daily jobs. Yet we regularly waste a lot of time deciding
what to do, often every day. I'm sure many of you can relate to
the scenario;

You get home from work, take care of the immediate priorities,
sit down to dinner, finishing at 7.00 pm. Perhaps you now have 2
hours to spend with your fish. So you now go through the decision
making sequence of what to do tonight. We can lose 15 valuable
minutes each time we stop to decide what to do next.

How can we overcome this? As we have identified above most
aquarists have routine jobs plus a few special ones. Keeping in
mind our short term goals, write down each job on a separate
piece of card.

For example a fish breeder might list the following 7 items:

Feed fish
Expand set-up
Cull young fish and move into a larger tank
Clean filters
Set out new pairs to spawn
Check for disease; treat any observed
Check water; change if necessary

This is not a complete list, of course, you will probably end up
with one much longer but 7 items will do for our example of how
to set priorities.

Now look at the list and re-arrange the items something like this:
Any disease can spread quickly and if left untreated could wipe
out your entire tank - it only takes a minute.

Make a visual check for unusual behaviour...hanging in corners...
clamped fins...scratching etc

So No. 1 on our list is: 1. Check for disease

Look at the remaining list. What should you do next? Feed the
fish? Well...maybe...but would you put food in a cloudy tank??

No, so it is best to check the water and if cloudy, change some
water.

So No. 2 on our list is: 2. Check water - change if necessary

You may ask, would you change water before cleaning/changing the
filters? Yes, I would. It is important to remove dissolved solids
and waste (bacteria) in suspension which can create harmful
nitrite before changing the filter media where wastes are being
partly broken down anyway. It is important to change the filter
media as time permits but not before water changes in my opinion.

We mentioned feeding the fish above and this is very important
and only items 1 and 2 above should come before it.

So our No. 3 is: 3. Feed the fish

Followed by: 4. Clean the filters

Now the last three.

-Cull young
-Set out new pairs
-Expand set-up

Having completed this exercise we now have a priority list to
work from. Having set that up, whenever we get a few minutes to
spend with our fish we start at the top of the list and work our
way through.

Check for disease; treat any necessary
Check water; change if necessary
Feed fish
Clean filters
Cull young fish and move into a larger tank
Set out new pairs to spawn
Expand set up

We have removed the delays caused by having to decide what to do
each time. In the 15 minutes that we may have wasted trying to
decide what to do we could be halfway down our list. The priority
list will be different for every aquarist but the principle will
be the same.

Finally....make a habit of keeping a diary of all your
fishkeeping activities. This will provide valuable information on
frequency of activities and when things like water changes are
due. Time has a habit of going so quickly that several weeks can
pass since our last water change but without having notes to
refer to it may, and often does, seem like last week.

Create your plan, work to it and replace the anxiety with
pleasure.

Happy Fishkeeping!

Clean and protect all your fishing gear with Tackle-It

2008-09-15T08:06:00.000-07:00

Introduction: Enjay introduces Tackle-It, a new all purpose cleaner that is designed to clean and protect just about all your fishing related gear. This multi purpose cleaner also adds a layer of protection that is designed to effectively repel any further dirt and grime.

Impressions: Tackle-It comes from Enjay Functional Solutions, the same manufacturer that introduced the Albackore Tackle Bag last year. Tackle-It is designed for anglers, but can be used on virtually any surface. While all of us at one time or another has cleaned our tackle we will typically grab the closest household cleaner and make do. Tackle-It is not only a cleaner but brings the added value of having protection capabilities that will actually prolong the life of the treated surface by resisting further buildup of unwanted grunge.

Rods: While Tackle-It is great for cleaning rods it is a good idea to treat all your rods prior to fishing, especially big game rods. On a recent Albacore trip we found ourselves and our tackle exposed to scales, fish guts, and blood. All of which seems to find their way beautifully to everyone's rods. After getting home we were able to clean the untreated rods in a matter of minutes, and now they benefit from a protective layer that will make it easy to clean these rods after our next charter.

Read the full review

deep sea fishing trip in tobago

2008-08-25T09:59:00.000-07:00

We met some local fisherman and they took us on a 12 hour deep sea fishing trip off the coast of tobago. We caught 3 large groupers and a ton of flying fish.

Night Bass Fishing

2008-08-15T09:57:00.000-07:00

Don't let the cover of darkness keep you from catching that Bass. School's in session at http://bassprofessor.com.

FUNNY FISHING

2008-07-31T08:31:00.000-07:00

The Benefits of Inflatable Fishing Boats

2008-07-17T20:05:00.000-07:00

Inflatable fishing boats are great yacht tenders/camping boats that are light enough to be carried in a backpack. Some 8-foot inflatable fishing boats are good for two and gear, and are large enough to float in moderate whitewater rivers. They can also be used as a large yacht tender. Inflatable fishing boats that are 9-foot long can carry enough gear for a long outdoor journey, and make a great fishing boat.

Most inflatable fishing boats fold small enough to be transported easily in a car trunk. They weigh around 40 lbs without running boards and are lightweight enough to be carried to nearby waterways. Inflatable fishing boats are really versatile. They are equally suitable for fishing, diving, or as a pleasure cruiser. In addition to versatility and despite their large size, inflatable fishing boats are very easy to row.

To make things more enjoyable, fit the Inflatable Fishing Boat with a small 4 hp motor and the craft will go around all day on just a gallon of gas. In places that ban gas engines, one could attach an equivalent electric motor. Whatever one’s purpose, from fishing to Class 3 whitewater running, inflatable fishing boats are up to the job.

Inflatable fishing boats are cheap and durable boats well-suited for weekend fishing or hunting and camping trips. They are compact, and can be carried to the water by a couple of people. Despite this, inflatable fishing boats are spacious and rugged enough to handle almost any conditions.

The prices of inflatable fishing boats vary from $30 to $450 depending on the size and number of running boards. For just a fraction of the price of a conventional boat, inflatable fishing boats give the user all the freedom needed coupled with unrivalled accessibility. Thanks to their lightweight and amazing compactness, one can get to those hard-to-reach favorite fishing spots.

Inflatable Boats Info provides detailed information on pontoon, rigid and fishing inflatable boats, as well as trailers, repairs, used inflatable boats and manufacturers. Inflatable Boats Info is the sister site of River Rafting Web.

Introduction To Fishing

2008-07-03T08:59:00.000-07:00

The Thrill Of The Catch

If you haven't fished before, you don't know what you're missing. If you did, you would be a fisherperson.

Not only does it bring you closer to nature, there's the thrill of the catch. Imagine standing on the bank of a stream on a beautiful day, your rod bending under the weight of a good catch. This one's a fighter and you take your time, allowing the fish to tire itself out before reeling it to shore. When you finally land it, you realize you've just caught the biggest fish of your life. It's a great feeling and 1 you'll never know until you give fishing a try.

Learning How To Fish

Now that I have your interest, perhaps you realize that you don't have a clue how to go about fishing. Well, that's what I'm here for. If you want to learn to fish, here are 5 easy ways:

* Ask a family member or friend who is an experienced angler to take you along the next time they go fishing -- they will be thrilled to have a new fishing buddy

* Research online -- there are hundreds of websites with instructions on fishing gear, bait, and fishing tips

* Go to your local library and check out how-to fishing books and magazines

* Check your local conservation or wildlife service -- they often hold a fishing day where beginners can learn the basics of fishing.

* If you go on vacation in fishing country (which is darn near anywhere), check with local fishing stores -- they often know local professionals who will teach you how to fish.

When To Go Fishing

Anytime is a good time to fish; you never know what you might catch.

Some species are more active near dawn and dusk when they are feeding, while others will bite any time of the day.

Certain times of the year are best for certain species. Fishing is a pastime you can enjoy all year round.

Getting Your License

Fishing licenses are required in most places, which you can buy at fishing tackle stores or Conservation and Wildlife Centers. The cost varies by location. Licenses for children are usually not required.

If you want to fish on private property, be sure to get permission from the owner. Otherwise it is trespassing.

Pack Up And Head Out

If you've read this far, it may be a sign you're getting interested in fishing. Just follow the above instructions and soon you will be enjoying your favorite new hobby.

Visit Fishing to learn more. Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.

Fit The Fishing Rod To The Fishing Task

2008-04-15T09:48:00.000-07:00

See yourself standing on the bank of a swiftly moving stream in the shade of a gnarled willow, your fishing rod bent beneath the weight of an unusually large catch.

Whether or not you land that fish depends on the decisions you made at the shop -- primarily the type of rod.

The ABCs Of Fishing Rods

Your rod is the most important tool you will use while fishing, and you can chose from a wide range of types, styles and lengths.

A fishing rod is a shaft of graphite, fiberglass, steel, wood or bamboo used to catch fish (duh). Fishing filament (line), is threaded through the ferrules (eyes) along the rod. The ferrule at the tip directs the cast. 1 end of the line winds around a reel at the base of the pole. The other end of the line has a baited hook attached to it.

Fishing rods vary from 4 feet (for children) to 16 feet, with the average being 6 feet long. Rod length is chosen based on: the species of fish you target and the environment you will fish at.

Landscape

If your fishing hole is beside trees with overhead branches, you'll need a short, flexible rod. Flexibility -- the amount the rod can bend before breaking -- is determined by the diameter of the pole. Light rods are thin and flexible, while stronger rods are thicker and more rigid.

For open terrain, flexible, thin rods that are 10 to 12 feet long are good, unless it is too windy.

Fresh Water Or Salt Water?

Freshwater fishing occurs in lakes, ponds, rivers and streams, while saltwater fishing is done in oceans and along the coast. Choose a rod appropriate to the environment.

Plan For Species Of Fish

Short, strong rods are best for landing game fish. Stronger and thicker rods should be used for large, aggressive fish. Such fish could break a lighter pole.

Select Rod By Material

Common types of fishing rods include bamboo, fiberglass and graphite.

Bamboo rods can be a basic, inexpensive pole with a line attached, to very expensive handcrafted rods that are used for fly-fishing. Bamboo rods run from $5 up to hundreds of dollars for handcrafted fly fishing rods. If you are not planning to do fly-fishing, fiberglass or graphite rods are best.

Fiberglass rods are good for beginners and kids and they're reasonably priced. They come in many lengths, flexibility characteristics, and require very little maintenance.

Many experienced anglers prefer graphite rods, because they are very lightweight and extremely strong.

A Fitting Rod

Your goal should be to find a rod that fits your arm and is comfortable. If you have trouble choosing, ask someone with experience to go along or just ask the staff at a fishing store. A few pointers will quickly get you on your way -- to a world of fun.

Visit Fishing to learn more. Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer. Copyright 2005 Ron King. This article may be reprinted if the resource box is left intact.

This article is free for republishing

Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer.

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Fit The Fishing Rod To The Fishing Task

2008-04-11T08:12:00.001-07:00

Ron King is a full-time researcher, writer, and web developer.

Robot Fish

2008-04-05T09:50:00.000-07:00

A robotic fish developed by scientists from Essex University is put through its paces in a special tank at the London Aquarium. It works via sensors and has autonomous navigational control.

What you need to know about deep fishing.

2008-03-23T09:05:00.000-07:00

The equipment used to deep fish is basically the same as other fishing equipment. In deep fishing, though, the equipment has to be suited to fishing in the depths of the water. The line need to be stronger because the fish are stronger and larger. Instead of a pole, a hand reel is used. The hand reel is attached to the boat and reels in the line. The set up of deep fishing equipment starts with the mainline. The main line attaches to the hand reel and needs to be long enough to go the required depth. Attached to the mainline is the terminal rig. The terminal rig holds smaller line, called trace lines. These trace lines hold the hooks and bait. Some fisherman also attach a chum bucket to the terminal rig. A chum bucker contains ground up bait, called chum. Periodically this chum is released to attract fish. On the bottom of the line is the sinker. The sinker must be heavy enough to pull the line to the bottom. The most important part of deep fishing is the bait. It should be fresh and well attached to the hook. Try double-hooking (attaching the bait through two points with the hook) to ensure it doesn't fall off. Because you are working at great depths, you need to make sure your bait will work good. All of this equipment will ensure you have a nice deep fishing experience.

The three basic types of deep fishing each use a certain method to attract to fish or catch the fish. Anchoring and chumming is a type of deep fishing that relies heavily on the use of a chum bucket. The chum bucket is the main source of bait. The fisherman anchors in one spot and then uses the periodic release of chum to catch fish. Bottom trolling uses a cannon ball as its tactic. The cannon ball is drug around the bottom where it stirs up mud and causes noise. This stirs up the fish, provoking them to bite the bait. Trawling is used to catch many fish at once. It involves a net with weights and wheels attached to it. This net rolls along the bottom and scoops up fish. Each type has its good points and bad points, but those are mainly based upon the fisherman's goals. The method you chose to use for deep fishing is up to you.

Deep fishing takes skill and some preparation. Fishing at the bottom comes with its own problems. Fisherman do not want to keep pulling up their line to check bait or move to a different location. Planning the type of deep fishing is also important so you are prepared with the correct equipment. A little planning and patience will make for a good deep fishing experience.

About The Author:

Jay Moncliff is the founder of http://www.fishing-center.info a website specialized on Fishing, resources and articles. This site provides updated information on Fishing. For more info on Fishing visit: http://www.fishing-center.info

Fly Fishing in Russia

2008-03-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

A few years back, I spent a year living in Siberia and had a chance to head out to a town called Tinda. Much to my surprise, a couple of the locals had fly fishing on the menu.

The Siberian Surprise

Mention the word “Siberia” and most people think of bleak, frozen tundra stretching for hundreds of miles. Well, this is more or less true in the winter. In the summer, however, much of Siberia is a burst of green with temperatures in the eighties and nineties. As I had failed to bring shorts, this was a bit of a surprise to me.

Living in the city of Chita, I had an opportunity to visit the forest town of Tinda. Tinda is located about a day east of Lake Baikal and was built in the 1950s to act as a lumber town. The communist government haphazardly relocated a hundred thousand people and there they remain today. The area around Tinda is very mountainous and very beautiful. As the winter snows melt, rivers, lakes and creeks spring to life.

While in Tinda, I was invited to go fly fishing with the sons of the people I was staying with. Hilarity was sure to follow since they spoke no English and I was fluent in Russian at about a kindergarten level. Off we went strolling to the apparent local hot spot.

After a 45 minute walk, we came upon a slow moving creek that looked like something you would find in Wyoming. Trees towered over us and cast shadows across the water. Shallow pools of water formed along the bank and I could’ve sworn I saw more than a few of our slippery friends.

As every person knows, a first timer at anything will always have success. The boys had fished this spot hundreds of times, but I hadn’t. By all that is good in the universe, I should’ve caught 20 while they caught nothing. Alas, evil had the day. I caught nothing, nada, zippo. Nikoli and Oleg, on the other hand, were getting fisher elbow.

Although they caught a lot of fish, I can’t tell you what they were. The language barrier was just too much. The fisher were six to 10 inches long and appeared to be related to Mackinaws, but the vodka celebration made this pure speculation.

Rick Chapo is with Nomad Writing Journals. Fly fishing journals are the perfect fly fishing gifts for fly fishing trips and fly fishing vacations. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com for more fly fishing articles and stories.

This article is free for republishing

Rick Chapo is with Nomad Travel Journals - makers of writing journals and BusinessTaxRecovery.com - recoverying overpaid business taxes for small businesses.

Monster Fish

2008-03-09T07:40:00.000-07:00

Guy Harvey and a team of fishermen forgo a possible marlin world record in order to tag the giant fish.

Halloween Fly Fishing - The Ultimate Bite

2008-03-08T08:21:00.000-08:00

Halloween and fly fishing may seem like an odd mix, but not for true anglers. Yep, I’m talking about the ultimate test of your abilities and nerve.

Dracula’s River

Okay, everyone knows the story of Count Dracula. The book is huge and has been turned into more than a few scary movies. The one the frightened me the most was the recent edition in which Keanu Reaves attempted to speak with an English accent. Truly scary. Anyway, the interesting thing about Dracula is that it is based on a real person.

Vlad the Impaler was a nasty man by any definition. By Vlad, I mean the Romanian Prince, not the Angels outfielder that blasts home runs…except in the playoffs to my dismay. With a nickname like “Impaler”, I shouldn’t have to recite his resume, but will mention that he had a thing for long sticks with one end buried in the ground and the other end sharpened to a point. It was very wise to stay on his good side - “Vlad, did you lose some weight?” and so on.

Vlad ruled Romania during his reign and was such an enthusiast for impaling that those in the lumber business look back upon him with sighs of happiness. As anyone knows from the book, Vlad had his home office at Bran Castle in the Carpathian Mountains although he maintained branch offices in London. In fact, the castle stands today and you can spend your hard earned tourist money strolling about the grounds, buying fake fangs, garlic and so on. What isn’t widely known, of course, is Bran Castle was never the home of Vlad, who apparently didn’t care for the overly religious décor and garlic garden in the backyard.

The true home of Vlad the Impaler is Dracula Castle, which sits on the Arges River. The castle is not a hot tourist destination. Perhaps this is because the only things left are a few stones sticking out of the ground. Nonetheless, below the castle runs the Arges River.

Known in antiquity as the Ordessus, this is the spot where Vlad did some of his top-notch impaling and supposedly tied a unique fly or two. Even after all these years, the fish remain influenced and it takes a brave angler to hit the spot.

Body armor, garlic and a shield are not typical equipment for fly fishing. If you’re going to fish with Vlad, however, each is a must. The fish are odd. The locals with missing fingers and hands will fill you in. The “Impaler Pike” is known to react to being hooked by accelerating towards the angler and leaping from the water in the direction of one’s nether region. The Arges Cutthroat, of course, needs no description, but the Big Macks definitely give rise to the need for garlic. Finally, the Vlad Muskie can be caught, but an older gentlemen with only one ear suggested this isn’t necessarily a good thing. All and all, one doesn’t so much catch a fish below Vlad’s castle as survive the experience.

You may be wondering about the best flies to use in such circumstances. The old stand by Woolly Bugger? Perhaps a Clauser’s Minnow? Nope. According to locals, just nip a finger, rub the blood on a hook and off you go!

Happy Halloween From Nomad Journals!

By the way, you really can fly fish on the Arges below Vlad’s true castle. No armor needed, but garlic keeps the mosquitoes off.

Little blood suckers.

Rick Chapo is with Nomad Writing Journals. Fly fishing journals are the perfect fly fishing gifts for fly fishing trips and fly fishing vacations. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com for more fly fishing articles and stories.

This article is free for republishing

Rick Chapo is with Nomad Travel Journals - makers of writing journals and BusinessTaxRecovery.com - recoverying overpaid business taxes for small businesses.

Fishing By Moon Phase: Increase Your Catch

2008-02-26T05:22:00.000-08:00

Every fisherman dreams of a bigger catch! Is it possible to know beforehand when you should plan a trip to enjoy some fishing, catch more than usual, and come home feeling 100% satisfied? Based on my own personal research around the best fishing times, I think it is.

When I first started fishing, the best fishing time for me was whatever time happened to suit me. I tried different lures, baits and techniques until I'd spent a small fortune in my quest to improve my fishing catch. When I finally heard about the "Solunar Theory"--or fishing by moon phase--like most anglers, I was skeptical.

What I'd read sounded too complicated. All sorts of factors needed to be checked and the determined angler needed to be at the water's edge at exactly the right time, TO THE MINUTE, in order to improve on his average catch. Was I really willing to take my hobby that seriously? Let's just say that curiosity got the better of me.

To help me determine whether there was any truth in the moon's effect on the best fishing times, I kept a record of every trip I made over a period of 18 months. All information related to the moon's phases, the weather conditions and the catches I made were carefully logged. What I discovered convinced me that moon phase fishing works. BUT, I also found that it isn't anywhere near as complicated as many would have us believe.

How Does Fishing By Moon Phase Work?

Every fisherman knows that the best fishing times are when the fish are feeding. This tends to be during dawn and dusk, but what often goes unnoticed are the two periods elsewhere in the day--moonrise and moonset. Because the moon has an effect on a variety of factors surrounding the fish--including the live fodder they hunt--these periods, combined with the moon's phase, are what trigger feeding.

By understanding this, and choosing times when sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset coincide with new or full moon phases, you'll increase you chance of a good fishing catch. Assuming there are fish in the area, of course.

Choosing The Best Fishing Times

There really is nothing complicated about this at all; it's just a matter of knowing ahead of time exactly when the sun and moon will rise and set. Fish are most active during 90-minute windows surrounding each of these four daily events; that's 45 minutes before and after these four daily points.

Fishing during these four periods will help increase your fishing catch, but if you plan wisely so as to ensure you're at the water's edge on the days of new or full moon, you can use these 'windows' to reel in a catch like you've never done before. If you have to choose between sunrise/set and moonrise/set, always go with the moon as the moon is the stronger influence.

Hunters have always known that fish and game are most active at dawn and dusk--sunrise and sunset--but their activity surrounding moonrise and moonset is less noticeable because these events are likely to occur without effecting any change in the perceived light. The rise and set of a new moon is invisible anyway, and overcast weather often hides the moon. Without prior knowledge of setting and rising times, two of the best fishing times will be missed every day!

Other Considerations

When planning your fishing by moon phase, there are certain other factors that should also be considered.

Weather - Severe weather changes have an impact on the way fish feed. When a storm's brewing, or just after one has passed, is a good time. If this happens while you're in place, you'll be in for a treat! However, if there's a cold front approaching, the fish are likely to move deeper into the water and become inactive.

Season - Most fish are more likely to bite willingly during seasonal transitions with the transition from winter to spring and summer to fall being the two best fishing times.

Now that you know that moon phase fishing really works, there's no reason why you shouldn't utilize this knowledge to increase your own fishing catch by being at the ready with your rod during the best fishing times available. It's easy and it works!

Good luck!

About The Author

David Rose is an outdoor enthusiast and the creator of QuickPhase Pro, a popular moon phase software program. Visit http://www.calculatorcat.com/moon_phases to discover the fun and easy way to view the phases of the moon and increase your fishing catch.

Fishing Stores - Fishing tackle

2008-02-18T05:56:00.000-08:00

Fishing the Fall Salmon Run in Michigan - A Beginner's Guide

2008-02-14T23:52:00.000-08:00

I decided to write this guide because a couple of years ago I was the "beginner." I don't claim to be a master at it, but I have lost my fair share of fish and have put a few in the freezer each year. Let me start by saying that, to the best of my knowledge, Michigan has the best Salmon fishery in the United States except for Alaska, and the Pacific Northwest (which is where our Salmon were originally stocked from). I also have to say that once you hook one, you will be "hooked" on the experience. I have broken this article into several parts to keep it organized, and from time to time the article will be updated as I learn more about it. This year I am going to try fly-fishing for the Salmon as well as bait fishing.

About the Fish

Salmon stocking started in Michigan in 1967 to combat the excessive Alewife population. The first species to be stocked was the Coho. As time went on the Chinook was added to the mix. Since that time they have taken off, and between the naturally reproduction that occurs and the DNR stocking we now have one of the best salmon fisheries anywhere. For pictures of the fish please refer to the Michigan Fishing Regulation book for the current year. In addition to the Coho and Chinook salmon you may also occasionally catch a Pink Salmon or Atlantic Salmon, but to the best of my knowledge it doesn't happen often. Maybe someone reading this can correct me if I am wrong.

Where to Go

We are lucky to have access to a state that has such a diverse fishery. Very few states have as many lakes and rivers as we do, or have the variety of fish that live there. For our particular purposes we need rivers that drain into the Great Lakes, since that is where the salmon spend their adult lives. If you search the internet you will find many rivers that have salmon such as the Muskegon, Big Manistee, Little Manistee, Pere Marquette, and Betsie, just to name a few. Some of these rivers have naturally reproducing populations of Salmon while others are stocked by the DNR. There are also several rivers in the Upper Peninsula that play host to salmon in the fall. In all the rivers you have to pay close attention to the fishing regulations because certain sections of the rivers may be closed to fishing to protect the spawning fish or have limitations on the gear you can fish with.

When to Go

The main salmon run occurs every fall. There is no set start date, but you can usually start to see fish in the river in early September, and expect the run to be pretty much done by the end of October. A lot of this depends on the weather. A lack of rain and/or warm weather can make the run start later, and extra rain with cooler temperatures can cause the run to start a little earlier. I guess it all depends on when the fall rains and cooler temperatures hit the area. If you go to the rivers during September and October you are going to eventually find fish, it's just a matter of timing it to catch the big run.

How to Fish For Them

This article is only going to cover techniques for the fisherman who wades. Most fishermen use either a spinning rod or fly rod and do the Chuck-and-Duck method. I believe this fishing method was named by the fly-fisherman because of the extra weight involved and the problem of getting hit in the head (Been There-Done That). You can also cast flies, such as Wooly Buggers, egg patterns, streamers, nymphs, and probably others I don't know about yet. Yet another method is to suspend spawn, flies, or jigs below a float of some type. Whatever rig you choose you will need some waders, a net of some type, a head-lamp or other light source for night fishing, rain-gear, and some warm clothes.

The Chuck-n-Duck method usually involves a three-way swivel, some type of weight, and a hook with salmon eggs or yarn balls. I have also seen anglers use flies or plugs instead of the hook and spawn. A diagram can bee seen at Figure 1 which is listed at the end of the article.

I personally prefer to use about a 3' leader when I fish this method but you will have to experiment and modify it to fit the conditions. If the fish are spooky you might need to lengthen the leader a bit more. You can also do a modified version of this without the three way swivel by using rubber-core sinkers for weight. To do this, tie the hook directly to your main line and then connect a rubber-core sinker above the hook about 18" for weight. This will get your lure into the current but not necessarily bouncing on the bottom. Again, you will have to experiment with the length of line between the weight and the hook, but I would keep it at least 12" from the hook. A diagram of this rig can be seen in Figure 2 which is listed at the end of the article.

Fishing flies for salmon is gaining in popularity. I have not tried it yet, but plan too this year. I understand that the usual flies are either egg patterns, woolybugger variations, big streamers, and egg-sucking leaches. I am going to try them all and see if I can get a hit. The nice thing about fishing the flies is that you also run the chance of hooking other trout species while searching for the salmon. If you want more professional instruction on fly-fishing for salmon there are several outfitters that are offering the service now. Do an internet search on it and you should have little difficulty finding one.

How to Increase Your Fishkeeping Fun

2008-02-14T06:26:00.000-08:00

Giant Muskie ( Musky ) Ice Fishing Video

2008-02-14T06:18:00.000-08:00