Nov 25, 2009

Midwest Trout Fishing Mecca

Main Species Present: rainbow trout, brown trout, suckers, and largemouth bass
Lake Taneycomo in southwestern Missouri might well be considered the world's finest trout fishery. Its popularity mostly relies on the approximately 700,000 rainbow trout stocked per year, which causes this twenty-two mile riverine lake to be positively loaded with dumb stockies at all times. They are stocked once a month, and even towards the end of each stocking period the lake holds many trout. Due to these easy to catch fish, few people come up empty handed here.
However, there are many fisheries around that hold lots of easy to catch rainbow trout. What sets Taneycomo apart is the enormous brown trout it produces. Twenty inch browns are routine, ten pound trout aren't at all out of place, and each year several larger than twenty pounds are pulled from its icy waters. All this was capped off when a Missouri Department of Conservation agent who was sampling the lake found a thirty six pound brown trout. There is little doubt that some day this lake will produce the world record brown trout to some lucky angler.
The lake can be effectively broken down into three sections. The first would be the section of lake from Table Rock Dam downstream to Fall Creek. Legal fishing begins a few hundred yards downstream from the dam. This section has special trophy regulations for both rainbows and browns, and this is where most of the largest trout in the lake live. Flies and lures only are allowed in this section. This part of the "lake" is for all intents and purposes a river, and can be waded if Table Rock Dam is not generating.
The next section of the lake worth mentioning is from Fall Creek to the Highway 65 Bridge. The upper part of this section looks like a river, but the further downstream you get, the more it becomes a lake. This entire part of the lake holds many trout, both rainbow and brown, and it can be effectively fished from the bank with bait, as that is legal below Fall Creek's mouth. Another popular method is to get a boat and troll spoons and spinners. Trophy regulations remain in effect for brown trout, but not rainbows.
The final section of the lake is from Highway 65 to Powersite Dam, which is the lake's lower boundary. This far downstream, Taneycomo is indeed a lake, although it is quite shallow. Effective bank fishing can be done with worms and Powerbait, but it is more of a boat fishery. Both rainbow and brown trout respond to the same trolling methods as above Highway 65, and that is probably the best way to fish. You won't need downriggers, or other special equipment due to the lake's shallow depth. This section also boasts some pretty good largemouth bass fishing in the creek arms, and gigging for non-game fish is quite popular in this part of the lake.
One item of caution is in order with regard to Taneycomo. Water levels can rise rapidly in some locations. Anglers are well-advised to do their homework on this matter ahead of time. Better yet, consider hiring a Tanycomo Guide to help you get on more fish and to help keep you safe.
Davdison Manning is an avid outdoorsman spending over 100 days per year pursuing his passion for fishing, many of them in the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas. He details many of his favorite spots on his website http://family-outdoors.com/. His other pursuits include many days spent in the field camping and hunting. Davidson loves to share his knowledge of the outdoors in the hope of helping others to find their own connection to the outdoors.

Nov 20, 2009

Late Season Trout Fishing

As the trout fishing season begins to wind down, I figured it was time to write an article about late season trout fishing. Many anglers may not realize it, but late season trout fishing can be as good as it gets. In the west it seems as if trout feed heavily before the cold temperatures of winter set in. I've caught more trophy trout in the late season, that is to say fall, than at any other time of the year. Late season trout fishing has always been my most productive time of the year.
So, as other outdoors people turn their attention towards chasing animals around in the woods, I suggest you not forget about your favorite trout water, and give late season trout fishing a shot. The results can be incredible. Keep these tips in mind, and you'll be even more successful.
  • What Pound Test Is Your Line? - A secret to late season trout fishing is to use fishing line that's as light as you can. Trout have very keen eyesight and can detect your fishing line in the water. That's why using line heavier than six pound test is a huge mistake. My mentor always used four pound test, and that's what I've always used for trout fishing. Six pound is tolerable, but four pound test is ideal. The lighter the line you use, the more bites you'll get, it's as simple as that.
  • Do You Worry About Your Hands? - Trout have a very sensitive sense of smell, and if they detect unnatural odors, they are much less apt to bite. Odors such as gasoline, cigarettes, or even cologne will transfer to whatever bait you're using, and result in less bites. A good practice is to rub your hands in a handful of grass or dirt before baiting up. This will eliminate any unnatural odors that may be on your hands. Always pay attention to your hands whenever you're trout fishing.
  • Do You Think About Your Hooks? - For those of you who don't realize it, gang hooks are the best way to present live bait while fishing. Especially while trout fishing in a river or stream with live worms. Rig a worm on a set of pre-tied gang hooks, and then allow this rig to bounce off of the bottom as it flows naturally with the current, and you've got a deadly combination. My mentor used gang hooks for all of his trout fishing, and it was probably his greatest trout fishing secret. Gang hooks allow you to present live bait, and especially live worms in a totally natural manner. Don't you think a worm that appears 'natural' will out fish a worm that's been threaded onto a single hook? I can assure you that it dies.
  • What About The Weather & Moon? - A secret that my fishing mentor lived by was using the weather & moon to your advantage when trout fishing. A secret to trout fishing, especially late in the season, is understanding how these two things relate to your fishing success. These two factors have as big an impact on your trout fishing as anything. There is simply no substitute for being on the water when the trout are the most active.
Keep these tips in mind on your late season trout fishing trip and you'll be that much more successful. Not only that, but late season trout fishing also offers some of the best scenery that its possible to experience. The changing leaves, cool weather, and un-crowded water make late season trout fishing something that every angler should experience.
Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!
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Nov 10, 2009

The Most Important Part of Fishing

Fishing recreation gear is very important for every sport fishing person. Fishing gear solely determines the size, and number of fishes. They not only help you to get the fishes in huge and bulk amount, but also they help you not to waste time without getting any fish in the salt water. Sports men could reduce the time being wasted considerable if they use the most appropriate fishing recreation gear. The more time you spent in water with your line, the more fishes you earn. Different types of fishes might require different types of fishing recreation gears. Especially when it comes to trout, one has to use the trout fishing gear rather than a normal one.
Fly recreation  fishing has gained its importance in the recent years. The main niche in this fly fishing is that it really allows the fishing sports men to get some of the most victorious catches of their time. To succeed in fly fishing one has to get the proper fishing game gear. Advancements are made in fly recreation fishing, especially in the equipments being used for them. The more and more accurate the fish catching needs to be done the much more efficient fishing game gear is chosen. Angling is considered one of the main functions of any fishing recreation gear. The sports person who has done correct angling in the salt water would succeed with large fishes.
Fishing game gear could be as either rods or reels. For a fly recreation fishing sport, these rods and reels work differently and in a specific manner. In fly fishing the fishing game gear builds momentum in the fly line. This momentum allows the sports person to control the fly direction and the distance you could fly it. The choice of a fishing game gear, a rod and a reel must depend on the size and amount of fishes you aim at.
Much detailed description is available in my blog. Regular updating of articles not only aiming at mere article marketing but also focusing on the real time experience that the author had or the author had visualized from her neighbors. Through these articles, the author tries to help the readers in their ventures.
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The author is a regular writer and involves in writing informative content. She is an Engineering Graduate residing in India and she continues writing as a way to spread knowledge. To know more about her visit her blog.

Nov 2, 2009

How to Use a Trout Fishing Lure

In this article I'm going to outline how to use a trout fishing lure. A trout fishing lure could be a rooster tail or any small spinner, a small spoon, small minnow imitation, or any other small lure used for trout fishing. From my more than 25 years of trout fishing experience, I've noticed some things that really cost people bites. In this article I'll explain some of those mistakes and how to avoid them.
The first thing to keep in mind when trout fishing is that trout have very keen eyesight and tend to live in cold clear water, therefore very light fishing line should be employed. Many anglers use fishing line that's much too heavy when fishing for trout. This is a huge mistake. Not only can line that's too heavy effect the action of the trout lure itself, if the trout can see your line you will get many fewer bites. I personally use and suggest using four pound test or lighter, but six pound test line is also passable.
The net step in learning how to use a trout fishing lure is to never use snap swivels. You know those swivels that simply snap apart for easy access? Do not use snap swivels to attach your trout fishing lure to your line. As a matter of fact, if you have any snap swivels for any type of fishing, throw them away. Nothing will ruin the action of a fishing lure like our friend the snap swivel. Either tie your lure directly to your line or use a barrel swivel with a twelve to eighteen inch 'leader' (piece of line). Incidentally this is the best way to rig a trout fishing lure. Take the end of your line and snip off a 12-18 inch leader and set it aside. Now tie a small barrel swivel (size 10 to 12) to the end of your line. Now take your leader and tie it to the opposite end of the barrel swivel. Now, tie your trout fishing lure to the leader. This is how to rig your trout fishing lure.
Now for how to use the trout fishing lure that you just rigged up. For the most part you don't want to simply cast your trout fishing lure out and reel it back in. The goal is to make your lure appear injured or otherwise different than any actual prey that swims in the water that you're fishing. A good trick is to "snap" your rod tip as you.re reeling your trout fishing lure in. In other words, make your trout fishing lure look as much as you can like wounded prey.
Varying the speed of your retrieve is a good idea as well. I'm referring to varying your speed within each individual retrieve. Many times if a trout is following your lure, and that lure suddenly speeds up (as if it's "trying to get away"), many times the trout will strike. It's never a bad idea to make sure that you're fishing when the trout are the most active as well. This can make a huge difference in bite rates and can be as important as which trout fishing lure you choose to employ.
Another tip is to allow your trout lure time to sink before reeling it in. Many times the closer to the bottom the lure is, the more success you will have. Trout tend to hang out near the bottom, especially in river and stream situations. As any "flea flicker" will tell you, this isn't at all true when a hatch is going off, but that's neither here nor there. In any case what was just described is how to use a trout fishing lure.
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