Soft bait fishing

Tips For The Beginning Trout Angler Trout Fishing 101

2010-03-18T13:01:00.000-07:00

Trout Fishing 101 – Tips For The Beginning Trout Angler

If you are new to trout fishing or you have tried trout fishing, but haven't experienced much success, this article is for you. Catching trout can be a challenging proposition and many times beginners become frustrated because they don't understand some simple trout fishing rules. In this article I will use my 25 years of trout fishing experience to outline some of these simple, yet extremely effective rules.

These tips will help any beginning trout angler experience much more trout fishing success. The first thing to consider in terms of trout fishing is your gear. What do I mean by gear? When I say 'gear' I'm referring specifically to your rod, reel, and the line that's spooled on your reel. A mistake that many beginning trout anglers make is using gear that's entirely too heavy.

As far as your rod and reel are concerned, ultralight action should always be employed. Ultra light rods and reels can be distinguished in two ways. By their size (they are small) and by a small 'ul' that's printed on the rod or reel itself. A rod that is 5 to 6 feet long is a good place to start, and then buy a reel that matches the rod.

Your reel should be spooled with light line. A mistake many beginning trout fishermen make is using fishing line that's entirely too heavy. Four pound test monofilament is perfect, and nothing heavier than six pound test should be used for trout fishing in most situations. Trout have very good eyesight and will detect your fishing line if it's too heavy.

The next thing to consider is the presentation of your bait. If you fish with live bait (which is a great idea when trout fishing) your bait needs to be presented in the most natural manner possible. Many beginners make the mistake of thinking just balling a worm onto a hook is good enough. It's not. Gang hooks should be used when trout fishing, especially if worms or Powerbait are being used. These hooks allow trout bait to be presented in the most natural manner possible.

Another simple thing that many trout anglers overlook are any scents that may be on their hands. These scents will transfer to your bait. If trout detect anything unnatural on their prey they will tend not to bite. You want to make sure that your hands are free of unnatural scents before baiting up. This can be accomplished by simply rubbing your hands in a handful of grass or dirt before baiting up.

If you employ these simple tips into your fishing repertoire as a beginner you will be way ahead of the curve. And remember that there is nothing that will improve you skills like spending time on the water. The more time that you can spend fishing, the better.

Pre-tied gang hooks

G Loomis Fishing Rods - Are You Maximizing Your Trout Fishing Techniques?

2010-02-24T22:59:00.000-08:00

From trolling for Trout to casting for cruising redfish, the G Loomis GL3 fishing rod series offers the perfect combination of hook setting power and light weight action to cover every fishing situation.
I'm using the G Loomis fishing rod for a longer time now and they are one off the best rods for trout fishing. This rod is so sensitive, you can feel everything that happens under the water! The tip of the G Loomis rod is soft enough to fish 4-pound line and really light baits, perfect for Trout! They are incredibly responsive and more sensitive than many rods double their price!
Don't mistaken there featherweight construction, the G Loomis rod is very tough to handle any oversize surprise. The classic cork handle provides a comfortable grip and the featherweight construction allows toy to enjoy longer and more accurate cast all day! There are other rods as tough and durable as the G Loomis GL3 but none that are this light!
These rods are simply the best for Trout fishing, we had many successes during the years we are fishing for Trout! Quality gear do makes the difference between going empty handed or going home with a bag full of fish! Good fishing gear is one off the thing's for success, the second, good fishing techniques. Let me give you a good Trout fishing tip for you to catch more fish
When you drag your line up, do it as slow as possible, give the fish the time to see, smell and catch up with the bait. make small stops when dragging up your line, this makes the bait extra attractive for the trout to bite! Natural bait also makes small stops and don't swim across the water like a torpedo! That's it for now, success with your fishing!

In the many years that i have bin Trout Fishing, i have learned many Trout Fishing techniques, used alot off different bait types and used alot of different fishing gear. I have become to know what works and what not when it comes to Trout Fishing! If you want more FREE Trout Fishing tips and fishing gear advise please visit my site at: http://www.squidoo.com/letsgotroutfishing

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Montana Trout Fishing

2010-02-10T07:26:00.000-08:00

For anyone who spends time up to their waist standing in flowing rivers, does anything conjure up more intense images than the term 'Montana trout fishing'? When you think of trout fishing, you automatically think of the state of Montana. Montana and 'trout fishing' fit together like Ohio State and losing national championships (I'm a recovering Buckeye fan)! The bottom line is that trout fishing and Montana have become almost synonymous.
Montana has hundreds of thousands of miles of river and streams for trout fishing, including some of the most famous blue ribbon trout waters in the United States. Trophy trout are a common occurrence in Montana waters. It's a true story that the state of Montana is truly a trout angler's paradise.
All of the main varieties of trout (rainbow, brown, brook, and cutthroat) can be found in Montana from Billings to Missoula, and north to Kalispell. Trout are planted by the Montana fish wildlife & parks, and the number of 'native' trout is unmatched anywhere in the country. If you're a flea flicker, Montana has what you're looking for and if you're a bait fisherman, Montana can accommodate you as well. Paying attention to local regulations is key, because as usual the flea flickers seem to get preferential treatment.
There are entirely too many great trout waters within the state of Montana to list, but some of the most popular are the Big Horn and Gallatin rivers. If you have to visit only one are within the state for trout fishing, the town of Bozeman would be your best bet. Bozeman has more than four blue ribbon trout waters within easy access, and more guides available than you can imagine. You can't swing a dead cat in the Bozeman area, without hitting a fly fishing guide.
The scenery that Montana has to offer while fishing, especially from Bozeman west is as good as can be found anywhere on earth. This adds to the allure of Montana trout fishing and in some of the more remote area's a bear attack is never out of the question, which adds to the excitement factor as well. That's right, you don't have to go to Alaska to "feel the excitement" of fishing in the same area's that grizzly bears reside.
If you use your basic fishing skills, like always fishing when the trout are the most active by paying attention to the weather & moon, it will do nothing but help you when trout fishing in Montana. The principles are all the same, it's simply that in Montana the trout are bigger and more prevalent.
The bottom line is that Montana trout fishing is as good as it gets. If you're a trout angler, Montana is the place for you. The only problem is that because of weather and run-off you only get about six months a year for prime river and stream fishing. This is okay though, because those six months are so bloody good. If you consider yourself to be any form of trout angler, Montana is a place you have to visit at least once.

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!
Become A Better Fisherman: http://stores.lulu.com/jrwfishing
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The Cheap and Reliable Fishing Boat Alternative

2010-02-04T07:17:00.000-08:00

Like to fish, but on a budget? Hundreds of people around the world are finding that inflatable fishing boats enable them to pursue their interest in fishing without spending a fortune (sometimes tens of thousands of dollars) on fishing boats they can only use one or two seasons out of the year.
Whereas those who own traditional fishing boats must find places to store and maintain their boats, usually marinas with steep docking and maintenance fees, using inflatable boats allows individuals the option of packing their boats away when not in use, and allows for a much lower amount of maintenance. In other words, it's possible to take the boats out to use when desired, and then simply deflate and store them inside one's home!
In today's fishing boat market, safety is a primary concern, and modern inflatable boats have all the safety features one would expect and require to have a fun and relaxing day out on the water. If the image of a small blow-up raft is the first thing that comes to mind when an individual hears the terms "inflatable" and "boat" in the same sentence, then this is a misapprehension which is quickly corrected. Looking at the models of boats available to those in the market today, one will find that today's inflatable boats are sturdy and safe, with rider capacities that can handle an entire family or group of friends on a day's fishing outing.
For many people in the market for a fishing boat, price is a huge factor in making their decision. Many traditional vessels cost thousands of dollars for basic models - not including any specialized gear or equipment which also must be purchased. By choosing to use an inflatable fishing boat for your fishing needs, you can ensure that your initial costs remain low - some models are available for below a thousand dollars - and you're able to save the bulk of your funds for buying fishing licenses, safety equipment, and fishing gear. After all, a boat isn't the only think a person needs to catch a fish or two when they're out on the water, and luck is not going to get a person far without a first-class fishing rod and set of lures!

Find the Best Prices on All Types of Inflatable Boats, including Inflatable Fishing Kayaks, canoes and pontoons at the Inflatable Fishing Boats Store Today!

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The Best Fishing Lures For Bass Fishing

2010-01-28T13:33:00.000-08:00

The Best Fishing Lures For Bass Fishing

In this article I'm going to list the best lures for bass fishing. The lures are being listed in no particular order as it would be impossible to say that one bass fishing lure is the "most effective". All of these lures are effective for bass fishing and if any of them aren't a part of your bass fishing repertoire, they should be. These lures are definitely the best lures for bass fishing.

When I use the term 'bass fishing' I'm referring mainly to the most popular species of bass, large and small mouth bass. All of the bass fishing lures listed in this article can be used for both species. The key is to use smaller versions of whichever lure you choose when fishing for smallmouth bass. Smallmouth bass obviously have smaller mouths and therefore eat smaller prey than their large mouthed cousins.

Here are the lures that every bass fisherman should have access to:

Plastic Worms & Grubs - Plastic worms have long been known as a great lure for fishing. Plastic worms can be rigged in a variety of manners such as the Carolina rig and the Texas rig. Plastic worms are most effective for largemouth bass. Plastic grubs are normally rigged on a lead head jig. Grubs are normally thought of as smallmouth bass bait. A great breakthrough in the plastic grub and worm market are Slams soft baits with ultra bite technology. These products are just like the plastics that you're used to except for the fact that the have been impregnated with fish attractants. Slam grubs and worms are extremely effective lures for bass fishing.
Crank Baits - Crank baits are extremely and versatile bass lures. In most cases these lures are made to imitate bait fish and are fished in a variety of manners. An important thing to remember about crank baits is the more realistic the look in the water, the more effective they will be. Rapala and Bagley make very realistic crank baits that work for both species of bass. One of the most realistic and effective of the bass fishing lures on the market today is the KickTail Minnow. This lure looks as much like a live baitfish as any bass lure that I've ever seen.
Top Water Lures - Top water lures are very effective when fishing for either species of bass, especially in the early morning or late evening. One of the keys to fishing top water lures is for the water to be as flat as possible. The more the water is like glass, the better luck you will have when fishing top water lures. Some great choices are the Jitterbug and the Pop-R. Fishing for bass with top water lures is a ton of fun and as exciting as fishing gets.

The bottom line is that the 3 lures above are 3 of the best lures for fishing for bass. If any of them aren't a part of your fishing arsenal, add them sooner rather than later. You'll be glad you did.

Fishing Tips For Trout - Trout Fishing Tips For Any Angler

2010-01-18T22:53:00.000-08:00

Fishing for trout isn't a difficult task, especially when you're dealing with small inexperienced fish. Trout become even easier to catch when you're dealing with stocked fish that have been planted by your fish and game department. Trout fishing becomes more enjoyable (and difficult) when you start targeting larger more experienced trout. This is especially true in river and stream scenarios.
In this article I'm going to provide some simple fishing tips for catching trout, trout fishing tips that most any angler can put into practice. They key to any fishing tip is to put it into practice. As you do this you begin to learn all of the little nuances that make any fishing tip worthwhile. Fishing for trout is no different than any other species of fish, it's just that many times your surroundings are much more solitary and beautiful when fishing for trout.
Most of these trout fishing tips were taught to me by my best friends' father, a man I always considered a trout fishing "master". This man was able to catch very large trout from heavily fished waters in Pennsylvania and these tips come directly from his trout fishing knowledge. When it comes to fishing trips for trout the tips listed below are as good as you will find.

Free Your Hands Of Unnatural Scents - This simple trout fishing tip actually applies to all fishing, but especially trout fishing. Trout have very sensitive noses and if a seventeen plus inch trout detects any unnatural scents it is much less apt to bite your offering. This is why making sure that your hands are free of unnatural scents (which will transfer to your bait) is so important. If you want tp catch more and bigger trout, rub your hands in a handful of dirt before baiting up to remove any unnatural scents that might be present.
Use Light Line - Many trout fishermen (especially beginners) use fishing line that's entirely too heavy. I personally use four pound test for all of my trout fishing. Six pound test is serviceable as well, but any line heavier than this is probably overkill in most trout fishing scenarios. The bottom line when it comes to fishing for trout is this; the lighter your line the more bites your will get, it's as simple as that.
Use Effective Hooks - When it comes to trout fishing your hooks are extremely important, both their sharpness and their size. First off your always want to use hooks that are as sharp as possible. This means changing your hooks often or sharpening them often. Many fish are "missed" because of dull hooks. Secondly, many trout fishermen use hooks that are entirely too large. A good remedy to hooks that are too large is a set of gang-hooks. Gang hooks are simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem, which enables a much more natural bait presentation.

These simple fishing tips for trout are highly effective. I realize how simple they are, but their simplicity, I think, is what makes them so effective. Many times it's the simplest things in life that make the biggest difference.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 25 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his five year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country. Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

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Largemouth Bass Bait Bass Fishing Baits

2010-01-05T13:35:00.000-08:00

Largemouth Bass Bait - Easy to Use Bass Fishing Baits

When it comes to largemouth bass bait it seems as if the choices available to anglers are almost endless. Some bass baits are easier to use than others and in this article I'm going to discuss some of the more "easy to use" bass baits. Does this mean that these bass baits can be tied on, thrown into the water, and the result will be bass being caught? More than likely not because fishing, as any seasoned angler knows, is about more than just throwing a bait into the water and catching fish in most situations.

In many instances fishing is about technique, and technique is developed through practice. There is simply no substitute for spending time on the water practicing your craft. With that being said when it comes to largemouth bass bait, the baits listed below are some of the easier to use (at least initially). Adding all of them to your bass fishing repertoire and then using them to develop your own "techniques" is a great idea.

Let's get down to business, shall we?

The Plastic Grub - The plastic grub is one of the best known largemouth bass baits of all time. There are many different ways to fish a plastic grub, but the most popular is on a lead jig head. The plastic grub is a very "easy to use" bass bait, especially when rigged on a jig head. Plastic grubs made by the manufacturer Slam are extremely effective bass baits. These baits have been manufactured with ultra bite technology, which makes them very effective.
Live Bait - Live bait is a very easy to use largemouth bass bait. A key to success when using live bait for largemouth bass is to rig your bait in a natural manner. The best way to accomplish this task is through the use of gang hooks. These hooks enable live bait to be presented in a totally natural and effective manner. Many largemouth bass purists see live bait as some sort of "cop out", but that doesn't mean that it's not effective (and easy to use). Live bait works very well for largemouth bass fishing.
Crank Baits - Crank baits are very easy to use, seeing as how you simply cast them out and reel them in, but they can be extremely effective bass baits. The key with crank baits is practice. The more time that you spend fishing them, the more little nuances you will discover. This is where crank bait fishing becomes the most effective. An incredibly realistic Largemouth Bass Bait is the KickTail Minnow. This crank bait looks as much like a real bait fish as any fishing lure that I've ever come across. The realistic appearance makes it very effective as well.

These easy to use bass baits should be a part of every bass fisherman's tackle box. If any of the above bass baits aren't in your tackle box, I suggest you add them sooner rather than later.

Fly Fishing Instruction

2010-01-02T22:56:00.000-08:00

Fly fishing instruction is absolutely necessary if you want to learn to fly fish correctly. Trust me. I took the long route with no instruction. If I had gotten some sort of instruction, it would have gone a lot faster. I still have trouble breaking a lot of the bad habits I taught myself.
I tried to teach myself, and I made a lot of mistakes in the process. I don't recommend doing it that way. We had no internet, and there were no books in my area. If you lived in a large city, I'm sure you could find some, but I didn't have any resources in my small hometown.
Today, you have several choices. You could pay for lessons from someone, or take a class. While that undoubtedly is a great way to learn, it's also usually the most expensive way. An internet search for fly fishing instruction will give you a lot of choices.
Another choice is using books to learn. This is the route I took at first. Regardless of which way you choose to learn, you will want to buy some books. I still use my fly tying books on a regular basis, and I will continue to do so for the rest of my life. I have several others that are great. When it comes to learning to cast a fly though, I just couldn't make it work with instructions from a book.
I believe the solution for most people is found on the internet. Today, we have fly fishing eBooks that include videos showing how to fly fish. Some of them even incorporate a membership website as part of the purchase where they provide updates to the book and video lessons. I'm really impressed by what I've seen lately. I wish these had been around when I was first learning. It would have been so much easier.
I'm a relative newcomer to eBooks for fly fishing instruction. When eBooks first became popular, I didn't think much of them. Since then, I've come to appreciate how they can incorporate other media, such as videos and audio files. I also really like the instant delivery you get with them. Check them out. If you learn like most people do, you'll like them.

If you liked this article and want more information about fly fishing instruction and eBooks, please visit my Squidoo lense on fly fishing. Go learn to fly fish. You'll enjoy it.

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Possum Kingdom Fishing Report and Cabin Rentals

2009-12-20T07:34:00.000-08:00

Located on the Brazos River in Young and Palo Pinto counties. It is west of Fort Worth Texas near Texas Highway 16. The lake area is 17,620 acres with a maximum depth of 145 feet. It was impounded in 1941 and is controlled by the Brazos River Authority. The Possum Kingdom pool level is approximately 1000 ft mls with a fluctuation average rated high on an annual basis, with the normal lake water being clear.
Possum Kingdom Fishing Report
Keep yourself up to date about the latest Possum Kingdom fishing report. Make sure you get the latest update on Possum Kingdom fishing for your trip. Many of the local guides offer a report on their websites, so be sure to get the right Lake Possum Kingdom Fishing Report so you can be at the right place to bag your limit which is a special 16" minimum length and a 5 fish per day limit. Try John Bryan's Guide Service for his latest fishing report.
You can find shoreline vegetation on the upper parts of the lake in more shallow water areas. The lower end of the lake has a very scenic stone shoreline with rock cliffs and bluffs. There are many docks throughout Possum Kingdom Lake that provide excellent cover for fish, as well as lay downs and standing timber. Aquatic grass can be found at certain times of the year which makes for some good fishing.
Black bass are found all over the lake in deeper water from 10 to 25 feet deep. Remember, this lake has very clear water, so use any of the typical bass lures on invisible light line and watch your shadow on the water. The latest fishing report recommends that you use swim baits, spinner baits or crank baits, which are the most favorite choices. Also the latest report indicates that a variety of plastic worms seems to work well.. When fishing in the early morning, use top water baits such as Prop Baits, Poppers and Flukes in varying colors.
Striped Bass are best caught by looking for birds feeding on schools of small bait fish driven up to the surface by the Striped Bass feeding below them. The recommended bait to use is live shad or a good swim bait.
For white bass, fish up towards the river mouth during the spawning run in the spring months. Try spoons or jigs as your best lures to fish for white bass. Costello island and northward is a good place to fish for catfish. For bait, use chicken livers, cut bait or stink bait.
Crappie fishing is fair at Possum Kingdom around docks and over brush piles. During the spring, fish in the back of coves, docks or brush piles. It is recommended to use live shad bait for the best results.
Possum Kingdom Lake Cabin Rentals
Rental cabins can be found on Possum Kingdom reservoir, but you must do your homework. There are a wide range of cabin rental prices from $50 to $100 a day with weekly rates being a little lower. Rock Creek Camp offers cabin rentals at reasonable prices, as well as Sky Camp Family Resort.

John Tatman reports on popular Possum Kingdom fishing report and cabin rentals. He is also the owner of http://www.greattexasbassfishing.com

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Pennsylvania Trout Fishing

2009-12-18T07:33:00.000-08:00

There are more than 83,000 miles of streams and rivers in Pennsylvania, and many of these miles contain trout. Most trout species can be found in Pennsylvania, such as: Rainbow, Brown, and Brook trout. Pennsylvania trout fishing can be quite good in rivers, streams, and lakes. In 2007, the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission plans to stock approximately 4.2 million adult trout into waters within Pennsylvania that is open to public angling. These are the types of numbers that get stocked into the waters of Pennsylvania each year, so the trout population remains quite healthy.
I grew up fishing for trout in Pennsylvania and as a matter of fact it's where I met my fishing mentor, who indecently was the best trout fisherman that I've ever known. The rivers, streams, and lakes of central Pennsylvania were the place where I personally learned to fish for trout. I know apply the tips and techniques that my mentor taught me in Pennsylvania all over the country.
The most effective technique for trout fishing in Pennsylvania is the use of a rig called a set of gang hooks. A set of pre-tied gang hooks is simply two small hooks tied in tandem. This enables the angler to present live bait in a completely natural manner, especially live worms. And in the case of Pennsylvania trout fishing, these hooks work great. These hooks also work great for fishing in lakes in Pennsylvania. They get used exactly as you would normally fish a single hook, but with gang hooks there are 2 hooks. That means you can present twice as much Powerbait, cheese, corn, or whatever your favorite trout bait is.
While using a set of pre-tied gang hooks and a a bait bag to carry his worms, my mentor used to catch 4-5 pound trout out of central Pennsylvania waters. He didn't catch trout this size every week, but he caught them this size every year, and smaller trout whenever he wanted. A trout in the 4-5 pound range is a flat out trophy no matter where you fish., but the point is that My mentor used to catch trout in this size range while fishing in Pennsylvania.
The bottom line is that Pennsylvania trout fishing is as good as anywhere in the country as far a numbers of fish go. The waters out west have PA beat as far as native fish go, but that's simply because the waters out west gets much less fishing pressure. Pennsylvania trout fishing is as good as it gets and the techniques mentioned in this article will help anyone catch more trout while fishing in the state of Pennsylvania.

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

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3 Trout Varieties For Avid Fishers

2009-12-15T07:28:00.000-08:00

With the many species of game fish waiting to be lured in the waters of North Carolina you will want to have a distinct advantage when you go angling for the most wanted and sought after sport fish - Trout! You will find it to your advantage to educate yourself about these fish and their feeding habits.
To begin with you need to know that there are 3 main species of trout living and breeding in the waters of North Carolina. These fish are:
- Rainbow Trout
- Brown Trout and
- Brook Trout popularly known as Speckled Trout
1. Brook Trout:
This species of trout is the only one that is native to North Carolina. Anglers can easily locate these fish in the cold waters of the mountains of Carolina. The black and white lower fins and bright colors are characteristics of the Brook Trout that averages in length of about 8 inches. So, a 12 inch trout caught will be something to make a trophy out of.
2. Rainbow Trout:
This is a very popular sport fish with anglers trying to get one for themselves every season and place where they can be found. Though this species of trout is native to the western parts of America it is believed to have been brought to North Carolina somewhere in the 80's. The Rainbow trout is easily distinguished by its unique red or pink bands along with its black spots along with brightly colored red or pink gills. The rainbow trout averages a length of about 10 inches however; rainbow trout rarely exceed 10 inches in length. Rainbow trout prefer cold fast flowing waters rather than warm still lakes and ponds. You can expect a fight when you hook a rainbow trout; this is what makes angling for this fish so much fun.
3. Brown Trout
Native to North Europe and brought to North Carolina in the beginning of the 1900s this fish is known by its brown-yellowish color speckled by red, orange and black spots on their sites. Though reports of having caught Brown Trout larger than 18 inches in length have come in it is rather unusual to find a Brown Trout longer than 12 inches. Like their Rainbow cousins these species of Trout can put up quite a fight when hooked albeit in a very different manner. The Rainbow Trout will jump and trash but the Brown Trout will swim to the bottom of the water body and hide among the rocks and vegetation. You can find these fish in slow flowing water with a lot of minnows.
North Carolina has an abundance of trout fishing destinations one can choose from. With the endless list of trout fishing destinations in North Carolina it is no wonder that anglers say that North Carolina is the only place to go trout fishing.

Abhishek is an avid Fishing enthusiast and he has got some great Fishing Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 116 Pages Ebook, "Fishing Mastery!" from his website http://www.Fishing-Masters.com/772/index.htm. Only limited Free Copies available.

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Tips on How to Select the Right Catfish Baits at Night!

2009-12-12T07:26:00.000-08:00

If you have not been catfishing at night you are missing out on some intense fishing action! It is not uncommon for me to come home with 20 to 30 2lb plus ready to fillet catfish. If you love to eat catfish you know this size of fish makes a mighty tasty meal. Catfish will eat just about anything at night but I found out through experience that some baits work better then others and I would like to share those with you in my article today.
1.0 My #1 favorite fishing at night catfish bait is the horned chub.
There are many different types of chubs that are local throughout the united states that work well for catching catfish. A chub is any one of a number of ray-finned fishes in several families. For my article today I will concentrate on chubs that are commonly found in small creeks and rivers. I am referring to the creak chub which is of the family of Cyprinidae (Minnows and Carps). The creek chub is also commonly called chub or horned chub. Creek chubs have a thick body and a broad head. Their mouth is large with the back end of the upper jaw extending beyond the front edge of the eye. They also have a small flap-like barbel that is often hidden in the grove between the upper jaw and the rest of the head. The best size chubs to use for bait are the ones that are 3 to 6 inches in length. The best way to fish with creek chubs is to cut them in 2 to three inch strips, and use a 1/0 bait holder hook. You can use the fish guts after you cut them up for a very good active chum, so do not throw the guts away.
2.0 My number two favorite night fishing catfish bait is the bluegill.
Make sure you check with your states department of natural resources to make sure it is legal to fish with the bluegill. The bluegill is also common referred to as the sunfish, and bream. The blue gill is actually classified in the family of sunfish. If you want to catch larger catfish, I have found that the bluegill are the best bait to use. I always set up one heavy duty catfish rig with a blue gill for bait. The best size gills to use are small 3 to 4" in size. I will push a 4/0 bait holder hook just under the dorsal fin , so the blue can swim freely. I Use a slip bobber set so the blue gill can roam just off the bottom. You won't catch a lot of catfish with blue gill but the ones you do catch will be of the large variety. I have caught many 10lb plus catfish using gills. You can also use them to catch smaller catfish cut up in strips just like fishing for chubs.
3.0 My #3 favorite catfish live bait is the gizzard shad.
When I use shad as a night fishing bait my preference is the threadfin shad because they are small and you can use the entire fish with a 1/0 bait holder hook. The threadfin shad is normally only 3 to 6 inches in length and a perfect size for fishing for catfish. The other shad I will use is called the gizzard shad. They are much larger in size normally 6 to 15inches in length and must be cut into to strips from 3 to 6 inches in length. For larger catfish you can use much larger strips to fit on a 4/0 bait holder hook. You can catch your own shad with a minnow seine, or you can purchase them from a local bait store.
Well folks that concludes my article on night fishing for catfish,catfish live bait,catfish baits,fishing with gizzard shad for catfish,catch catfish with bluegills,catch catfish with chubs,catch catfish with horned chubs,catch catfish with creek chubs. Stay tuned for more articles on the subject of night fishing. May your next fishing trip be a success!

Mark is a dedicated fisherman who has published 100's of fishing articles. Check out his website to get some amazing fishing information and fishing articles loaded with fishing tips about catfish baits that really work! Also get your free special night fishing for catfish report at: http://www.oldfishinghole.com/blog/index.php/2009/06/13/catfish-secret-weapon-special-report/
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Lake Trout Fishing

2009-12-08T07:18:00.000-08:00

Lake Trout can mostly be found in the northern part of the United States and Canada. They are prized as both a game fish as well as a food fish. Lake trout are the largest of the trout species and can grow in excess of 40 pounds in some cases. Lake trout are dependant on cold, deep, oxygen rich water, which is why they are mostly found in the Northern parts of North America. As a matter of fact, here's a trivia question for you: Did you know that nearly 25% of Canada's lake trout population is found in Ontario, and even though this is true, only 1% of Ontario's lakes contain Lake Trout?
Lake trout prefer cold water and are likely to be found deep during warm summer periods. Long narrow spoons and plugs are preferred lures for Lake trout fishing. Angling techniques are similar for lake trout in most waters. Down-riggers and lead core lines are useful for getting deep when surface waters are warm. During spring and fall when surface waters are cold, the lake trout may be near the surface. Slow trolling is the generally preferred method. However, some anglers catch lake trout by still fishing with smelt or other fish as bait on the bottom where temperatures are favorable for lake trout. Tipping spoons and jigs with a chunk of "cut bait" is a popular method for enticing these fish to bite.
Depending on the body of water, lake trout can grow to be quite large. In most water the average size of a lake trout id three to five pounds, with big fish being in the 20 pound range. However, in lakes such as Flathead Lake in Northwest Montana, 20 pound Lake trout are quite common and fish up to 35 pounds are pulled out of its waters. As a matter of fact, nettings conducted by the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks Department have documented Lake Trout over 70 lbs!
Lake Trout fishing can be a lot of fun for the entire family or for the serious angler who wants to catch a trophy. Lake Trout aren't very difficult to catch, and can be caught at most times of the year. If you have the proper equipment, you can catch lake trout; it's as simple as that. One downfall that I've found with lake trout is that they tend not to fight as hard as you might think for their size. Of all the trout species, Lake Trout have to be the least aggressive fighters.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of http://www.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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Light Line Trout Fishing

2009-12-06T07:22:00.000-08:00

In my opinion, trout fishing should only be attempted while using light line and light gear, hence the title of this article, light line trout fishing. I've seen many anglers out on the water that employ rods, reels, and line that's entirely too heavy for trout fishing. Haven't you ever seen leftover fishing line along your favorite river, stream, or lake that's heavy enough to be used for fishing for small sharks? This heavy line is completely unnecessary, especially when fishing for our friends "the trout". I personally don't use any line heavier than 4 pound test for trout fishing, and think that anything over 6 pound test being spooled on your reel is overkill.
Using light line is not only more productive, it's also much more humane. When I say humane, I simply mean that fishing is supposed to be a sport, which means that the fish should have a fighting chance to escape. I have a hard time understanding how "winching" a fish in is any fun, and with a lot of the setups and leftover line I see along the water, that's exactly what many anglers do and are doing. Using light line is more productive because the lighter your fishing line, the less visible it is to the fish. If the fish are less apt to see your line, which is the case with 4 or 6 lb test, you will get more bites.
If you're thinking that light line won't allow you to catch large fish, keep in mind that I regularly catch 2-5 pound fish on 4 pound test monofilament fishing line. I, of course, couldn't land a 10 pound Steelhead on the setup that I'm referring to, but that's not a possibility anyway. My rod and reel that are spooled with for pound test is used for my river and stream trout fishing (and Smallmouth Bass). I have other setups for larger fish. Keep in mind that 4 pound test can withstand 4 pounds of dead weight art its weakest point. And this doesn't take into account that the "bend" in the rod and the drag of the reel takes pressure off of the line while fighting a fish as well. You can catch much larger fish than you may believe on four to six pound test.
As a matter of fact, I've never had a trout (or any other fish) break me off. That is to say, I've never had a trout pull with such force that it broke my line. I've had their teeth eventually wear through my line, but that's why this is called fishing and not catching. My point to this entire article is to help you realize that light line should be used when trout fishing. As I said, it not only adds to the sport, but it's also much more effective. The lighter your fishing line, the more trout you will catch, it's as simple as that.
Couple your use of light line with fishing at the proper place and time, and you're in for one of the best experiences that can be had with your clothes on! What do I mean by the right times? Simple. Pay attention to the weather & moon. There are probably no two things that effect the behavior of fish as much as the weather and moon. Making sure that you're doing your light line trout fishing when the trout are the most active increases your hook up rate dramatically. This simple E-book will give you all of the information you need, so that you can be on the water at the optimum times.

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!
Gang Hooks Tied On Light Line: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

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Midwest Trout Fishing Mecca

2009-11-25T07:24:00.000-08:00

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.

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Late Season Trout Fishing

2009-11-20T07:20:00.000-08:00

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!
Affordable Retractors for any trout fisherman: http://www.jrwfishing.com/JRWRetractors.htm

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The Most Important Part of Fishing

2009-11-10T07:21:00.000-08:00

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.
Check my website for detailed information http://soul-noesis.blogspot.com and more about the article.
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.

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How to Use a Trout Fishing Lure

2009-11-02T07:16:00.000-08:00

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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The Best Way to Save Money in Fishing Gear

2009-10-26T23:00:00.000-07:00

Discount fishing game gear is most popular, especially during the festive season; especially when you want to get a cheap fishing gear. There is a general belief that best products are expensive, but it is not so. One could get the best gear that is suitable for a successful fly fishing. When you can identify the most appropriate fly fishing equipment then you can very well choose the exact one at the right price with the best discount. Your only responsibility would be to find the right place to get such a discount fishing game gear.
One of the important sources where you can find such cheap fishing gear would be the internet. It is a vast database of variety of choices you can choose the one that is suitable for you. Sometimes you may get a used fishing gear at much cheaper prices, and they might be in a very good state too. There are a lot of sites, which store used fishing gear and offer them at high discounted rate. It is not only important to choose the sites to search for discount fishing game gear, but it is also important that we choose the ones that are really best and that those sites that have good reputation.
If you are a person who believes in shopping at stores then you find a good location to choose the best discount fly fishing recreation gear. Sometimes discounts might be available for a wholesale fishing gears sales. Wholesale discount fishing gears are most common. This might be suitable if you are going to open a fly fishing club. You get the discount fishing recreation gears for your club members ate a much cheaper price. Fly fishing equipments could be gotten from fishing supplies, discount offering stores and also from those several used fly fishing recreation gear stores. Sometimes the newest fishing recreation gear might be resold to you at a surprising discount amount.

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Fly Fishing Reels - 10 Tips For Choosing the Right One

2009-10-22T22:58:00.000-07:00

If you're a keen angler, you'll know the importance of having the right sort of fishing reel. If you're new to fishing, you might not really know exactly what to look for, and why.
Here are 10 tips to help you choose the right fly fishing reels.
1. Fishing reels are a fundamental part of fishing, and arguably as important as the rod itself. Getting the reel wrong could mean that you don't catch as many fish, or that you don't enjoy fishing as much.
2. If you fish for trout, then you might be one of the anglers that strip the line manually, rather than using the handle. If you do, you'll want to make sure that you can do this with your new reel. If you don't already, perhaps you will do once you get your new reel.
3. Those who fish for salmon will often use the handle of their fishing reel, so if you've fished for trout before and are now fishing for salmon, you might find the action of the reel different to what you're used to.
4. If you're fishing for fish for both salmon and trout, then perhaps you'll come to the conclusion that you need two rods and reels. This will mean that you don't have to change the reels when you're fishing for the other sort of fish.
5. A lightweight reel is favoured by a lot of anglers. However, some anglers don't like the fishing reel to be too light as it can often lose the balance of the rod, and make it harder to use. You'll need to check for yourself and make sure it's comfortable for you.
6. If you get a new reel, will you also need new lines to go with it, or will you choose a fishing reel that fits the lines you've already got?
7. By marking the weight of the line on the reel, you'll always know which reel to use in all circumstances. Perhaps you might only have a couple of reels, but once you start to take your fishing more seriously, and need different rods and reels, you'll be glad to be able to pick up what you need quickly.
8. A fishing reel bag will help to keep your reels in proper working order, and mean that they don't require as much maintenance as they'll be properly looked after. Storing them in a dedicated bag will also make sure that they don't get damaged whilst in your fishing bag.
9. You might already have a brand or model of fishing reel in mind, based on your previous experience, a review, or a friend's recommendation. You shouldn't discount other brands or models as they might be more suitable for your needs and budget.
10. If you're serious about fishing, and most anglers are, then the cost of the reel should not be as important as it's function and durability. You won't want to keep having to buy new fishing reels, nor will you want to spend a fortune on the wrong reels.
Now you know more about fishing reels, and how to choose the right one, isn't it time that you made sure that your fishing tackle is up to the job?

Find your perfect Fishing Reels and the latest Fishing Rods from all the leading brands, as well as all the fishing tackle, and accessories you need, at JohnNorris.co.uk today.

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What is the Best Bait For Crappie?

2009-10-18T13:39:00.000-07:00

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

A person came up to me the other day and asked what the best bait for fishing for Crappie was and it made me think, that would be something to write an article about. So, that's exactly what I'm going to do. In this article I'm going to list some of the best baits to use when fishing for Crappie. These baits have all been successful for me at various times and any one of them makes a great choice when fishing for these tasty fish.
Let's start with the obvious. Crappie love minnows and in reality there is little need to look much farther than minnows when you're talking about fishing for Crappie. Jigs are also a great crappie fishing bait, and what do you suppose these lures imitate? Yep a minnow. The bottom line is some manifestation of a minnow is without question, the best bait for Crappie.

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

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

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

Wear Polarized Sunglasses When Fishing

2009-10-18T13:02:00.000-07:00

Why Wear Polarized Sunglasses When Fishing?

Many people ask why they should wear polarized sunglasses when fishing. The first thing I ask them when this question comes up is, "what type of fishing do you do most of the time", because the answer to this question determines whether or not you even need polarized sunglasses. Some anglers don't need polarized sunglasses, because seeing into the water isn't an advantage to them because of the type of fishing they engage in.

Polarized sunglasses enable you to see into the water, which is an advantage to fly fishermen, many bass fishermen, most wading fishermen, and any sight fishing angler. Seeing into the water is also an advantage after a fish is hooked to estimate the species and size of the fish.

Polarized sunglasses work by eliminating the glare caused by the sun refracting off of the water. Without the glare caused by the suns rays, you can see into the water. For example, I spend 90 % of my fishing time wading in rivers. In addition to seeing fish, my polarized glasses enable me to see rocks under the water much more clearly. This makes wading much more safe and easy.

One lesson I learned many years ago about polarized sunglasses for fishing is that you get what you pay for. I realize that this adage gets used a lot, but it's nonetheless true when it comes to fishing glasses. Polarized fishing glasses that are on the low end of the cost spectrum never, and I repeat never, work properly. In many cases they distort your vision and even cause headaches and such. When it comes to polarized sunglasses, especially for fishing you get what you pay for.

Plan on spending at least $100 for a quality pair of glasses that are suitable for fishing. If this sounds like too much money, consider the fact that if you spend good money you will take great care of your new purchase. Plus quality glasses tend to last for many years. Some quality manufacturers of polarized glasses include; Native Eyewear, Smith, and Oakley. Stick with a quality manufacturer and you will be happy with your purchase for many years.

Depending on your favorite fishing style these sunglasses can be an integral part of your fishing gear. If you think that seeing into the water would be to your advantage as an angler, quality polarized fishing glasses are a must have item.

Fishing Tips For Trout - Trout Fishing Tips For Any Angler

2009-10-16T22:55:00.000-07:00

In this article I'm going to provide some simple fishing tips for catching trout, trout fishing tips that most any angler can put into practice. They key to any fishing tip is to put it into practice. As you do this you begin to learn all of the little nuances that make any fishing tip worthwhile. Fishing for trout is no different than any other species of fish, it's just that many times your surroundings are much more solitary and beautiful when fishing for trout.
Most of these trout fishing tips were taught to me by my best friends' father, a man I always considered a trout fishing "master". This man was able to catch very large trout from heavily fished waters in Pennsylvania and these tips come directly from his trout fishing knowledge. When it comes to fishing trips for trout the tips listed below are as good as you will find.

Free Your Hands Of Unnatural Scents - This simple trout fishing tip actually applies to all fishing, but especially trout fishing. Trout have very sensitive noses and if a seventeen plus inch trout detects any unnatural scents it is much less apt to bite your offering. This is why making sure that your hands are free of unnatural scents (which will transfer to your bait) is so important. If you want tp catch more and bigger trout, rub your hands in a handful of dirt before baiting up to remove any unnatural scents that might be present.
Use Light Line - Many trout fishermen (especially beginners) use fishing line that's entirely too heavy. I personally use four pound test for all of my trout fishing. Six pound test is serviceable as well, but any line heavier than this is probably overkill in most trout fishing scenarios. The bottom line when it comes to fishing for trout is this; the lighter your line the more bites your will get, it's as simple as that.
Use Effective Hooks - When it comes to trout fishing your hooks are extremely important, both their sharpness and their size. First off your always want to use hooks that are as sharp as possible. This means changing your hooks often or sharpening them often. Many fish are "missed" because of dull hooks. Secondly, many trout fishermen use hooks that are entirely too large. A good remedy to hooks that are too large is a set of gang-hooks. Gang hooks are simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem, which enables a much more natural bait presentation.

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Trout Fishing Tackle Every Trout Angler Needs to Have

2009-10-14T22:53:00.000-07:00

After more that 25 years of trout fishing I've learned that there are certain types of fishing tackle that every trout angler needs to have. This article is about that tackle. If there is one thing that I learned about fishing in all these year it's that the more efficient you are, the more effective you will be in the long run.
My logic is simple: the more efficient you are, then less time you spend with your line out of the water performing mundane tasks like re-baiting, re-tying, and generally doing things unrelated to catching fish. The more time your offering is in front of the fish, the more bites you will get, it's as simple as that. When it comes to fishing for trout the tackle listed below are must have items. All of this tackle will make you a much more efficient and effective trout angler.

Retractors - A retractor is a small device that holds your much used fishing gear, such as nail clippers (for snipping line) or hemostats (for removing hooks). With a retractor these types of items are hanging from your fishing vest, waiting to be used. Then, when you need the item you simply grab it and use it. Then, when you're finished, you simply release it and the retractor zips it back in. Retractors are a must have item.
Gang Hooks - Gang hooks are simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem, which enable live bait (especially worms) to be presented in an outstretched and natural manner. When a live worm is rigged on a set of gang hooks and allowed to flow naturally with the current of a trout stream, the results are deadly. When it comes to trout fishing tackle, gang hooks are extremely important. These hooks are actually good for many types of fishing, but when it comes to trout fishing, they are a must.
Bait Bags - Bait bags are important when trout fishing because many times when fishing for trout we are standing in or along side of a stream. Our fishing tackle and bait needs to be carried in our fishing vest, rather than a traditional tackle box. Carrying bait in a fishing vest, then finding it and re-baiting can be a huge waste of fishing time. This is where bait bags come into play. A bait bag is a small pouch that hangs on the outside of your fishing vest and carries your bait while you are fishing. A bait bags attributes are best seen when fishing with live worms. Once you begin using a bait bag, you'll wonder how you ever went trout fishing without it.
Polarized Glasses - Polarized glasses are certainly a must when trout fishing, or at least make trout fishing much better. Polarized glasses enable you to see into the water. They cut the glare created by sunlight hitting the water. I used to think that polarized glasses were hogwash that is until I purchased a decent pair. Once I got my hands on a good pair of polarized glasses my attitude changed. The key is to get a good pair, which means that you'll need to spend a little money. A good pair of polarized glasses will cost you at least $100, because what your mother told you is true. You get what you pay for.

When it comes to trout fishing tackle the above items will make you a much more efficient and effective angler. If you want to take your trout fishing to the next level add any or all of the above items to your fishing repertoire.

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

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Fishing Tackle is Easy to Find on the Web, Just Make Sure That You Do Some Research Before You Buy

2009-10-12T22:48:00.000-07:00

A lot of people have hobbies and one of the most popular is fishing. If you're interested in buying some new fishing tackle on the web then you'll have a few things to think about. There are plenty of options available but you'll need to do some research before you part with any cash.
Start by using Google and searching for what you need. You'll then have a convenient list of all the online stores that stock what you're looking for. Having a pen and paper with you is a good idea so that you can make notes while you browse the web.
It's also a good idea to bookmark any web pages that you like the look of. That way you can go back to them when you've done all your research. Take your time when you're shopping online because there's a lot to take in so you will need at least a few hours.
Really concentrate on trying to find yourself the best deal for fishing tackle and you should have no problems. Just remember that research takes time and that it'll be worth it in the end. You can save in excess of £50 if you do your research properly.
A lot of the time, you'll find that prices are much more competitive on the web as well. This is because the market is far more competitive than the high street. You will easily be able to find a range of options that are suitable for your needs as well as being within your budget.
Overall, buying fishing tackle online is really easy but you'll need to take some time out to do some research. Set aside a few hours to concentrate on getting yourself the best deals. This should ensure that you're happy with your purchases.

Writer Mohammed P Holland talks about buying fishing tackle on the web. http://www.anglingcentre.net has a huge range of options available, you should easily find what you're looking for.

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

Fishing Tackle - 10 Things You Can't Do Without

2009-10-08T22:44:00.000-07:00

If you're new to fishing, perhaps you're being overwhelmed with lots of new and exciting things to buy. Or, perhaps you're able to resist the temptation of having to learn how lots of gadgets, and accessories work, and just need the basic fishing tackle to get you started.
Here's what you need.
1. Fishing Rod - First of all you'll need a rod. The material, weight, and length will all be determined by what you're going to fish for, where you're going to fish, and how often you'll be going fishing. There's no point spending a fortune on getting the lightest fishing rod, if you're going to use it a couple of times a year.
2. Fishing Reel - The reel is almost as important as the rod, and again, the model you buy will depend on what sort of fish you'll catch, how often you fish and how much you want to spend. You don't have to spend a fortune to get a good reel, and spending a lot on a reel, won't necessarily mean it's the right reel for you.
3. Fishing Line - the fishing line will depend on what sort of fish you are catching. Heavier fish will need a stronger and heavier line. You might also want to make sure that the lines you use will work well with your reels too.
4. Flies - If you're going fly fishing, then you'll be using some sort of flies as bait. These flies could be real insects, pretend insects, or flies that you have made yourself out of materials designed to attract the fish. You'll also need the right floatants, sinkants, leaders and hooks too.
5. Waders - Although not an essential, waders mean that you can stand in the water, and so have a better range, and increase the likelihood of catching more fish. If you fish in a river, then you're sure to want to try waders at some point. Alternatively, if you fish sat at the side of a lake, and spend more time talking with other anglers than concentrating on your rod, perhaps waders shouldn't be at the top of your list.
6. Fishing Tackle Box - a good tackle box will mean that you always have what you need with you, and you'll know where to find it, if you keep it well organised. When you're looking for something small, or, trying to tie a fly with wet hands, you'll be grateful for your tackle box.
7. Fishing Clothing - Having the right fishing clothing is important, and can help you stay warm and dry all day, so that you can concentrate on catching fish, and not catching cold.
8. Fishing Boots - You might think that you can get away with trainers, but you're going to be walking on wet and slippery surfaces, and so you'll need footwear that can cope. Wellington boots, or outdoor or hiking boots are a good choice. In addition, many waders come with built in boots.
9. Fishing Bags - Fishing bags are a great way to store everything you need, from your reels to your gloves and car keys. The more pockets and compartments your fishing bag has, the more you can store in there, and by separating items, you are less likely to lose or damage them, or get delicate items wet.
10. Fishing Accessories - Depending on where you fish, and what you're fishing for you might need a range of accessories. Perhaps you'll use a net, and throw the fish you catch back in, or want to take them home and have them for tea as proof of your fishing abilities. If you're not sure of what you need, why not ask your friends, or more experienced anglers, what they use?
Now you know what sort of fishing tackle you need, what's stopping you from taking up fishing?

Discover a great range of the latest Fishing Tackle from the latest brands, and all the clothing and accessories you need to enjoy the great outdoors, at John Norris today. If you can't make it to a Fishing Tackle Shop, why not visit JohnNorris.co.uk today instead? You'll be glad you did.

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

How to Fish Live Bait With Spinner Rigs - Details Here

2009-10-06T22:43:00.000-07:00

Many fisherman know that many times just using simple live bait fishing rigs is not enough. One of the best methods to make your live baits look more enticing to the game fish you are targeting is by using a spinner live bait fishing rig combination. When you are fishing stained or low visibility waters the combination of a spinner with say a juicy nightcrawler vibrating through the water gets game fish in the area excited.
The flash of a blade in combination with vibrations will sometimes help catch fish when it seems like they have "turned off". A spinner bait live bait fishing rig combo will also help you catch fish if there is an abundance of bait fish in the area. Many times game fish in this situation will only feed for short periods of the day so you need something more to get their attention.
You can fish what is called a safety - pin spinner fishing rig or a jig with an added safety pin spinner to work weedy cover. The safety - pin spinner arm protects the hook on the jig from constantly getting fouled up with weeds.
You can purchase purchase many different spinner fishing rigs designed specifically to be fished tipped with live bait but many fisherman would rather design their own. You can make your own spinner fishing rigs easily by threading a clevis and a few beads on the line in front of the hook. or tip a weight forward spinner bait with live bait such as nightcrawlers or bait fish.
Spinner live bait combos are used to catch such game fish as walleyes, smallmouth bass, northern, pike, muskies, crappies, sunfish, trout and salmon. The types of hooks and sinkers used with the spinner bait fishing rigs depends on the size of the fish you are targeting and what type of cover you are fishing in.
Well folks that concludes our article about a spinner bait fishing rigs We sincerely hope you use our fishing information on your next fishing trip.
Good Luck!

Check out Mark's website to get some amazing fishing information and fishing articles loaded with fishing tips about fishing rigs that really work!
Download your Free Copies of Our Fishing Secret Weapon Special Reports At: http://bait-fishing.com/blog/free-fishing-report-downloads/.

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3 Tips to Have More Success When Trout Fishing

2009-10-05T07:16:00.000-07:00

Fishing Secrets To Help Any Fisherman Catch More Fish

2009-10-01T16:30:00.000-07:00

Fishing Secrets – To Help Any Fisherman Catch More Fish

Ever since human beings have been wetting a line in an attempt to catch fish, fishermen have been looking for fishing secrets to help them catch more fish. In this article I'm going to reveal some fishing secrets that have been learned over the past twenty plus years of fishing. These fishing secrets and techniques have been used to help catch all types of fish including: smallmouth bass, trout, walleye, pike, and even catfish. These fishing secrets work for almost any fishing situation, but are most effective while fishing in the flowing waters of a river or stream.

Let's all never forget what Steven Wright said of all of us anglers, "There's a fine line between fishing and standing on the shore looking like an idiot". For anyone who has spent any time on the water chasing fish knows, that line can be razor thin! The bottom line is that these simple, yet effective fishing secrets will help you catch more fish and avoid the latter part of that quote by Mr. Wright.

Pay Attention To Your Hands - This might sound strange, but paying attention to your hands, and more specifically any un natural scents that may be on them, is of the utmost importance when it comes to fishing. Especially when fishing for very finicky fish such as trout, steelhead, and grayling. You see, any scent that's on your hands will transfer to the bait that you're using, and if fish smell unnatural odors, they are much less apt to bite your offering. That's why I always rub my hands in a handful of grass or dirt periodically during any given fishing trip. This eliminates any unnatural odors that might be on my hands.
Pay Attention To Nature - Nature is probably your best friend when it comes to fishing. The forces of both the weather and moon have as much of an impact on fishing as anything you do as a fisherman. Were you aware of this fact? If not, you should educate yourself as to how the weather and moon effect the behavior of fish. I'm telling you using the weather and moon to your favor (which means fishing when they are in your favor) pays huge dividends in the number and size of the fish that you catch.
Soft Plastics Have Come A Long Way - Soft plastic baits, such as the Slam Swim Shad are a very effective fish catching tool. These baits look and feel just like traditional soft plastic baits, but are much more effective. You see, Slam soft baits have been impregnated with fish catching scents, which makes them much more effective.

The bottom line is that these fishing secrets will help you catch more fish, there's no doubt about it. How am I so sure of this? Because I've been employing every single one of these fishing secrets for more than 20 years, and they have always worked for me. I know they will work for you as well.

The Best Types Of Fishing Lures

2009-09-29T04:27:00.000-07:00

The Best Types Of Fishing Lures

In this article I want to discuss some of the more popular fishing lures in the hopes that I can narrow the choices down to the best fishing lure. Actually, I believe that the term the best fishing lure is different for every angler, I mean come on is one fishing lure actually the best? Of course not, there are different fishing lures for different fishing situations, so what I'm going to discuss the most popular, and you can make your own decision as to which fishing lure is actually the best fishing lure…for you.

Obviously, when it comes to fishing lures, trying to figure out which is the best can be a tough decision. There are literally tens of thousands of choices available and navigating through those choices can be a tall order. With this article I hope to cut through some of the BS and give you some real world information, and even some suggestions as to the effectiveness of this or that fishing lure. Lets begin our search for the best fishing lure, shall we?

Top Water Fishing Lures - Top water fishing lures are just what the name suggests…fishing lures that are fished on the surface, or top, of the water. These fishing lures can imitate wounded bait fish, frogs, or even small mammals. I've always had success with frog imitation poppers and minnow imitation top water plugs such as the Zara Spook. A great tip for fishing top water lures is to do it when the water is as calm as possible, the more the surface of the water is like glass, the better top water fishing lures will work.
Spinners & Spoons - I'm grouping spinners and spoons together because I believe they are in the some family. The both imitate baitfish (for the most part) and can both be quite effective as fishing lures. The two most popular versions of spinner and spoons are probably Rooster Tails for spinners and Daredevils for spoons. A daredevil spoon in the colors red and white have long been known as a great pike bait. Rooster Tails are wonderful for trout and smallmouth bass fishing. Are spinners and spoons the best fishing lure? That’s for you to decide…
Minnow Imitations - Minnow imitation fishing lures are more than likely the type of fishing lure that all of the world is the most familiar with. These are the fishing lures that look like bait fish and come in all of the sizes and colors that actual baitfish are available in. These types of fishing lures are also available in colors that only a 3-year old could love. There are minnow imitation fishing lures that dive a few feet deep to as many as thirty feet deep. You can cover the entire water table with minnow imitations. The most popular of these types of fishing lures has to be Rapala's. Rapala's are made from balsa wood and are a very lifelike, realistic, and effective fishing lure. Another lifelike and realistic fishing lure is the KickTail Minnow. The KickTail Minnow is fairly new to the fishing lure market and looks as much like a real bait fish as anything that I've ever seen. The bottom line is that minnow imitations are exactly what the name suggests: fishing lures that imitate minnows…

Soft Baits - These might not be considered 'fishing lures' to some anglers, but they are close enough to be added to the list in my mind. Rubber worms have been a favorite of bass fishermen for generations, and rubber grubs attached to a jig head can be an incredibly effective method for catching almost every species of fish. Rubber Worms are rigged in various ways and one of the most popular methods is called the 'Carolina rig'. Rigs such as the Carolina rig are used mainly for fishing for large mouth bass.

At the end of the day, the best fishing lure is the lure that's your favorite. It would be impossible to say that one type of fishing lure is truly better than another. Some work better than others, or dive deeper than others, but the bottom line is that your favorite, is your favorite, and your favorite fishing lure is, to you, the best fishing lure. No matter what type of fishing lure you consider to be the best, make sure that You're fishing when the fish are the most active. There is no substitute for the two factors of fishing when the fish are active and practice. The better that your angling skills become, the more fish you'll catch, no matter what type of fishing lure you use.

Fishing For Bass

2009-09-27T16:24:00.000-07:00

Fishing For Bass

One of the most popular type of fish to attempt top catch in the entire United States is the Bass. There are four main species of Bass in this country: Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Kentucky Bass, Guadeloupe Bass, and Peacock Bass. In this article, the Smallmouth & Largemouth Bass are going to be focused on simply because they are by far the most popular. Bass fishing has evolved into a multi-billion dollar industry from it's humble beginnings in the late 1800s. The black bass has become the second most specifically sought-after game fish in the United States. The sport has driven the development of all manner of fishing gear, including rods, reels, lines, lures, electronic depth and fish-finding instruments, drift boats, float tubes, and specialized bass boats. The black bass, also known as Largemouth Bass, has even spawned many groups of people who earn their living fishing for them.

Largemouth Bass are found mostly in lakes and large rivers. While the same is true for Smallmouth Bass, smallmouth bass are also found it fast flowing rivers and streams. As a matter of fact in many areas of the country, smallmouth bass can be found in the same waters that trout swim in. Smallmouth can be fished for in the same manner as one does for trout as well. Largemouth bass tend to shy away from the types of currents and small rivers that trout are found in. Bass fishing is an incredibly popular pastime, and in some cases an incredibly lucrative business.

Fishing for bass can be a very expensive proposition, although it surely doesn't have to be. There are literally tens of thousands of techniques, lures, gimmicks, and plastic contraptions used in bass fishing. The options can become quite daunting. One of the best options when fishing for bass are soft baits like Swim and Jerk Shad. Although normally used in saltwater, these baits are quite effective for bass fishing in freshwater.

Some of the most popular bass fishing techniques are: fishing plastic worms (including the Slam line of soft baits), spinner baits, crank baits, large jigs, and even live bait. There are literally too many techniques to list here, but the ones listed are the most popular. The bottom line is that bass fishing is more or less the grand daddy of fishing. Because of tournaments and organizations like B.A.S.S (which stands for: Bass Anglers Sportsman Society) the activity of bass fishing has become incredibly popular, and doesn't look to be slowing down anytime soon. Honestly, when you think about it, how else could someone be convinced to spend $25,000 on a boat that mainly gets used on weekends only? Because what they are using that boat for is so much freakin' fun…Bass Fishing. Most Bass anglers would have a hard time arguing with this fact.

Smallmouth Bass Fishing Tips

2009-09-25T04:20:00.000-07:00

Smallmouth Bass Fishing – Smallmouth Bass Fishing Tips

One of the most enjoyable fish to catch in the entire world is the Smallmouth Bass. Smallmouths prefer clear cold water. These fish can be found in both lakes and running water. Pound for pound the smallmouth bass is widely considered the most enjoyable fish to catch. The smallmouth bass is a good natural indicator of healthy water. If you find Smallmouth, you more than likely will find healthy water.

Because of their hearty nature smallmouth bass can be found in waters from Maine to California. The only places that you won't find smallmouth Bass are areas where it's extremely hot for extended periods of time. They prefer cooler, cleaner water, which means they can be found all over the continent of Canada as well. As mentioned earlier, these fish can be found in both lakes and running water.

One of the most enjoyable ways to catch these fish is in river situations. Combining their natural tenacity and fighting ability with moving current can be a lot of fun for anglers of all skill levels. Smallmouth Bass feed on a variety of prey and there are various ways to fish for them. Fishing for them in the same manner that one would for trout is a great way to spend an afternoon. Smallmouth Bass tend not to be quite as wary as trout and can be a bit easier to catch. They love live bait of all kinds, but some of the most popular would include: minnows, worms, helgramites, and leeches.

Rigging any of these live baits with a set of pre-tied gang hooks is a very effective method of fishing for Smallmouth. If the offering is then bounced off of the bottom of a flowing river or stream, watch out! Gang hooks are the best way to present live worms (and other live bait).

Any variety of lures can be employed to effectively fish for Smallmouth Bass. Some of these would include: spinners, spoons, soft baits (like the Slam line of soft baits), spinner baits, and top water lures. Catching Smallmouth Bass on top water lures is incredibly enjoyable and quite effective as well.

The bottom line is that in lake situations, these fish can be fished for in much the same ways largemouth bass are fished for, with minor variations. And in river situations, smallmouth bass can be fished for in much the same way as trout. Such as bouncing a worm rigged on a set of gang hooks off the bottom, while it flows through the current. There are few experiences that can compare to catching a 4 or 5 pound Smallmouth on ultralight spinning gear in a flowing river. That might very well be the definition of a good time!

Gulf Coast Snapper Fishing

2009-09-22T13:24:00.000-07:00

Finding you own bait, is not supposed to be a challenge at all, but unfortunately, sometimes it is just that. One of the biggest issues with fishing for pinfish is the snappers than snag up what was supposed to draw the pinfish. Now many people see this as a problem since they are trying to catch bait and not a snapper.

But this is not about pinfish or even baitfish, this is about snapper. All along the Gulf Coast, snapper is popular. Many restaurants are named after various snapper species.
From chum line fishing to using those pinfish mentioned earlier, fishing for snapper can be a very fulfilling day, and what's even better, is when the day over, and you get that snapper home and cooked, it just makes it all worth while.

Snapper can be found almost anywhere up along the coast line, but especially down near the mangroves at the everglades. Also near by, you will probably find a plethora of other species including the ever popular grouper, but just remember that when fishing, if you catch a grouper that you have to ensure that you are within the law.

The snapper is probably one of the least pick fish when it comes to a home, they will take up home in almost any knick or cranny without any hesitation. One of the best snapper to go for has got to be the mangrove snapper which accordingly can be found taking up home in the spaces at the roots of the mangrove trees near the edges of the everglades.

Snapper fishing along the coasts near the everglades equals a great day, or even a whole weekend of fun and excitement on the warm waters of Gulf of Mexico. Depending on the time of year, you may even have the opportunity to meet a Florida manatee close-up, the majestic cow of the sea that is almost extinct but was once mistaken for mermaids.

Read more about Gulf Coast Snapper Fishing at Best Fishing Clubs.

John Old
Webmaster of : Best Fishing Club Writer of : Gulf Coast Snapper Fishing

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Using Worms As Bait When Fishing

2009-09-22T13:20:00.001-07:00

I realize that many anglers may be thinking that they already know how to use worms as bait when fishing, but my contention is that simply "threading" a live worm onto a hook and calling it fishing bait simply isn't right. We, as anglers, should respect the fish we are attempting to catch more than this. When live worms are traditionally used as bait, and are "threaded" onto a hook, they end up looking like some sort of worm ball, and this is just wrong on many levels. The most important thing that's wrong with the "threading" technique is that the bait ends up looking very little like what a live worm looks like in nature, and as I said, ends up looking like a worm ball. And when is the last time you saw a worm ball in nature?

More than 15 years ago, my fishing mentor JRW came up with a solution to this problem, and I haven't attempted to "thread" a worm onto a hook since. That solution is called a set of gang hooks, and it's the best way to use a worm as bait when fishing. You see, a set of gang hooks allows a worm to presented in an outstretched and natural manner, the way God intended. Presenting a live worm in a natural manner makes all the difference in the world.

JRW used gang hooks, and was the greatest live worm angler that I've ever known. He consistently caught not only numbers of trout, but trophy trout out of rivers and streams that received very heavy fishing pressure. Very few people knew his secrets, but one of those secrets was that he used gang hooks. He knew how important it was to present bait in a natural manner, and thus caught a lot of fish. JRW could never understand how people didn't use gang hooks to fish with live worms. To him, using gang hooks and presenting bait naturally, just made sense.

This is exactly how to use worms as bait when fishing: Begin be taking the end of your line and tying on a small barrel swivel. Now tie a set of pre-tied gang hooks onto the opposite end of the barrel swivel. Now add a live worm to the gang hooks (if the worms are large, simply pinch then in ½). At this point split shot sinkers are added to your line above the barrel swivel. If you're fishing in the current of a river or stream, the goal is to have your offering bounce off of the bottom as it flows naturally with the current (bouncing off the bottom as it flows). If you happen to be bobber fishing, just add a bobber to your line, and if you happen to be still fishing, simply add an egg sinker to your line above the barrel swivel. What was just described is exactly the way that JRW rigged live worms as bait.

The bottom line is that using worms as bait isn't rocket science, but to do it effectively, it is a bit more involved than simply "threading" a worm onto a hook. By using the simple technique of a set of gang hooks, you too can catch more fish. How do I know this? Because I've personally been doing exactly what was joust described, to catch fish for more than 15 years.

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!

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp
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Why is Flounder Fishing Popular Among Saltwater Anglers?

2009-09-18T18:37:00.001-07:00

Taste. That is the reason that so many anglers seek out these fish on a regular basis. They make excellent table fare, and can be cooked in so many different ways. If you were to look for a resturant in your area that served flounder, and then travelled 300 miles away, you would get it cooked in a completely different manner. However it is cooked though, it is delicious.
When you go out fishing for flounder, and you choose live bait, you are going to end up dealing with a lot of smaller, what people call "trash", fish. They are bait stealers, plain and simple. It doesn't matter if you are using a float rig, trolling, or fishing the bottom with a jig. These little fish can empty your bait bucket quick if you aren't prepared. My only advice to you is to move if you end up on a stack of these.
You can troll with a float rig hooked up, and a piece of shrimp attached to a hook for an excellent way to seek out flounder. This method will help you avoid the little fish for the most part, but you will find patches of them. Once you find a pack of fish, or a bunch of smaller fish, it is time to grab a jig with a piece of shrimp. This is when I really prefer to use artificial baits, because you have to let it soak.
I use the fake shrimp that a few different companies make for almost all of my jighead flounder fishing. The ones I like to use have scents in them that release and smell like dying fish to other predators in the area. I am not completely positive on the formula, but I do know that it works. Because you have to soak artificial baits in the water as long as you do, the scent really helps predatory fish pick up on the bait, and move in.

Josh has been saltwater fishing for a long time now, and enjoys flounder fishing as a way of enjoying his catch.

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

15 Carp Fishing Paste Bait Tips

2009-09-18T18:30:00.001-07:00

Do your big carp catches need a boost?! Paste has always been outstanding carp bait and many carp anglers over-look so many great ways of applying it on hooks, rigs and exploiting it in many other ways. Why miss out on exploiting very crafty methods to fool very many more big wary carp! Here are 15 essential big fish paste tips to stimulate your thinking and your catches!
Paste baits have always been superior in many ways to boilies because they have no barrier to the release of all their attraction and in fact can be so effective in this release that they melt into the water pretty much completely; all this soluble bait is rapidly dispersed in the water and pulls the fish magnificently to the bait!

1. Fishing over paste baits means you can fish over broken down bait that more wary and more experienced big fish can very often find much more comfortable feeding with confidence over than with whole pellets and boilies!

3. Paste baits are very handy as they are sticky and can be molded around baits, hooks, leads and anything else you like so it is easily delivered by many means that carp will not have experienced much in the recent past.

4. You can use the dough from proprietary bait company base mixes and other ingredients to make your own homemade baits for relatively little cost compared to buying silly little amounts of paste at stupid prices!

5. You can easily begin by using ready made paste from bait companies that match your free ready made baits and immediately practice using pastes and catching on them!

6. Many anglers only seem how to make a fishing paste out of scalded trout or halibut pellets for instance, but this is the tip of the tip of the ice-berg! Dough type baits are one of the easiest and quickest carp baits to make quite apart from being exceptionally effective, and they can be made from the cheapest ingredients and still keep working for big fish (and you can make a unique and different bait every single time!)

7. You can vary characteristics of your bait so it is harder, softer, less or more resilient to nuisance fish like roach, more or less buoyant, have unusual textures and incorporate all kinds of things for special effects including micro pellets and crushed seeds and nuts like hemp and tiger nuts.

8. A very basic bread flake and yeast extract bait was common beginning for many carp anglers 30 years ago getting more into catching carp, and such very simple baits still work and prove you never need to spend a fortune on expensive baits!

9. To make a carp fishing bait dough a little unusual or alternative is very easy but to make a great bait dough takes some knowledge of carp senses and specific substances and ingredients and their components but you can make small economical amounts of bait using aquatic feeds for catfish, cold water fish and koi for instance.

10. A basic starter mix can be made by adding crushed aniseed-flavour Red Band bird food, crushed Koi feed or halibut pellet powder together, with eggs or even water in the mix.

11. The legendary bird food additive called Robin Red is great in soft pastes at high or low levels and there are alternative such as Cypry Red from Willis Worms among others!

12. You can base your homemade baits on proprietary base mixes with all the trimmings such as liquid foods, betaine, butyric acid, garlic concentrate, whey protein and casein, fish meals, enhancers and sweeteners like Talin and flavors and so on, or get all your ingredients from a supermarket often much cheaper!

13. Using odd-shaped soft baits gets around the fact that most wary carp find it very much easier to avoid and reject machine-rolled uniform sized and shaped boilies and pellets!

14. You can make your homemade paste baits on the bank so they are even fresher than most ready made baits can ever be - which is a very important point!

15. If you begin with experimenting with soft bait recipes which contain a high level of soluble sugars, marine, insect, fish, liver, yeast and milk and vegetable proteins for instance and your baits will release an explosion of carp attraction far quicker than your friends boilies - so you can expect even more action!

It is a fact today on many carp waters that the so-called smaller species have grown big by consuming expensive ready made baits used in such volumes. This change of behaviours and dietary preferences in many waters shows the impact of the nutritional attraction of boilies and this attraction and your catches can be seriously multiplied by boosting certain levels of substances in your baits!

This especially includes the concentrations and levels of very specific natural attractors, feeding triggers and appetite simulators for example. For insider information on homemade bait making and recipes, see my dedicated bait secrets site Baitbigfish now; why not improve your catches for life!

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

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

Bass Fishing Winter

2009-09-18T18:29:00.000-07:00

Winter bass fishing is without a doubt the most challenging time to catch bass. You will not be able to use your usual methods and tactics and the bass will not be hungry. You will have a much harder time finding suitable cover and it might just be down right cold. Its no wonder why most bass fisherman don't partake in winter bass fishing but if you are reading this article then you are not most bass fisherman.
The first challenge in winter bass fishing is to be able to find the right place to fish. Much of the vegetation has died, the bass are sitting much deeper, probably at depths that are not visible to you even if the water is crystal clear. If you are in the north where there is ice cover then you really have your work cut out for you. If you prepare for winter bass fishing in the fall by marking deep spots with lots of structure then you will save yourself a lot of time. Otherwise you may have to find the bass by trial and error.
One rule to remember when winter bass fishing is to slow down your retrieve. In fact still fishing a soft plastic worm or grub is even better as long as you can very slowly drift it around the bottom or hop it across. If you are casting one of these soft baits, let it sink to the bottom then very slowly reel it in. It should take no less than three minutes to retrieve your lure.
Since bass are cold blooded they will be very non-responsive to your regular forms of prey because they just cant spend their precious energy unwisely. They will eat a grub that slowly drifts by right in front of its face but they will not be tempted to swim very far at all to get it. If you can accomplish dangling a worm, small fish or soft bait as described before in front of the bass' face then you will have success.
Only dull and plain colors should be used when winter bass fishing. Bright, flashy type bait will most likely produce nothing. If you are using soft baits then try keeping them in a zip-lock bag in your pocket. The warmth from your body will keep them from getting stiff in the cold water and they will act much more life-like when warm. Keeping a small handful in your pocket will allow you to cycle through them so you can always be using a warm one.

For more information on winter bass fishing and anything else related to bass fishing, be sure to visit ChampionBassFishing.com. There you will find many articles and videos that can take you from average to pro right now!
Tom Rittenhouse is an accomplished bass fisherman with many tournament wins and articles on the subject. His articles have been featured in magazines such as Ontario Outdoors.

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

Fishing Tips for the New Angler - Where to Find the Big Bass!

2009-09-18T18:27:00.000-07:00

Ready to join the growing number of sportsmen who have set their sights on catching that big bass? Thousands of new anglers are gearing up to hit the lakes, streams and rivers in search of the largemouth bass. This magnificent game fish can be as elusive as that winning lottery ticket.

Bass are part of the sunfish family. Other members of this species include spotted bass, smallmouth bass, rock bass, bluegill, and pumpkinseed fish. These bass, including the largemouth, are identified as warm water bass or black bass. Because of its "spirited" nature on the line, the largemouth bass is a favorite game fish for the casual weekend angler, as well as, the tournament fisherman.

As a new angler, your greatest challenge will be locating the "hideouts" of the largemouth bass. What makes the bass such a great game fish is that they are hard to predict. They are sensitive to environmental and seasonal changes. As water temperatures or levels change, so will their resting places. Other factors affecting their location might be season, weather conditions, amount of daylight, and food availability.
So, where is the best place to find the big "Kahuna" of bass? Different bodies of water will yield different results. Let's take a look at each:

Ponds

Ponds can yield satisfactory results, but the bass tend to be small to medium in size. Weeds and reeds are the natural habitat of bass. When fishing ponds, look for areas of weed beds near the shore. Bass will tend to congregate near or in these weedy areas, but also like to hide around sunken logs, large rocks, or deep holes.

Lakes

Natural lakes must be divided into two categories - lakes in the Southern states and lakes in the Northern states. The lakes in the north tend to have a wide array of topography - rock bluffs, weed beds, holes, sunken logs, reefs, islands and reeds. Bass aren't as plentiful in these lakes because these waters do not contain the plankton and algae that they like to feed on.
On the other hand, Southern lakes, especially shallow ones, breed some of the largest bass in North America. In these lakes, the bass will congregate in the shallows around the weedy and reedy areas. It's around these areas that you have the greatest probability for a strike, so cast your bait or lure in that direction.

Streams

Streams are often overlooked as a source for good bass fishing. They can be a great place to also find smallmouth bass, which prefer cooler waters over the larger and warmer bodies of water. The same principles apply in streams as in ponds - look for the sunken structures and along the steep banks. Anywhere that the weed beds change into rocky areas is an excellent location to find bass. One note of caution: bass will not congregate in flowing water, so don't waste your time in the middle of the stream in the current flow. Cast your line where the current is blocked, like large rocks of downed trees. This is where the large bass will be hiding out.

For the new angler, practice makes perfect. You don't need to start your fishing career on the big lakes. Try the smaller ponds to get accustomed to your new gear and to start to master your casting and retrieval techniques. Try different baits and see how they feel on the end of your line. Determine whether a spinner, streamer, soft bait or crankbait works best for you.

Trust me - you will catch plenty of bass along the way. They may not all be trophy winners, but you will learn to get a "feel" for a bass on the line. To help you gain a better feel for the fish, try using an ultra light combination rod and reel. Even the one pounders feel like trophy fish, and the experience you gain will be priceless.

Buck Wilson writes articles for sports publications and online newsletters. He is an avid sportsman and fisherman. For more information visit: http://www.go-fishing.net http://www.best-rifle-scopes.us

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

Overhand, Underhand, Sidearm, Pitching, Flipping, Slingshot and Tossing

2009-09-18T18:12:00.001-07:00

There are several types of casting methods, Overhand, Underhand, Sidearm, Pitching, Flipping, Slingshot and Tossing. However, there are only two that are mainly used in freshwater fishing; the overhand and sidearm methods. Even though every angler has their own way of executing each one, there are main aspects that are the same.

Sort of like a fingerprint, casting is unique to each person. It comes down to what feels comfortable and what works for you. If you ask four different anglers how to cast, you will probably get four different answers. But one aspect that’s consistent is that it’s all in the wrist.

I say it’s in the wrist and the forearm. The upper arm should be held against the side of the body as if holding a news paper in your armpit. Some casts require more use of the upper arm, but for the most part, the upper arm should not be much of a factor when casting.

Always get to know your reel before casting. You will need to know how to release the line correctly before you attempt to cast. Closed faced and some bait-cast and spinning reels have a button that, when pressed, (or pulled on some spinners) releases a locking mechanism on the spool inside the reel. When the button is released, the line moves freely from the reel. When you turn the handle, the line will not move out freely, but will retrieve.
Try to start out with a closed faced reel when first learning to cast. If you need help, ask someone at your local tackle shop or outdoor center to show you how to operate your particular reel. Remember, the only dumb question is one not asked.

Once you’ve mastered your reel, you’re ready to cast. The overhand cast is the most widely used of all casts. It’s the standard when one thinks of casting. It is mostly used for distance casting and can be fairly accurate with some practice. Fly fishing has it’s own specific cast and should only be tried when regular casting has been learned.
To execute the overhand cast, find a clear open area to practice in, make sure there is at least six inches of line between the rod tip and your lure. If you are using a leader, that could be all you need. Face the target area, a normal stance is really all that is needed. Try to keep your elbow at your side. On closed face reels, press and hold the releasing button and lift the rod straight up and over the shoulder with the forearm using the wrist to point the tip back.

At this point, the rod should be at a forty-five degree angle directly over the shoulder with the tip pointing behind you. If you need to use your upper arm a bit, that’s ok, just try not to put too much upper arm into the cast. Most of the casting motion should be done with the wrist and forearm.

Now, with the wrist and forearm, whip the rod forward releasing the button on the reel just after the tip passes the top of the arch. Follow though with the rod stopping when the rod is at a forty-five degree angle to the front.

Practice at home a few times or more from your porch or preferably a deck, cast into the yard and retrieve. Attach a sinker to the end of your line to simulate a lure. Once you’ve got the hang of it, then you’re ready to try it out for real.

The sidearm method is the same as the overhand, except that you swing the rod out to your side, perpendicular to the ground and a little more upper arm may need to be used.
The underhand cast is a little more advanced however, the mechanics are the same as the others, but in this cast you bring the rod across the body pointing the rod down at a forty-five degree angle and swing the rod in an upward motion.

Pitching and flipping are fairly simple, specialty casts that may involve the use of the entire arm. These cast are designed to accurately place your lure in the water with very little splash. They are meant for close range casting where a standard cast would be too much.

With pitch casting you release a rod’s length of line pinching the line just above the lure with your free hand and hold the button on the reel at the same time. Put enough tension on the line to straighten it out then swing the rod out and up letting go of the line and the releasing button at the same time, “Pitching” the lure at your intended target.

With this cast, you have to be careful not to snag yourself on the lure.
The flip cast is a bit more involved however, it’s fairly simple to execute and when mastered can be very handy. Hold the rod up and out like The Statue of Liberty pose and release the line until your lure hits the ground. Bring the rod back down and grasp the line between the reel and the first rod guide with your free hand.

Pull the line through the rod guides and out to the side holding the rod out about waist high, raising the lure off the ground. Holding the line, swing the lure like a pendulum and “Flip” it at your target. You can hold the line while casting or let go when needed. As I always say, “Go with what works.”

You can also use the flip type method for jig and pigging and drop shot type fishing. Just don’t ‘Flip” the lure out, lower the lure into the water with the hand holding the line. Continue to hold the line and pull back and forward making the lure move up and down in the water. This is a very handy method for Crappie and Blue-gill fishing.

The slingshot method is something I came across just playing around and then used it for necessity. I later saw it in a fishing magazine, so I can’t clam it as mine unfortunately. I’m not sure who thought of it first but I think it’s nearly the most accurate cast there is however, it’s not very quiet. Slingshot casting is perfect for getting your lure under docks and overhanging tree limbs.

It is very similar to pitching except when you put tension on the line, use enough to bend the rod tip and then slingshot the lure at you target by letting go and pushing the rod out and releasing the button on the reel. There is a bit of timing involved with this one and can be hazardous if not practiced enough.

Toss casting is basically what is says. Push and release the button on your reel. Take the lure in your free hand and literally toss it at your intended target. Depending on how good your aim is, this can be the most accurate cast of all however, it’s kind of limited on distance.

As I mentioned earlier, fly fishing has a very unique casting method and will take an entire article to explain. The fly fishing method can be use in saltwater fishing also. But for now, practice the overhand and sidearm methods until you’ve mastered them and then, when you’re ready, move on to other methods and as always, good fishin’ to ya.

Chris Curley lives in Indianapolis, Indiana with his dogs Puranah and Princess and with his cat Sylvester.

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

The Large Mouth Bass

2009-09-14T21:56:00.002-07:00

More then ten million people are in love with the Largemouth Bass. For a lot of people,bass fishing is a passion that takes up almost all of their free time. They own all the most expensive equipment, have all the best lures,and have several expensive rods and reels. Even when they are not able to get out on the water they are watching one of their favorite fishing shows.
So why are almost all fishermen so obsessed with the Largemouth? Here are some of the explanations.
-Largemouth are the most widely distributed game fish in North America. They are found in every one of the lower 48 states and their range extends into southern Canada,Mexico,and Cuba. As a result almost every American angle can fish for Largemouth Bass with just a short drive.
-The Largemouth will eat practically any living thing that will fit into its mouth. This make the fish very angler friendly, which mean almost any kind of lure you use you will get a strike from it, if you use the right presentation.
-Largemouth Bass are very powerful fighters. However they're not as acrobatic as the Small mouth, they will not hesitate to leap to the air to throw your hook. If the tackle that you use is to light for fishing for Largemouth they will wrap your line around weeds or brush which will quickly end the fight.
The lures used by anglers to catch Largemouth consist of the following soft plastics,spinner baits,top water baits,buzz baits,and crank baits. Although a lot of anglers swear by the soft bait because it feel more realistic then the other baits and you can use them in any situation. When selection a lure the basic rule of thumb is, for dark water use a brighter lure and for clear water you will want to use more natural colors. However in some situations this might not be the case.
Now that you have the basics on the Largemouth bass you can apply this information along with your skills and gear to bring in more of the big ones. Good Luck!

Charles Hoffman born and raised in the country.
http://www.westdeerhunting.com

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

School for Sailfishing

2009-09-14T21:56:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous, acrobatic, and lit-up, Sailfish rank as the # 1 sporty catch of south Florida. But there is a lot involved in the catch and release of these sought after game fish, after all their not the best table fare. How much vacuum packed smoked Sailfish can you eat? So what’s involved in catching the Sailfish? What kind of bait? What is the best rod and reel set-up? What are some of the techniques to use on the water? Let’s start out and learn from the end result and work our way to the beginning.
The fact is Sailfish fight their heart out, displaying themselves in full view acrobatics over and over again. Did you ever run the 100 yard dash in high school? What happened when you finished? If you were like me, you stood there with your head between your knees and tried to catch your breath. A Sailfish doesn’t have the luxury of sitting there and catching his breath, they will sink. So what do you do when you get a Sailfish that looks half dead at your boat side? You need to resuscitate him! Put on your gloves, grab his sandpaper like spindle beak, remove your hook and hold him boat side, preferably with the boat in gear. You need to revive him for 5-10 minutes before you let him go. This might take some patience, but the reward is great when your prize catch swims away in good health ready to fight another day.
The above scenario is a bit traumatizing for the Sailfish, don’t you think? Not to mention a little novice. Most cases when a Sailfish has to be resuscitated it is because the fight was prolonged. Fighting your Sailfish on anything less than 20 lb. test will prolong the battle unless you chase down your fish. Personally I prefer to fight my Sailfish with no help from the boat, but I also have that luxury since I fish from a center console. My clients have on numerous occasions commended me for not chasing down their fish, they appreciated catching their fish all on their own. As an example, if your using a 12 lb. set-up, you will need to hold at least 400 yards on your reel, and you might still get spooled from your average Sailfish if you don’t chase him down. Even if you don’t get spooled what fun is it seeing your fish jumping 300 yards away from the boat not to mention all that line dragging in the water increasing the risk for it to break. And finally you might have your fish boat side an hour or so later.
Fast reels, Hot baits
One of my favorite set-ups for Sail fishing is a Shimano TLD 20, spooled with over 400 yards of Berkley Big Game 30 pound test, accompanied with a seven foot, medium action Oceanmaster rod. This rod and reel set-up has caught tons of Sailfish over the years and remains unbeatable offshore. Keeping 4-5 pounds of drag set in the strike position, most Sailfish stay inside of 150 yards from the boat and are brought to the stern within 20 minutes. I use Berkley Big game fishing line on most reels, it doesn’t have a lot of stretch or memory and is easy to tie with, it also is abrasive resistant. With experienced fishermen on board I’ll tie a 5/0 Lazer sharp Eagle Claw Salmon hook directly to the main line. You can bring in the fish within 20 minutes and the line holds up very well, and you get a lot more hits that way. You will need to retie your hook after each fish caught to be safe from any nicks or chaff on your line.
Putting the right bait on your hook is critical to your success. I have caught Sailfish on Ballyhoo, Pilchards, and Threadfin Herring, but my best success is the valuable goggle eye. ( Literally at $50. to $100. a dozen) They are a soft bait with big eyes and strong swimmers making them great baits for all techniques. You can catch this bait on size 12 sabiki rigs but only at night, that’s when the Goggle-eye becomes active. You can find them around structure up to about 80 feet of water and around anchored ships. As soon as the sun comes up the bite is off unless there is a full moon setting as the morning light breaks, then the bite will last just a bit longer. So prepare to fish for these Goggle-eyes 2-4 hours before sunrise giving yourself time to find them first.
The Technique
Setting up on the drift.
As mentioned earlier, on my flat lines I like to tie the hooks directly to the main line, otherwise I’ll tie a short bimini to the tag end and attach my leader, 10 feet of 40 pound test Seaguar Fluorocarbon with an Albright knot. This knot takes practice, but once you get the feel of how this knot works you will never change. 2 to 3 flat lines are usually deployed at 50, 80, and past 100 feet away from the boat. 2 down lines are deployed at 40 and 80 feet down. The down lines are rigged different since weights are attached and the baits make more line twist, therefore I attach a stainless steel ball-bearing swivel to my Bimini and then 8 feet of 40-50 pound mono attached to 1 foot of # 4 wire Kingfish rig. You might not want Kings, but sooner or later your drift is going to take you over their zone, so be prepared for cut-offs. Most of the time I tie wire to all the rigs because the Kings bite on all lines. I use 4-6 oz weights on the down lines. The weight can be attached a few different ways. I like to insert the Bimini twist into the weight then tie on my snap swivel. You can also take a piece of dental floss, attach it to the weight and leave a long enough tag end to tie to the swivel. You can also use the breakaway technique where you will lose the weight. You take your line above the swivel and insert it through the weight so a loop appears on the other end, then take a rubber band, put it through the loop a few times and pull the mono slowly so the rubber band gets stuck inside the weight. When a fish strikes, the pressure on the line will release the weight. Setting your lines for the kite is the same as the down line without the weights. Tie your bimini, attach your ball-bearing swivel rated for 75-100 pounds, tie 8-10 feet of 50 leader material to the swivel and attach your tag end if you prefer, to 1 foot of # 4 wire leader attached to your hook via a haywire twist. Then I will take a 2 foot strip of red or orange ribbon and attach it to my swivel on the Bimini end, that way I can monitor my baits much easier.
Slow trolling
This technique is more advanced than drifting. It requires dropping your baits back on the strike. Sailfish are very sensitive as they pick up your bait, if your bumping in and out of gear a Sailfish can come up on your bait, mouth it, and if your drag is tight the boat will pull it from his mouth and he might not come back. I prefer to keep my drags in free spool with the clickers on, or on a spinning outfit I will leave the bail open, attach a piece of copper wire to the arm that is attached to the rod and make a small hook to hang the line on, with a gentle tug, the sailfish will pull the line from the tiny hook in the copper wire and put this reel into free spool as it runs with the bait. Let the fish eat for at least 5-10 seconds, or until he takes off speedily, then put your drag lever in the strike position and reel down until line starts peeling off the reel. When the kite bait gets hit, the Sailfish needs time to eat just like above, as you reel down on the fish the line will pop off the clip, so reel fast to get tight before he jumps. If he jumps before you get tight, chances are you missed him.
Prime time for south Florida Sailfish starts from November through April when these fish are concentrated in 100 to 200 feet of water. On winter days as the wind comes out of the east it is not unusual to get 4-5 releases in a days fishing out of Ft. Lauderdale, 3 or more releases constitutes a good day. During the winter season be sure to present plenty of baits down deep, at least 50 feet or more down. We catch a lot of sails this way, it seems the top part of the water column is a bit too cold for them especially on those days when the winds are blowing from the north.
When targeting Sailfish, look for the edge where the cobalt blue waters meets the green water. This is where the bait usually winds up as these two currents move against each other. This edge always changes, sometimes you will not find blue water past 700 feet or so. Don’t neglect this area, many times I have put lines down from 75-100 feet and came up with a beautiful tail walker. Pay attention to the current as well, a good 2 knot north current produces some of the best bites.

Captain Cary Hanna fishes the offshore waters off Ft. Lauderdale beach from the Hillsborough inlet south to Haulover. He pursues Sailfish, Kingfish, Dolphin, Tuna, Sharks, and Swordfish aboard his 2004 Donzi 32 ZF center console, powered with twin 225hp. Mercury Opti’s. He can be contacted at 954-907-0967 or visit his website for the latest fishing report and pictures at http://www.newlattitude.com

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

Snook Fishing from Shore

2009-09-13T02:26:00.000-07:00

The trick is to know where they will be; I have found over the years to look in the places that other people just go right by. In the summer months, for instance, when the water temperature is in the 80's, you will find a lot of snook cruising the beaches. I have watched people fishing from the beaches in hopes of catching a big snook, but they fail to realize that the snook are right in front of them. They are so focused on casting their bait as far out as they can, and the snook are only feet off the beach. I also have seen where someone is fishing on one side of a sandbar and the fish are just sitting on the other side. The truth is, these people did not do their homework. They heard somewhere that they can catch snook off the beach so they went and got some fishing gear and some bait and think that's all there is to it. If you have tried to fish for snook, you know that there is a bit more to it than that. Not to say that you won't catch one, just not on a regular basis.

In this article I hope to open your eyes some, to look a little differently at the waters around you. You may find that you have been passing up some really great fishing spots.

I'd like to show you that you can save a lot of money by fishing on shore. No more money spent on fuel, wasted time trying to find a boat launch that still has parking, or getting back tired after a long day on the water and still having to rinse the boat down and clean it.

Looking for spots

When I drive down the road I am always looking for a spot to fish. If I am driving down the beach, I'll look for vacant lots and dead end roads that have access to the water. I will look for parks that are on the water. Sometimes I'll find a place, and while I am fishing there, I'll see another good spot across the water.

Snook love structure. Bridges are a great place to fish for snook. Try to get down on the shore of a bridge, so that you can cast underneath it. Don't just cast under it either. Often, snook will be moving along the shore there also. If you can get around docks, for instance in canals, you will usually find snook.

Another place that I often search for snook is around causeways. There are mangroves along many of Florida's causeways and in between them is access to the water. These are great places to fish. Often you will find shallow water there, and guess what! Snook like shallow water. If there is a channel there also, well that's a plus. If there are mangrove islands and/or oyster beds there also, that's another plus - There is your structure.

In the wintertime move inland; again look for parks on the water, like on main rivers that dump into the gulf or ocean. Snook cannot tolerate cold water. If the temperature drops down into the low 60's they can die, so they tend to move where they know the warmer water will be. Power plants are a great place to fish; OK, since 9/11 we cannot even get close to power plants anymore, but if you look around you can find places that are close to warm water runoffs. In the winter you will find both snook and tarpon in warm water runoffs. There is a place near me called the manatee park. This is where many manatees come for the winter and yes, it has a warm water runoff. Now you cannot fish in the manatee zone, but they do have a fishing pier where you can fish and cast into the runoff just outside the park. This is also a great kayaking spot.

There are also locks on many rivers; these are also great fishing spots in the winter.

Another good thing to look for is running water. Snook like to sit and wait in a good current and let the food come to them. I have noticed that on small bridges, people just drive by thinking that there is not much water there, so there must not be any fish. But I have learned that if mullet are there, then snook have no problem being there either. Remember mullet are a primary part of their food base.

The key to all of this is to open your eyes and look at the environment. You may find a property that you know would be a great fishing spot. Try to find out who owns the property, and then call them for permission. You may even offer to help keep the lot or property clean for them, which is a small price to pay for a great fishing spot.

I have many spots I fish and tend to not stay at any one of them for very long. For one reason, I use lures and cover a lot of area in a short time. Another reason is that I don't want people to see me catching fish. They're my spots. Every spot that I like to fish is a little different than the next; this gives me a wide variety to choose from, and depending on the weather I can usually find fish.

My best day so far is over 40 snook in one day. Actually, I stopped counting at 40. All of them were caught on shore. I catch at least 2 or 3 good-sized snook every time I go out, but those are on bad days!

So to recap, there are a few things that snook prefer. Look for areas with structure (bridges, mangrove islands, oyster beds, docks, & locks), a current (even in shallow water), and schools of mullet. These will be great fishing spots. Don't limit yourself to the places that have a sign saying 'fishing allowed.'

The trick is to keep your eyes peeled for the right signs - They're out there. Just remember to respect the signs that say 'no trespassing'.

Tackle

The farther you can cast, the more coverage you will have when fishing on shore, so your setup needs to be focused on being able to make long casts. I personally use a 6 ½ - 7' rod (Shimano Compre), with medium-heavy to heavy action. Always use a good spinning reel (I use the Shimano Symetre 4000FJ), with 15 to 20 pound Power Pro line and 30 lbs fluorocarbon leader tied directly to the braided line. You do not want your leader to be over 2 feet long because it will drag the front of your plug down. Shorten the leader until your plug remains buoyant when retrieving it.

Whether your preference is lures or bait, you have many options to choose from that work well when fishing for snook.

If you're going to fish with live bait, pinfish, greenbacks, finger mullet and large shrimp are snook favorites. I have even had success on the beach using chunks of ladyfish. Keep in mind that snook have great eyesight and the littlest thing will spook them, so try not to use floats or weights.

Personally, I like to use lures, especially top water plugs like Hedden Super Spooks. These lures make a lot of noise, and seem to make the snook want to destroy it. Another good choice is the DOA shrimp, but color will be a factor. The current water temperature and types of bottom where you are fishing will determine the color that the shrimp should be.

I recently started using a new lure from Strike King called the 3X ZTOO. It is a soft bait that has salt imbedded into it. I tried this bait on a cold morning when the snook were stacked up, but not touching anything that I threw at them. I tossed one of these out, not expecting much, but to my surprise I pulled 5 snook out of this one hole in less than 30 minutes. Then the tide stopped and the snook moved on, but it made a poor fishing day turn out to be good.

Always try to use a lip grip when you catch snook. The less you have to touch them (or any larger fish for that matter) the better their odds are for survival. When they are not in season, pinch the barbs on your hooks. You may lose a fish now and then, but the damage you cause them will be greatly decreased by doing this. This will help ensure that the big ones are out there for years to come, healthy and hungry!

I hope that this article helps open your eyes to new fishing opportunities. There are a lot of fantastic untouched fishing areas that are only accessible by land. So get out and go fishing, and don't forget to teach our next generation this great sport!

Wade Fishing

2009-09-13T02:25:00.000-07:00

Wade fishing can be a great way to catch fish at a very small cost, but there are things you better know if you never have tried it before. If you ask other fishermen about wade fishing, I am sure that you will hear all kinds of stories regarding why many of them will never try it. So, before we get into the things that can happen, let's get into what you should have before you go wade fishing.

Fishing Equipment

There are a few pieces of equipment that you need to ensure a good, and safe, wade fishing experience. First, you should have a good fishing rod, anywhere from six foot to seven and a half foot, with medium to heavy action. Next, you'll need good saltwater reel. Why a saltwater reel? It's going to get wet...Well, more like it's going to spend some time underwater. What I like to do is to pack my reel with good reel grease. This helps to keep the saltwater out, and will make the reel last a lot longer. I do not recommend using any high dollar reels for this style of fishing, unless you just like to spend money. Also, when you're done fishing, instead of rinsing it off with fresh water, steal some lemon Pledge from the house and spray it on the rod and reel. Something in this stuff counteracts the saltwater. Just wipe it off when it dries, and put it away.

Bait vs. Lures

Do your homework before you go out. In other words, think about what species of fish you are going after and what their natural prey is. Shrimp is always a great all-around bait or if you have a cast net, whatever bait you find/catch around the area you will be fishing is definitely part of the natural diet of the fish in the area.

Don't be afraid to try lures. Topwater plugs like the Heddon Super Spook works well in the flats. Another good one is the Strike King Z TOO, which is a weedless lure. Flip out these lures while you're wading out to the spot you want to fish.

As for your bait, you're not going to want to drag a cast net around while you fish. Try to get the bait while you're still close to shore. Use a good bait bucket that will give your bait plenty of water change to help to keep them alive. Keep in mind that you don't want to overfill the bait bucket because this will cause a lot, if not all, of your bait to die. Give them some breathing room. Use a good strong fish stringer to tie your bait bucket to; most of these are plenty long enough for your fish and the bait bucket. If you can, try to stay away from aerators. These make noise and you don't want to spook away the fish as you are approaching them. Also get a fishnet or lip grip for your fish; this will make handling your fish easier and safer for you and the fish.

Let's talk about wearing waders when you fish. There are a few things that you need to be aware of before using them: First, if you go too deep, they will fill up with water. Second, they will try to drag you down if you go in over your head. This can make a great day go really bad, very fast. I am not saying not to use them, but just be aware at all times of where you are about to step because there are some deep holes out there. I am unsure, but I think they now offer waders with flotation in them for safety. If so, I would strongly recommend them. Or another option is to just wear a ski belt or some other kind of waist flotation device.

As for myself, I don't mind getting wet, so I wear an old pair of tennis shoes. You should always have something on your feet - there are plenty of things to hurt yourself on including broken shells, crabs, and don't forget stingrays! Try to do the stingray shuffle when walking across sandbars, so that they will hear you coming and move before you get to them. If you don't know what the stingray shuffle is, it is scuffing your feet on the bottom while you are walking. On a side note, stingrays are not out there to hurt you; their barb is their only defense and you would want to defend yourself if someone stepped on you too! Please show them respect and scuff your feet as you go, and you should have no problem with them.

Where to wade fish

Before you ever go wade fishing, you need to know where you're going to go. This may sound simple, but if you don't do some research, it could mean your life. Please don't take this lightly, as people die wade fishing every year. Always check out the area very well before fishing. During the low tide, check out the deep holes and the shallow areas. Track the best area to walk to get out to the channel or hole that you want to fish. Remember these areas because the tide will come back in, and many seasoned wade fisherman have waited too long and found themselves in a bad place. Knowing where the shallower water is could mean the difference of still being able to walk in or having a long, dangerous swim. I grew up wade fishing around Tampa Bay and around the Skyway Bridge. In these areas you can find sandbars at low tide that go out for a mile. They are great fishing spots, but also can be very dangerous. There is not only the concerns of getting stuck out there when the tide comes back in, but there is a strong current that always seems to be going the opposite direction than the way that you want to go. So, again, I cannot stress this enough - know where you're going ahead of time. Find out what time the tides are changing. Have a watch with you to check the time. Let some one know where you are going and what time you should be back. A good suggestion is to always have a friend with you. If they can hold their breath, you can ride on their shoulders while they walk you back into shore! Seriously though, fishing with a buddy is more fun and a lot safer.

Clothing

You may think that clothing does not matter when going out fishing, but you'd be wrong. First off, wear clothing that will protect you from the sun. You know that sunburn you get when you go out in a boat? Well, wade fishing is like laying out on a raft - you will burn if you don't have protection. A hat is a great idea, and polarized sunglasses are a must. Also, try to wear clothing that is in neutral colors like tans, light blues and light greens. Remember that if you can see the fish, they can see you. White and bright colors will spook away fish, and there goes your day of fishing! However, keep in mind that you don't want to camouflage yourself so well that a boat runs you over...

Wading in style

Here is something that you may want to try, especially if you get into wade fishing. Get a truck tire inner tube that will fit either a cooler inside it, or a large washtub. Now you have a place to keep your catch, tackle, lunch, and you now have a work station if you run into a problem with your gear. Safety wise, it could keep you alive if you for some reason forget to come back in before the tide does.

Fishing

Remember what I mentioned earlier, about using lures while wading out to your fishing spot? If you notice schools of Mullet in the flats, there is a great possibility that there could be Redfish in with these schools. There is also a high possibility of Snook and Seatrout. Always be on the lookout for baitfish breaking. You could find that the fish that you're after are still in the shallows, and have not moved into the holes and channels yet. However, you still need to be very quiet when approaching, and have a pole that can make very long casts. You would be surprised what you can hook into in only inches of water.

Once you reach the hole or channel that you wish to fish in, you can switch to bait if that's what you want to do. If you choose to fish with lures still, however, you will need to cast in a clocklike manner to cover a lot of area. Move along the edge of the hole or channel so that you can cover a large area in hopes of finding where the fish are. Then, try to work that area until the fish move. You will find that using a soft bait works very well - Bounce them off the bottom, or work them in a current. D.O.A. shrimp and Love's lures are two that I would recommend.

Something to think about

I am sure that you have heard stories about wade fishing - everything from sharks to sea monsters. When you're out there all alone, they all seem true. Something to think about though is that you are going into other creatures' homes - we are the outsiders. So always watch what you're doing, and have respect for these creatures.

Also be aware that you're going to be catching fish, and most likely putting these fish on a stringer attached to you. These fish will be splashing about for a bit, and most likely bleeding a little. I think you know where I am going with this. More than once I have had situations with sharks. When you're dangling fish in the water, you're asking for them to come up and check out your catch. I have had times when I have been pulled back a few feet, only to find just heads of my catch still on my stringer and a large fin circling me. Oh, and believe me - smacking a shark on the nose with your pole really doesn't work very well. So, remember the inner tube? It's really a great idea because you can put your catch into the cooler...

Fresh And Salt Water Fishing Vancouver Island

2009-09-13T00:30:00.001-07:00

Fresh And Salt Water Fishing Vancouver Island

By: michael russell

Fishing Vancouver Island, British Columbia, encompasses two different sorts of angling, both fresh and salt water. For now, let's take a look at the salt water variety and come back to fresh water fishing at a later date.

The seas which surround Vancouver Island are literally teaming with six species of salmon, rockfish, halibut and loads more species of fish which anglers like to catch. There are also a great many unusual and unique species which can be found here and it is a popular island for both boaters and fishermen. Charters are available to take people out or you are able to launch your own boat from one of the many ramps.

If you are planning a weekends fishing in British Columbia, you might want to extend your stay a little, prices are about the same as in the US, but the CAD exchanges at around 64 cents to the dollar, so you make a saving of 33 % on everything you have to pay for apart from gas. This sells per liter and works out to be more expensive. Apart from your savings on the exchange rate of the dollar, there is also a Federal rebate on Goods and Services Tax.

A boat trip will take you from Victoria for a day out on the sea to catch both bottom fish and fly fish for salmon. It is better to avoid the busiest season, because it gets very busy. Reasonably priced and good value for money live on-board operations will take you out to find the best traditional fishing spots and guarantee you a catch worth talking about. Once of the most popular spots is the entrance to the Queen Charlotte Islands, Port Hardy.

During early and late season cheap packages can be found where visitors can get a couple of day's fishing, accommodation and flights out of Vancouver for all inclusive prices. These packages are available across the entire price spectrum and fly lodges will include guides and up-scale accommodation, as well as extras.

The island has many different types of accommodation from B&B's, lodges, hotels, and some people even put up a couple of rooms in their homes. Your accommodation generally includes the price of a day out on the water fishing as well as shrimping, crabbing, clamming, and musseling from the beach.

Camping facilities are good and very reasonably priced, but bear in mind that the roads are not great and in the wet season, this can be a problem. Camping could become uncomfortable to say the least. Finding budget accommodation is easy at most times of year, barring the salmon season.

If you are planning to fish in Uclet or Tofino, bear in mind they are much further out than Port Alberni, and you should plan to stay longer. Both these towns celebrate a salmon festival when they are quite busy.

A boat trip to Big bank for fishing is great, but only if you don't get sea-sick, if you do, try to stay in calmer waters as this will spoil your day out. It is best to take a charter as the locals can expand your fishing knowledge as well as take you to the best spots, but if you want to take your own boat, be sure and check weather conditions and tides. For people who don't like boats, there is still plenty of options available for angling. You are able to fish from rocky outcrops, piers and the beach and may catch salmon, flat fish, herring, eel, rock fish and octopus.

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Never been to Vancouver for fishing, click on the link to know why you should Fishing Vancouver Island . Visit us to stay updated about fishing related topics and different fishing expeditions.

Fishing in Florida

2009-09-13T00:29:00.001-07:00

Enjoy Great Fishing in Florida

By: Benicio Brown

Florida is one of the most desirable locations to visit or live in the world. It offers the excitement of theme parks and the buzz of nightlife, but what else attracts people to this beautiful location? Well, for many people who live and visit Florida, fishing is an important factor that draws them to the state. Florida is a well known fishing location as it features some of the most exquisite rivers in the world.

License to Fish

When visiting another country, be sure to check out any laws and regulations relating to your stay, to make sure you are not breaking any rules. Fishing in Florida should be looked upon in the same manner. If you are looking to have a fishing experience, then it is definitely advisable to get yourself a fishing license.

There are two different licenses available. A freshwater license is the most common, as this allows fishing in lakes, rivers and streams. The salt water license is not as common and is for people fishing in salt water, such as the sea.

It is not as complicated as it sounds though. If you are 16+ years old and looking to fish from a boat, then you’ll need a license. Of course, the great thing about being a resident of Florida is that you won’t need a license if you are fishing from a land based location.

Tarpon Fishing in Florida

Tarpon fishing was originally developed by fisherman in the South. This is classed as something much more extreme than standard fishing. Tarpon are an extremely large fish, so it should be expected that they will put up a huge fight when you are trying to real them in. Sea Bass are a fish also known for putting up a big fight after being caught, but obviously they are much smaller, so the impact is minimal.

So it should be said that if you are looking for something a bit different when fishing in Florida, then embarking on a Tarpon fishing trip would be a great place to start. Many fisherman travel hundreds of miles to go Tarpon fishing in Florida. This is due to the quality of the water, and therefore the fish that inhabit them.

There are a couple of ways that you can organize your trip. There are chartered trips available. The problem with these types of trips is that they are extremely expensive. If you have deep pockets, then you’ll definitely be in for a great time. You will be accompanied by an expert fisherman, from the local area, so you are sure to be fishing in the best spots known to man!

Of course, most of us will have to plan trips ourselves, looking through forums and internet based resources will soon bring up a range of great spots for Tarpon fishing. The great thing about Tarpon fishing is that they can be found throughout the year, so they’ll be no time constraints on your trip. Of course, there are prime seasons and in Florida, Tarpon fishing is definitely the best in the summer.

Taking a Chartered Fishing Trip

It is not a usual occurrence that it advisable to pay over the odds for a product or service. Fishing in Florida is a once in a life time experience, so this is the only case where it is appropriate. There are so many lakes, rivers and streams that is simply a mammoth task to choose the right ones.

There are a range of Chartered boat trips you can take for fishing. The most popular are Tampa Bay or Sarasota Bay. The great thing is that you’ll have expert fisherman which will identify the best areas and techniques for fishing around that part of Florida.

Taking a chartered trip certainly takes away the stress of planning a trip. Many people looking to use Florida as a fishing getaway have had their trip ruined due to the fact that their planning was inadequate. All you will need to take is the likes of daily essentials, food, clothing and drinks. Fishing equipment is general available for hire if necessary, although most charters will allow you to take your own! If the cash is available to join a chartered fishing trip, then it will definitely be worth its weight in gold.

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Planning to go fishing in the Florida Keys?, then take a look at this Florida fishing calendar where you will find information on the best time of year to fish tarpon, blue marlin, and amberjack, among many other species.

Flounder Fishing: How to catch Fish When the Drift is Slow

2009-09-13T00:28:00.001-07:00

Flounder Fishing: How to catch Fish When the Drift is Slow

By: Captain Chris Bell

One of the peculiarities of flounder fishing is that you need to cover ground in order to catch them. They are aggressive predators that will chase a bait and they expect a bait to run from them when they approach. When the wind is light and your drift is slow or non-existent, it can become much harder to catch them.

A method you can use to catch these fish under such conditions is the cast and retrieve technique. As the name implies, it is a much more active fishing technique than most flounder fishierman may be accustomed to. Read on and learn more about it.

Preparation.
There is a technique that can be used under these conditions that will allow for catching flounder. It is the cast/retrieve technique, and can be very productive. There are a number of items required to do this. You must be able to cast a good distance with the rod you are using, a spinning reel is best for this. The reel must be spooled with a braided line, as braid is extremely sensitive and will allow you to feel the hits much easier than with monofilament. The rod should be at least 7 feet long, and have a light action to it to help feel the hits. The last consideration is the flounder rig. Instead of using a standard flounder rig, it must be modified for the conditions. Since this rig will be cast and worked, the leader between your sinker snap and the hook will be much shorter, on the order of 12-16” in length and 50 pound test. It is best to use a green monofilament like Berkley Trilene big game line. Your end rig can be rather simple, just one spinner blade and a white bucktail hook, or just a bucktail hook. This shorter rig is necessary to control your casting and because this is a much more active technique then typical flounder fishing, where the longer rig will tangle repeatedly. Typically, you don’t want to use more than 2-4 ounce sinkers for this type of fishing.

The Technique.
Now that you have the right gear, onto the actual jigging retrieve. Bait the hook with squid or whatever else works, then cast the rig out as far as you can, and wait until it hits the bottom before closing up and taking in the slack. Reel in the slack until the rod is nearly horizontal, then begin jigging. Jig upward about 18” and go back down until you feel the sinker hit the bottom, then do it again, and again, until the rod reaches a point where it is vertical. Then reel in the slack until the rod is nearly horizontal again, and repeat the pattern. You do this until you feel a hit and hook a fish or the line itself is nearly vertical, then reel it in and cast out again, repeating the method. It should be cast it in at a least a slightly different direction each time, covering new ground. Normally you would cast downdrift or perpendicular to the drift. If the drift speed is exceptionally slow, then casting updrift is also an option.

The Strike Reaction.
Be aware of the hits when they come, there may be just a little more resistence than the sinker alone. At this point, most people want to jerk back on the rod to set the hook. This rarely works, as the flounder comes up behind the bait and grabs it at the end, usually not getting the hook but just the end of the bait farthest from the hook. So your reaction should be to immediately lower the rod tip and take the pressure off the line, waiting for a few seconds to give the fish a chance to take the bait in. Then lift the rod tip slowly until you think the fish is hooked. Now reel the fluke in. If the fish is lost on the way up, open the bail and let the line back down to the bottom right away and begin jigging, often a flounder will come back for it. If no hits occur within a minute or two, reel the line in and check to see if the bait is gone. When you lose a fish this way, it’s often a good idea to rebait and cast out in the same area again to get a second chance at that fish.

You may notice that this technique also tends to attract larger fish, which are more aggressive and like a more active bait. Also, If this technique fails to catch fish, better move to a different area because there are no fish around the boat.

Best Times to Fish for Fluke.
When fishing for flounder the best fishing is normally between 5:30am and 11:00am. This doesn’t mean that they won’t bite at other times and often they do, but most of the fish will be caught during this time range in any given day. Usually the worst time is from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. On many days there will be a very active bite for one or two hours while the tide is running, and a slow bite during other times.

Information about the Author:

Captain Chris Bell has fished RI waters for many years and is now a professional fishing guide. Before that he was a PC Tech, Modelmaker, CAD trainer, and technical writer. Chris now runs Block Island fishing charters from Jim's Dock in Jerusalem, RI. Rhode Island fishing charters.

What You Need To Know About Bait Casting Reels

2009-09-13T00:26:00.001-07:00

What You Need To Know About Bait Casting Reels

By: Constantine Lekendiros

There are many kinds of fishing reels on the market these days and a very popular reel is the bait casting reel. If you are relatively new to fishing all the reel and fishing equipment choices on the market can be a bit confusing. To clarify things a bit this article will present the features of the bait casting reel.

Knowing a few things about fishing equipment can make selecting the proper gear a bit less of a hassle. When it comes to bait casting reels there are a few things that can help both novice and expert anglers in selecting a proper reel.

The two single most important characteristics are material by which the body is made from and the quality of construction; to be even more specific the bearing material and the turn ratio of the crank.

After you decide what type of reel to get you should know what to look out for in every reel and be able to distinguish between a good quality and a bad quality reel. Even when it comes to bait casting reels the things you should keep an eye out for are quality of construction and materials by which the reel is made of.

In most cases the bodies of bait casting reels are manufactured using either aluminum or graphite. Graphite is considered a more durable metal, light weight and resistant to wear and tear as well as to corrosion. That is why graphite bait casting reels are more suitable for salt water fishing.

On the other hand, even though aluminum is less resistant to corrosion it is a bit more flexible and strong than graphite. On the other hand, if you are only after smaller fish like crappie or other fish known as panfish a graphite bodied reel might just do the job.

If you have decided to get a bait casting reel then there are a few things you should keep an eye out for. After you decide which reel you are going to get, or at least from which manufacturer you should be able to check the reel and make sure everything is in place.

The ball bearings are an important component of your reel because they will determine how smooth the reel will be. Keep in mind that it is better to use steel ball bearings just because they last longer.

Reels come with a minimum of two ball bearings and the maximum is six ball bearings. The more ball bearings a reel has the better because the cranking will be much smoother.

A reel with smoother cranking will enable you to sense movement on the other end of the line. That means that when fish bite you will know immediately and be able to pull the line at exactly the right time.

Another thing you should look out for when looking to buy a bait casting reel is how fast the crank turns. This is referred to as the turn ratio of the crank. Reels have different turn ratios, ratios that can vary anywhere from 2:1 to 1:6.

The first number of the ratio represents how many times the crank turns for every turn of every rotation of the spool. The greater the number of rotations of the spool the greater the power of the reel, in other words it has more cranking power. A higher cranking reel is good for bottom bouncing.

As you can see there are many things you need to keep in mind when buying a reel even when it is a bait casting reel. Look for the best price, and go on the internet to see that there are many great websites that sell low priced bait casting reels.

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Find great prices on fishing reels including on Abu Garcia Fishing Reels. Go online for great prices on Abu Garcia Fishing Reels at: abugarciareel.com

Fishing Articles: http://www.article-buzz.com

Snook Fishing From Shore

2009-09-12T13:23:00.001-07:00

A lot of people think that you have to have a boat to fish, especially to fish for snook. This is just not true. I have spent the last 5 to 6 years fishing for snook on shore. I have also fished for them in a boat, but I have found out that I am more successful when fishing for snook from shore.
The trick is to know where they will be; I have found over the years to look in the places that other people just go right by. In the summer months, for instance, when the water temperature is in the 80's, you will find a lot of snook cruising the beaches. I have watched people fishing from the beaches in hopes of catching a big snook, but they fail to realize that the snook are right in front of them. They are so focused on casting their bait as far out as they can, and the snook are only feet off the beach. I also have seen where someone is fishing on one side of a sandbar and the fish are just sitting on the other side. The truth is, these people did not do their homework. They heard somewhere that they can catch snook off the beach so they went and got some fishing gear and some bait and think that's all there is to it. If you have tried to fish for snook, you know that there is a bit more to it than that. Not to say that you won't catch one, just not on a regular basis.
In this article I hope to open your eyes some, to look a little differently at the waters around you. You may find that you have been passing up some really great fishing spots.
I'd like to show you that you can save a lot of money by fishing on shore. No more money spent on fuel, wasted time trying to find a boat launch that still has parking, or getting back tired after a long day on the water and still having to rinse the boat down and clean it.
Looking for spots
When I drive down the road I am always looking for a spot to fish. If I am driving down the beach, I'll look for vacant lots and dead end roads that have access to the water. I will look for parks that are on the water. Sometimes I'll find a place, and while I am fishing there, I'll see another good spot across the water.
Snook love structure. Bridges are a great place to fish for snook. Try to get down on the shore of a bridge, so that you can cast underneath it. Don't just cast under it either. Often, snook will be moving along the shore there also. If you can get around docks, for instance in canals, you will usually find snook.
Another place that I often search for snook is around causeways. There are mangroves along many of Florida's causeways and in between them is access to the water. These are great places to fish. Often you will find shallow water there, and guess what! Snook like shallow water. If there is a channel there also, well that's a plus. If there are mangrove islands and/or oyster beds there also, that's another plus - There is your structure.
In the wintertime move inland; again look for parks on the water, like on main rivers that dump into the gulf or ocean. Snook cannot tolerate cold water. If the temperature drops down into the low 60's they can die, so they tend to move where they know the warmer water will be. Power plants are a great place to fish; OK, since 9/11 we cannot even get close to power plants anymore, but if you look around you can find places that are close to warm water runoffs. In the winter you will find both snook and tarpon in warm water runoffs. There is a place near me called the manatee park. This is where many manatees come for the winter and yes, it has a warm water runoff. Now you cannot fish in the manatee zone, but they do have a fishing pier where you can fish and cast into the runoff just outside the park. This is also a great kayaking spot.
There are also locks on many rivers; these are also great fishing spots in the winter.
Another good thing to look for is running water. Snook like to sit and wait in a good current and let the food come to them. I have noticed that on small bridges, people just drive by thinking that there is not much water there, so there must not be any fish. But I have learned that if mullet are there, then snook have no problem being there either. Remember mullet are a primary part of their food base.
The key to all of this is to open your eyes and look at the environment. You may find a property that you know would be a great fishing spot. Try to find out who owns the property, and then call them for permission. You may even offer to help keep the lot or property clean for them, which is a small price to pay for a great fishing spot.
I have many spots I fish and tend to not stay at any one of them for very long. For one reason, I use lures and cover a lot of area in a short time. Another reason is that I don't want people to see me catching fish. They're my spots. Every spot that I like to fish is a little different than the next; this gives me a wide variety to choose from, and depending on the weather I can usually find fish.
My best day so far is over 40 snook in one day. Actually, I stopped counting at 40. All of them were caught on shore. I catch at least 2 or 3 good-sized snook every time I go out, but those are on bad days!
So to recap, there are a few things that snook prefer. Look for areas with structure (bridges, mangrove islands, oyster beds, docks, & locks), a current (even in shallow water), and schools of mullet. These will be great fishing spots. Don't limit yourself to the places that have a sign saying 'fishing allowed.'
The trick is to keep your eyes peeled for the right signs - They're out there. Just remember to respect the signs that say 'no trespassing'.
Tackle
The farther you can cast, the more coverage you will have when fishing on shore, so your setup needs to be focused on being able to make long casts. I personally use a 6 ½ - 7' rod (Shimano Compre), with medium-heavy to heavy action. Always use a good spinning reel (I use the Shimano Symetre 4000FJ), with 15 to 20 pound Power Pro line and 30 lbs fluorocarbon leader tied directly to the braided line. You do not want your leader to be over 2 feet long because it will drag the front of your plug down. Shorten the leader until your plug remains buoyant when retrieving it.
Whether your preference is lures or bait, you have many options to choose from that work well when fishing for snook.
If you're going to fish with live bait, pinfish, greenbacks, finger mullet and large shrimp are snook favorites. I have even had success on the beach using chunks of ladyfish. Keep in mind that snook have great eyesight and the littlest thing will spook them, so try not to use floats or weights.
Personally, I like to use lures, especially top water plugs like Hedden Super Spooks. These lures make a lot of noise, and seem to make the snook want to destroy it. Another good choice is the DOA shrimp, but color will be a factor. The current water temperature and types of bottom where you are fishing will determine the color that the shrimp should be.
I recently started using a new lure from Strike King called the 3X ZTOO. It is a soft bait that has salt imbedded into it. I tried this bait on a cold morning when the snook were stacked up, but not touching anything that I threw at them. I tossed one of these out, not expecting much, but to my surprise I pulled 5 snook out of this one hole in less than 30 minutes. Then the tide stopped and the snook moved on, but it made a poor fishing day turn out to be good.
Always try to use a lip grip when you catch snook. The less you have to touch them (or any larger fish for that matter) the better their odds are for survival. When they are not in season, pinch the barbs on your hooks. You may lose a fish now and then, but the damage you cause them will be greatly decreased by doing this. This will help ensure that the big ones are out there for years to come, healthy and hungry!
I hope that this article helps open your eyes to new fishing opportunities. There are a lot of fantastic untouched fishing areas that are only accessible by land. So get out and go fishing, and don't forget to teach our next generation this great sport!

Randy Laukshtein is an avid Snook fisherman and co-creator of the Florida Fresh & Saltwater Fishing site. Check it out at: http://www.FLFreshAndSaltwaterFishing.com

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Springtime in Alaska

2009-09-12T13:22:00.001-07:00

The ice has left the beaver ponds and the snow is only visible high in the mountains. The days are a bit longer and there seems to be a buzz in town. That buzz is the coming of springtime in Alaska. The Hooter Grouse are hooting and rumors of the first King Salmon of the year drift through the streets, “caught down by Lizard Rock”, they say. Just a matter of days before they hit the breadline and mark the full feel of spring when the eagles sing and the bears can be seen browsing the avalanche chutes on the mountains as the boat slowly cruises to that favorite spot to begin to slow troll a herring for the Kings that lurk below.
You rig the six-inch herring so that it rolls with the pull of the boat as the kicker motor smokes and misses before it sputters to life, a sign of the long winter storage. There is friendly debate, as there is every spring, as to whether the herring should be rigged for a fast tight spin or a slow wide spin or whether to slow troll or speed it up a bit. Some like a Hoochie, a soft bait resembling a squid, rigged before the herring, others prefer just a two-hook leader. Some like a slip leader while others prefer fixed. The smell of coffee fills the small cabin on the boat. The beer is buried in ice for later while the last of the smoked salmon thaws on the counter next to the bagels and cream cheese. Some like their coffee black while others like it with cream and sugar and the Irish cream is always available. It is springtime in Alaska.
It is May but your breath can be seen in the early morning sunlight as you step outside the heated cabin and into the chilly air. The water is glass calm and the rod tips flutter with the spin of the herring. A wolf cruises the beach in search of something to eat as a humpback blows in the distance, its breath also very visible in the chilly air. The sun still rests below the mountains making for tranquil angling below the rare cloudless sky.
Four hours and not a bite, the coffee is gone and the cold Alaskan Ambers are nervous in the cooler as the boys begin to eye them admiringly. The fates of the Ambers are inevitable but for the moment it is still a bit early. Herrings are changed. Hoochies are added or their color is changed. It is early spring and even though these anglers know the rod hours to King’s caught are many it does not stop the great anticipation that has been hibernating for the long winter. The stories have all been told by now, the same ones from the year before. A few new ones will be added this season as the spring and summer in Alaska are never short of adventures.
Eight hours now and the beers are nearly gone and no one is paying attention to the rods by now. Smoked salmon pieces and bagel crumbs litter the counter. The small external gas can that fuels the kicker is almost gone, tilted on its side to get a few more hours of trolling in. The moral is low for fishing but the day is unbelievable. Friends have come together once again to enjoy a day in paradise and one that is not taken for granted. A day on the ocean in Southeast Alaska is a day to remember, fish or no.
The eleventh hour yields five weary anglers and an empty cooler but the sunset is too grand to leave. One-rod still rest in the rod holder as the last herring slowly spins eighteen pulls behind the boat. The anglers admire the evening as the sun eases behind the mountain. The first trip out almost gone. Then a yell pierces the tranquil moment and before the closest angler can get to the last rod with the last herring, two words; synonymous with springtime in Alaska, echo across the water and off the snow capped mountains that surround.
FISH ON!

http://www.ramblingangler.com

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Bream Fishing in Australia

2009-09-10T20:34:00.000-07:00

Bream are by no means classed as a big fish although a fish of 1.5 kilo (3lbs) upwards would be seen as a trophy fish in Australia. Therefore the fishing rods and reels are very specialized for this type of fishing. There has to be a balance of lightness, strength and finesse.

Bream are a clever customer and very unpredictable, one minute they can be feeding freely and be reasonably easy to hook and within five minutes they can shut down and refuse any lure thrown at them. One well known Australian fishing identity reckons bream fishing is the piscatorial equivalent of playing chess. That's why you have to have gear that can be adapted on the day to either fish lighter or heavier to trick these Wiley little scrappers.

Bream usually live in rough terrain including oyster covered rock bars and reefs, oyster farms, mangrove lined shores, trees that have fallen into the water, moored boats and so on. For this reason most keen bream fisherman will have at least two specialized bream outfits. By specialized I mean a light 1 to 3 kilo (2.2lb to 6.6lb) graphite rod with a 1000 to 2500 size spinning reel with 2 to 4 pound braided line.

The other outfit would be 2 to 5 kilo (4.4lb to 11lb) graphite rod with a 1000 to 2500 size spinning reel with anywhere from 6lb to 10lb braided line. The lighter outfit would do for your general bream fishing around shorelines and weeded flats. Mainly areas where there is no nasty structure like oysters.

The heavier outfit you would use around rough terrain as mentioned earlier e.g. oyster lined rocks and mangroves. This rod would be known as your "come here rod" The bream is rated as a sport fish in Australia as they are a tenacious fighter, once hooked they will fight all the way to the net. They are known for their last dive or lunge as the fisherman attempts to net the hooked fish only to have the fish throw the hooks or bust the line.

Lures for catching bream are many and varied, the two most common would be soft plastics and small hard body or crank bait lures. Rigging the rods for bream would consist of using braided or gel spun mainline with about a rod length of fluorocarbon leader tied to the end of the mainline then a jig head or hard body is tied to the fluorocarbon leader.

The fluorocarbon is necessary as it serves two purposes, the first reason we use fluorocarbon is it is virtually invisible under water adding to the stealth factor and the second reason is it is much more abrasion resistant then the mainline, giving the angler more chance when the fish runs you line around something sharp whilst trying to escape. For more information on how to catch Australian bream go to http://www.ausbream.com.au

Written By Mark Goverd

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Mark Goverd - EzineArticles Expert Author

A Beginner's Guide to Trout Fishing

2009-09-10T19:49:00.000-07:00

Catching trout as you may already know is a lot different than fishing for trout. So, what are the basics you should know to get started making the transition from fishing for trout to catching trout? It's all about knowledge of the bodies of water you will be fishing and about knowledge of the species you will be targeting. There are many variables in play, and what works one day may not be the least bit effective the next.

There are three basic species of trout I will be assuming the reader might be interested in. The most common is the rainbow trout, followed by the brown and brook trout. There are other types and subspecies of these fish, but confining discussion to these three is where we will start. Are there commonalities to the three? The answer is yes.
All three are cold water fish. A general rule of thumb is that these fish get in trouble in water temperatures over 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This is not to say that if a body of water briefly reaches this level there will be a mass fish kill, but you can be certain that these fish all prefer cooler waters and their feeding habits will be highly affected when temperatures get close to this level.

The real issue is oxygen levels which are inversely related to the temperature. One caveat to this is that moving water increases oxygen levels for a given temperature of water. Another caveat is that there are anomalies to this rule in certain areas such as the Firehole River in Yellowstone National Park.

Let's start with bait fishing for trout. There are some areas where this is not allowed and you must know the regulations where you will be fishing. The reasons the rules are in place are usually to protect a fishery. Do not violate these rules because for one thing, the legal consequences are bad and also because ethically it is up to fishermen to help protect their resources. The baits that are used fall into two categories, natural and artificial.

Natural would be things like worms, salmon eggs, crawdads and minnows.
These are some of the main choices and there are additional ones as well. Generally speaking, these baits are fished on a relatively small hook, say size 6-12. By the way, larger numbers designate smaller hook sizes. I have not found that leadered hooks are generally necessary. Depending on whether you are bottom fishing a lake, bouncing bait along the bottom of a stream, or trying to keep your bait off the bottom will dictate whether you want to use a bobber/strike indicator. Usually you will want to include a split shot six inches to a foot above your bait. Use the smallest you can get away with to get your bait to the desired depth.

The other category of what is considered bait is the preparations. Some of these are actually natural products such as cheese formulas. Some of the more famous are artificial compounds, such as the Berkeley Powerbait product line. I have had much success with the Powerbait line as there seems to be a color that will work most anywhere. The Powerbait line is also available in a paste or in nuggets. The paste can be messy.
The starting place for spin fishermen targeting trout is usually the Mepps spinners and Blue Fox spinners. However, there are a multitude of other lures that will produce trout. For example, a killer lure in many rivers is a small crawdad imitation lure. Rebel manufactures several that work very well. Other crankbaits are affective in places and in some areas, such as the White River of Arkansas, some surface lures will work for large Browns. Often they are used at night. The other category of lures used by spin fishermen (as well as fly fishermen) is jigs. The marabou jig is a staple of many fishermen's tackle selection. The smaller the better is usually the best bet. I have had much success on 1/64th oz jigs on spinning gear and even smaller fly fishing.

A gray area as to whether it can be used in "artificials only" or "fly areas" is plastics or soft baits. Be very careful on these regs. There are artificial trout worms that can work very well. Pink and white seem to be popular colors. Normally they are bounced along the bottom of a stream.

When it comes to fly fishing, we have produced a nice beginners tutorial. I would direct you to the resource box below for that. Also, on our main fishing page, you will find a wealth of additional tips that can help you get started, whether it be places to go or how to fish them.

One last tip I will throw out that I have learned over a long period of time. If you find a location you know is holding fish and they are not overly skittish, fish that location until you figure out what works. I have seen many fishermen running a track meet up and down stream banks or wading. Doing this introduces too many variables until you really become familiar with the area.

Staying put allows you to go through all the offerings you have to try. Something will likely work. Also, sometimes it will seem like someone turned on a light switch for the fish for no explicable reason. I have tried everything and come back to a certain bait, fly, or lure and all of a sudden caught one fish after another. Once, I had gone hours without a landed fish. I came back to a fly pattern I had already tried and within fifteen minutes landed my daily limit. In fact, while I stringered my last fish and my fly barely dangled in the water, I hooked one over my limit. I released him immediately needless to say.

Paul Marsh 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. Looking for additional fishing ideas? Visit Marsh's fishing section Family-Outdoors Fishing for ideas on places, tips, and gear. Looking to get started fly fishing? Check out the tutorial Beginning Fly Fishing for no nonsense tips to get started and budget ideas on how to do it.

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

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

Soft-Bait Rigging

2009-09-10T19:48:00.000-07:00

Instead of naming each method, one by one, we will begin with the Texas rig and then the Carolina rig. From there we will move on to the Florida, Drop Shot, Weightless and the Swimming or Indiana rigs. Gear, knots, terminal tackle and reeling methods will be explained throughout also.

A sad attempt at humor, I know.

O.K., let’s get down to business. The first worm rig was developed by Nick Creme from guess where, that’s right, Texas in 1949. As it spread throughout the fishing industry the weed-less method of hooking the worm was developed, this is how the Texas rig was started and the rest of the styles followed in its wake. The Texas rig was the first rig that brought me into the world of soft lure fishing.

All of these methods contain similar elements that can be explained in one shot. The first thing is no matter which rig you are using, you should attach a barrel swivel of appropriate size to the end of your line. This will prevent your line from becoming twisted and tangled.

I like to use a Surgeons loop to attach things. To tie this knot, double the line back on itself once and knot the loop twice. Make the loop about two inches long. Pull tight and snip the excess and you’re done. This is one of the strongest and most efficient ways of attaching terminal tackle to your line.

To hitch a barrel swivel or a snap swivel (I prefer small & black) using the Surgeons loop, push the loop through the eye of the barrel, then open the loop and pass the barrel through the loop. Fold the loop all the way back to the line and pull tight. The end of the loop should be below the knot.

Sometimes this way of switching rigs and lures, unless you use a snap swivel, can be a hassle when using multi-hook baits. The more you use the loop method though, the better you will become. If it’s too much for you then the regular ol’ clinch or “Fisherman’s” knot might be better for you. If you need more assistance ask a clerk, at you favorite outdoor, shop for help or research “knots” online.

When it comes to weed-less rigs, the leaders are set up basically the same way.

However the length of the leader depends on conditions and on the sizes of the soft-baits. Attach an offset style or “worm” hook, of the appropriate size, to your leader. If you want to use the Texas method, thread the leader through a bullet before you tie or hitch the other end of the leader to the empty end of the barrel or snap swivel. The pointed end of the sinker should be pointing toward the barrel swivel.

Attaching the worm or soft creature bait, in a weed-less fashion, to the hook can be a bit tricky, however with some practice it’s not very hard to accomplish successfully. First, hold the hook by the long curve and impale the nose while pointing the eye of the hook toward the tail. Stop the hook about a ¼ of an inch into the bait or until the straight part turns to a curve and push the point through the bottom side of the bait.

Swing the bait around the hook until the long curve is facing away form the bottom side of the bait. Now push the nose up to the eyelet. Some anglers prefer to hide the eyelet in the nose. Lay the hook along one side of the bait, pinch the bait where the hook ends, run the point straight up through the bottom of the bait just ahead of the pinch and centered until the bottom curve is perpendicular to the bait. The point should be facing the nose. Now, run the point just under the “skin” along the back until the barb disappears. You’re done.

The Texas rig is best used thrown into a weed or Lilly-pad bed and bounced or drug slightly along the bottom and over structure such as logs, sunken brush and rocks. This weed-less “prey” works great for locating that big Bass (and other fish) waitin’ in ambush under cover. You might want to use larger line with this rig no matter the size of the worm. Some fish will get tangled due to darting. You can also reel this rig a little faster to bring it up from the bottom.

To get more control, use a split shot sinker or stick the end of a toothpick in the hole of the slip sinker and break it off to make it stationary. The closer you position the sinker to the nose, the more control you get.

If you’re going to use the Carolina method, thread the main line into the pointed end and trough a bullet sinker before attaching the barrel. If you use a split shot sinker, just attach the sinker to the line above the barrel swivel. The Carolina rig is used to find fish in large areas of open water relatively fast, by retrieving the rig, trolling or leaving it to “swim” in a current. Attaching the sinker above the barrel swivel gives the bait a more life-like movement and improves the handling of the rig.

Beads and blades are used on the Carolina rig more than others, especially in currents. However, they can be used on other rigs also. The beads are on the leader between the hook, blade or blades and the sinker. In stained water or during overcast conditions, the beads and blades add noise and vibration to your presentation.

With the Florida rig, a weighted jig-head is used instead of an offset hook. This method is commonly not weed-less and does not use a line sinker. Fish this rig along the bottom of flats and rocky bottoms. It does not work well with cover and on rip-rap. Attach the soft bait by using the same impaling method as the offset hook except the point is protruded through the top of the bait, the bait is slid up to the jig-head and the hook is left exposed.
One very diverse rig is the Drop Shot rig. With this rig you attach a three way barrel swivel to your line, the leader of choice to one eyelet and another leader with a sinker (usually a Bell type) to the last eyelet. As always, the length of the leader and weight of the sinker depends upon how far from the bottom you want your lure and how you want you lure to swim.

The Drop Shot rig is use in a few ways, however for basically the same purpose. The most common is to keep your bait a specific distance from the bottom or as an anchor in a current. It can be used to keep Crank-baits straight and level while retrieving in which the sinker does not touch the bottom.

All of these rigs, except for the Florida and the weighted leader on the Drop Shot, can be used in a weightless bait manner, but the oldest and least used style of weightless soft-bait rigging is the “Swimming” worm rig. The reason I call it the Indiana rig is one; there currently isn’t an Indiana rig and it works really well (deadly in fact) here in Indiana. You may have seen this pre-made rig on the shelf in the tackle shop or fishing section, it’s usually called a “Trick Worm”. The major difference with this rig is that it is a double Snelled, exposed bait-holder hook style.

The ones they sell in the stores have the hooks imbedded in a very small worm. These are great for Bluegill and Rock-bass and even small Catfish. However, they’re usually not available bigger than 3 inches. If you want to attract bigger fish, you need a bigger rig and will have to create one.

Double Snelling is a bit involved and single Snelling should be taught fist. So on that note, to Snell a hook, thread the leader line through the eye of the bait-holder hook (I usually use the #6 size bait-holder) from the point side of the eye towards the bottom of the hook and loop it back around, following the curve of the hook. Thread the line back through again the same way and a little past the length of the hook. Now wrap the loop around the shaft of the hook about five times, hold the hook by its shaft wrapped loop and pull the extra tight and trim.

Wasn’t that easy? Don’t worry if you said no, it really isn’t easy and takes some practice to master. Again, you may want to find a diagram of how to do this or ask for some one-on-one help.

To double Snell is to do this to two hooks on the same line. Sounds like fun, huh? Once you get Snelling one hook down, two is basically the same. When you Snell the first hook, make the extra a little longer than the length of your worm. When you Snell the second hook, position the eye of the second hook half the distance of the length or your worm from the eye of the first hook. After wrapping the loop around the shaft, pull the extra tight and trim it off.

Attach the bait by running the first hook through the nose the same way as the weed-less method except, pull the line through until you get close to the second hook. Run the second hook through the same way, this time keep running the hook into the bait until the nose reaches the eyelet and then protrude the point through the side. I like to hide the eyelet in this particular rig. Take the first hook and stick the point directly through the side of the bait ¼ of the distance from the tail. The bait should make a lazy “L” Shape when held up by the leader.

You know now hold in your hand one of the most effective lures I’ve ever used and continue to use. When pulled through the water, it swims in a spiral motion, which is very attractive to fish and can cut down on snags as well. I can’t remember the fishing T.V. show host or pro angler I got this from, it was an instructional DVD demo. When you get a strike using this rig, you know it. Especially if you use a soft bait made from fish food, say Berkley Brand’s Gulp line of soft-bait lures. Hands down, it is the most effective rig that my buddy and I regularly use to this day.

I’ve caught a wide variety of fish on this rig as well.

Most experienced angles have little secrets that make their rigs work better in different areas, some of which I’m sure are being exposed here. Generally I will leave a barrel attached to my line and set up a couple of extra rigs of each type to make the changing process easier. Using the Surgeon’s Loop method makes it even quicker.

When retrieving these rigs, remember to use a very soft touch for all the varying types of reeling methods. Always set the hook by whipping the rod-tip down, nice and hard, to one side or the other, depending on were you’re buddy is standing. NEVER jerk hard or straight back when setting the hook, or anytime, no matter what kind of rigging method you’re using. Soft-bait lures and crank-baits can be pulled right out of the water if yanked to hard, even to the side. Hooks and “bullet” weights can be imbedded in the skin. Probably the best tool any angler should have is a pair of Polarized, shatterproof sun glasses.

So there you have it, a brief explanation of various types of soft bait rigging. With experience comes success and rigs and lures can be confusing to begin with, so don’t get discouraged and some day you’ll be as deft as Grandpa or that T.V. host. As always, keep happy thoughts and good fishing to ya.

Chris Curley lives in Indianapolis, IN. with his dogs, Puranah and Princess and his cat Sylvester.

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

A Beginner's Guide To Trout Fishing

2009-08-20T22:40:00.000-07:00

For those of you who are new to trout fishing I figured I'd write a quick article titled, a beginners guide to trout fishing, to give you some simple and basic trout fishing tips that will help you be more successful. It isn't very different from any other type of fishing (obviously) but there are certain simple things that can be implemented to tip the odds into your favor.
I've personally been fishing for trout for more than twenty years, and learned from an angler that was someone I consider to be a trout fishing master. This man (who I refer to as my fishing mentor) was a highly successful trout angler, and some of the simple tips and techniques he developed/used will most certainly help you on your journey.
The first thing to keep in mind in reference to trout fishing is that light gear should be employed. Actually, in a perfect world, ultra light gear should be employed. When I refer to gear, I'm referring specifically to your rod, reel, and line. So ultra light rods and reels, spooled with light line should be used for trout fishing. By 'light line' I mean six-pound test at the heaviest. I personally prefer four-pound test, but six-pound test is passable, especially for a beginner.
The reason we use such light line is because trout are found in cold clear water, and fishing line is much more visible in these types of conditions. Couple this with the fact that trout have very keen eyesight, and the bottom line is that light line needs to be employed when trout fishing. Ultra light rods and reels make using light line much easier as well. Not only this, but using ultra light gear makes catching fish a ton of fun as well.
The next thing for the beginning trout angler to understand is that certain days and times of the day are more productive than others. What, you don't believe me? It's true; there are certain times that are better for fishing than others. As a matter of fact, when the moon isn't in my favor for example, I tend not to even bother going fishing. The key to understanding the most opportune times for fishing lies in understanding the weather and moon.
When fishing for trout it's always a good idea to use live worms as bait. My mentor used live worms for trout bait almost exclusively. And the best way to rig a live worm, when using it as bait, is a set of pre-tied gang hooks. My mentor was the first person that I ever saw using this method for freshwater fishing, and it is highly effective. For me, trout fishing and gang hooks go hand in hand.
These simple tips will help the beginning trout angler have a lot more success. How am I so sure of this? Because I've been using every one of these tips for more than twenty years and know from experience how effective they are. Remember, there's no substitute for spending time on the water, and as you implement and practice these techniques you will become even more adept at catching trout.

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!
The Original Rod Ruler... http://www.jrwfishing.com/rodruler.htm

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Fishing on the Fly - Around the Lighthouse Reef Atoll!

2009-08-18T22:40:00.000-07:00

Belize is naturally bestowed with a marine ecosystem that is conducive to the propagation and diversification of an astounding variety of marine flora and fauna. The Belize Barrier Reef acts as a natural shelter and source of food for a wide variety of fish - which in turn attract large exotic fish as well as large predatory fish, thus completing the eco-cycle. The ecological blend of freshwater rivers, sub-tropical climate, sandy beaches, inter-coastal waterways, sea grass beds, salty marshes and estuaries and not to forget the mangrove forest makes Belize one of hottest fishing destinations of the world.
Fly Fishing on the go...
Its often said that Fly Fishing follows saltwater streams - and this makes Belize, with its array of saltwater flats a haven for fly fishing. So, if you are hooked on tarpon, bonefish or a permit - then Belize is buzzing with Fly fishing spots for you. A tarpon in Belize's saltwater flats can weigh up to 90 lbs - so they are by no means in fly weight category. But, hold your breath, since these tarpons can reach to an amazing 200 lbs - lovingly called "Saltwater torpedoes". And if you haven't caught permit yet, then the first thing that you need to learn is 'to have tons of patience". Permits have a very discerning sense of smell aided by brilliant eyesight - making it a very prized game fish in the Belize waters.
Deep Sea Fishing...Beyond Lighthouse Reef Atoll!
At some point in time, every angler worth their salt tries to move outwards for a deep sea catch. Deep sea fishing not only needs a lot of patience and agility but also brute strength. Most of the deep sea fish will test your muscle power and will look you in the eye before deciding to come on board.
While in Belize, you can hope for quite an interesting mix of species - Dolphin, also known as Dorado or Mahi Mahi; Wahoo, Tuna, Sailfish and Marlin. Dolphin is one of the best looking species in sea and their jumping antics are well known to seasoned fishers. They can weigh up to 50 lbs and the gaming season for Dolphins is between June and July.
Many visitors ask the question - "Why are fishing boats so brightly colored?" Those who live off the sea would swear that most sea fish are attracted to bright colors. So whether you are fishing for a Sailfish in spring, Wahoo in winter or King Mackerel during summer, a dazzling boat color is likely to increase your bounty.
Fishing on the Reef & Outer Wall
Where can you find Barracudas, Jacks, Groupers and Snappers just off the reef? Maybe, in a couple of places in Australia and Mauritius and that's it. But, the Barrier Reef of Belize is one well kept secret worth discovering - You only need a line, hooks and live bait and wait for the schools of fish coming to gorge themselves on crabs and sardines that pack the reef.
While the In-reef fishing might fetch you a 'mutton snapper' and 12 other species of smaller snapper weighing up to 5 lbs, the real action is on the outer reef. Here, the prize catch will be a King Mackerel and true to its name it will test your fishing skills - It won't go down without a good fight.
Fishing - In the right places...
Belize is a fishing paradise and areas around Lighthouse Reef Atoll and the Barrier reef are the treasure trove for all type of fishing, but a seasoned Belizean fisher will guide you to a few of his favorite joints..
Coral Atolls
If you are addicted to saltwater fly-fishing, the flats around the Coral Atolls such as the Lighthouse Reef Atoll are your best option - Bonefish and Tarpons will be an easy catch.
Belize City
Nothing tops the river fishing in an around Belize city - with Belize and Sibun rivers offering a bounty of game fish like Snook and Cubera. Punta Gorda is another great venue for river fishing.
Dangriga
The saltwater flats are also called "Permit Alley" - the best place in Belize to pocket a Permit.
A fishing conclusion!
From big game fishing to spin fishing, fly fishing to trolling - Belize is abuzz with fish action all year round. Are you game for deep sea fishing or even flat water fishing - Belize is the planet's best known fishing secret. Deep sea fishing around Lighthouse Reef Atoll offers exclusive species like Sailfish, Bonito, Pompano and Marlin.
No wonder that the demand for real estate around Belize has skyrocketed - because of what's happening in the waters around Belize.

Dustin Hart is not a quintessential writer - rather he is a back-packer who lives off his ultra-light folding bike. He lives (or tries to live) in the state of Washington - with his dog Toobs. He recently caught up with Larry Schneider of Eco Holdings Limited, an avid angler himself, in relation to the eco-friendly tourism & real estate in Belize.

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

Bass Lures - Effective Summer Bass Lures

2009-08-18T13:13:00.000-07:00

Bass Lures - Effective Summer Bass Lures

In this article I'm going to list some of the most effective summer bass fishing lures. I'm listing these lures in no particular order seeing as how "the best" bass lures are the ones that work best for each individual angler. Everyone has their favorite bass fishing lures; the point is that you might not have some of these effective summer bass fishing lures in your tackle box/bag. If you don't have any of these bass lures available you probably want to add them.

When water temperatures rise above the mid eighties bass fishing can become much more difficult. Bass (especially largemouth bass) prefer water temperatures from the mid seventies to the mid eighties, and when the temperatures rise above the mid eighties bass fishing can become tough.

A great way to combat high water temperatures is to fish in the early mornings. This is when the water will be the coolest and cloudy days and rainstorms can help with the water temperatures as well. During the summertime it's also a great idea to go fishing when there is the least amount of activity on the water. Once all the toys come out, bass fishing can become all but impossible on many lakes and reservoirs.

So what are the effective bass fishing lures that you need to know about and have access to in the summer?

Top Water Baits - These baits can perform best during the mornings and evenings during the hot days of summer. There are many different varieties of top water bass lures that are effective and some of the best are frog imitations and soft stick baits. Frog imitations such as the rebel Teeny Wee Frog can be extremely effective during the summertime.
Shad Imitations - During the summer months many lakes and reservoirs are full of Threadfin Shad. These bait fish are a staple food source for bass all year, but especially in the summertime. When it comes to bass lures one of the most effective is the KickTail Minnow. Of all bass fishing lures available today, this may be one of the most effective. Shad imitations are a must for any tickle box/bag.
Slow Falling Plastics - Plastic worms and grubs are excellent bass lures in the summertime, especially those made by Slam soft baits . After your early morning fishing and the day (and water temperatures) start to heat up bass will move to deeper cover. Throwing soft plastics at these bass can be a very effective technique. At this time of the year many times strikes come as the lure is falling, so the less weight you can use the better. Slow falling plastics can be a great option in the summer.

If any of these bass baits aren't in your fishing repertoire I would add them. These bass lures are all effective when fishing during the dog days of summer and will help you experience more bass fishing success. Just remember there is nothing that will help you bass catching ability like spending time on the water fishing, so for God's sake get out there!

Fishing in Patagonia

2009-08-16T22:36:00.000-07:00

The Atlantic Salmon is one of the most popular sport fish found in Patagonian waters. Due to its beauty, fighting spirit and its jumping ability it has become one of the most sought after fish species. As a matter of fact, salmon actually means jumper in Spanish.
First let me describe a little of the history of fishing in Patagonia. There are two popular types of salmon; the migrating salmon and the landlocked salmon. The landlocked salmon was first introduced in Patagonia towards the beginning of the last century along with other species but its ability to survive has been limited primarily to the Limay and Futaleufu rivers as well as the Traful and Cholila Lakes. Other areas it can be found with less frequency are the Pichileufu, Manso, Traful, Caleufu and Alumine rivers as well as Lake Mascardi.
Salmon primarily feed on other fish but do also eat other crustaceans and insects. The salmon spawning season takes place earlier in Patagonia when compared to most other places in the world. Patagonia's cold clear waters in May that are filled with oxygen guarantee successful laying of eggs. Five months later, depending on the water temperature, the young salmon start their swimming cycle and begin to go their own way in search of food. From a very early age, they establish small territories to call their own. When they become adults, they look for their ideal habitat in cold clear waters that are very highly oxygenated.
Here are some of the basics you'll need to know when fishing in Patagonia:
•    You'll primarily find salmon, rainbow trout, brown trout and brook trout.
•    The season runs from the 1st of November through the end of April
•    You cannot use live bait when fishing in Patagonia and no night fishing is allowed.
•    You'll need a fishing permit that runs about $20 USD a day
•    If you are planning on using a certified fishing guide, you should expect to pay around $200-$300 USD per day for up to 2 people. That includes fishing equipment, boats or rafts and the transfer to and from your hotel.

Marc D. has been writing offline and online content for over 5 years. Please explore his latest interest in home decor where he provides information on toddler bed sheets, twin bed sheets and all types of related bedding accessories.

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Fishing For Trout - What to Use When Trout Fishing

2009-08-14T22:35:00.000-07:00

In this article I'm going to discuss what to use for trout fishing. I will draw on my twenty five years of trout fishing experience to give you some great tips that can be used the next time that you go fishing for trout. Most of these tips are geared towards fishing for trout in small rivers and streams, which is where most of my experience lies, but they can be easily modified for fishing in lakes, ponds, and even larger rivers.
One important point to make before I get to what to use when trout fishing is that there is simply no substitute for spending time on the water honing you skills. Just reading an article like this containing trout fishing tips makes no difference unless the new ideas are implemented. As Lauren Hill said, "You don't know how much artists go through to make it look so easy. It's all in the practice.".
In my opinion when you are a skilled angler, you are an artist, so take a few of these tips, practice them, and you will on your way to becoming an "artist". The more time that you can spend on the water, the better off you will be. There simply aren't any magic formula's when it comes to fishing for trout (or any fish), other than our friend practice of course.

Ultra Light Gear - When fishing for trout ultra light fishing gear should always be employed. All too often I've been out on the trout stream and seen fishermen using medium action gear for trout fishing. This is a huge mistake. Always use an ultra light rod and reel, and fishing line that is as light as possible. I personally use four pound test monofilament line when fishing for trout. Light line and gear are integral when trout fishing, especially in small rivers and streams.
Be Mindful Of Your Shadow - When fishing in small rivers and streams you want to avoid casting a shadow on the area that you are going to be fishing. This is a sure way to "spook" the area, especially when it comes to larger, more experienced trout. Always be mindful of your shadow when fishing for trout.
Live Worms - When it comes to live baits for trout fishing there may be no more poular, easy to find, and effective trout bait than live worms. A live worm drifted through the current of a small river or stream is what to use for trout fishing, at least for me 90% of the time. The best way to rig a live worm when fishing for trout is a set of gang hooks. Gang hooks and live worms go together like a hand and a glove.
Small Spinners - Small spinners, in the 3-7/16 size range are a great bait to use for trout fishing. These baits work well in many trout fishing situations, but are great in rivers and streams. If you let them drift through the current, "popping" your rod tip as the spinner flows with the current, the results can be deadly. I've always preferred darker colors such as black and brown, and gold blades seem to be effective as well. Attaching your spinner to your line by using a small barrel swivel is a great tip as well. This will no only prevent your line from twisting, it will allow for perfect action on your spinner.

As far as what to use when trout fishing is concerned, any or all of these tips will make you a much more effective trout angler. Put one or all of them into practice sooner, rather than later.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 25 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his five year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.
Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

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Fishing For Trout - Fishing Gear Everyone Needs to Use

2009-08-12T22:32:00.000-07:00

I've been trout fishing for my entire adult life, more than 25 years, and in that time have discovered some trout fishing gear that is integral to my success as a trout fisherman. This article outlines that trout fishing gear so that you can add it to your trout fishing repertoire. When it comes to fishing for trout this gear is all a must for me personally, and I believe it makes me a much more efficient and effective angler.
Do you have to have this gear to be a successful trout angler? Of course not, but I know from experience that it will make you much more successful. These items are being listed in no particular order. If something looks good to you, implement it, if not don't. All I know for sure is how integral these items are to my success.

Light Line - In most cases when we are fishing for trout we are doing so in cold clear water. Couple clear water with the fact that trout have very keen eyesight and the result is the need to use light fishing line. I personally use four pound test for almost all of my trout fishing. Some trout anglers use line even lighter than this, usually two pound test. For me, two pound test is to light to tie knots in effectively, but to each his own. The bottom line is that when fishing for trout light line should be your first piece of fishing gear.
A Live Worm Carrier - One of the best baits for trout is live worms and transporting live worms on a trout river can be a complete pain in the butt. This is where an effective live worm carrier comes into play. When fishing for trout having an effective worm carrier means that your worms are always "at your fingertips" for baiting up and re-baiting. This is a huge time saver and gives you more time with your line in the water, where the trout are, rather than out of the water while you bait up or re-bait. This is a piece of trout fishing gear that I wouldn't be able to live without after using one for more than twenty years.
Your Knowledge - Your knowledge might not sound like 'trout fishing gear' in the traditional sense, but it's nonetheless very important to the successful trout angler. You want to read books and articles about trout fishing, and then implement the things that sound right to you. There is no one piece of gear, lure, or tip that will automatically help you catch more trout. What will help you more than anything is your experience and knowledge about fishing for trout. This is why your knowledge and spending time on the water fishing for trout is so important.

The bottom line is that all of these items will make you a better trout fisherman, but none of them are some sort of "magic formula". The more time that can be spent on the water honing your skills and practicing your craft, the more successful you will be fishing for trout.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 25 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his five year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.
Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

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3 Tips to Have More Success When Trout Fishing

2009-08-10T22:31:00.000-07:00

Fishing for trout is a very enjoyable activity, but when it comes to being consistently successful trout fishing can be quite challenging. In this article I'm going to provide you with 3 tips to have more success when it comes to fishing for these multi colored beauties. These tips are effective for the four main species of river and stream dwelling trout: rainbow, brook, brown, and cutthroat.
All of these species of trout can be caught out of the same (or similar) water in most cases, and the techniques used are the same (or similar). I've personally been using every one of these tips while fishing for trout for more than twenty five years and know how effective they are. I also know that these tips will be equally as effective for anyone who chooses to implement them.
Let's get down to business, shall we?

Remember Your Hands - What do I mean by remember your hands? The fact is that trout have a very sensitive sense of smell and can easily detect unnatural scents on their prey. If they detect an unnatural scent (such as the odor of human) on your bait, they are much less apt to bite your offering. This is why you want to "remember your hands", and make sure that your hands are free of any unnatural scents that might be present. This is easily accomplished by rubbing a handful of grass into your hands before baiting up. Trout attracting sprays can also be sprayed on your bait to mask any unnatural scents.
Remember Your Line - Fishing for trout is usually performed in cold, clear water and the less visible your fishing line is to the fish, the better. Whenever you are trout fishing you always want to use fishing line that's as light as possible and that you are comfortable with. I personally use four pound test for almost all of my trout fishing, and have found through experience that any line heavier than six pound test is overkill. Always use light line when fishing for these fish.
Remember Your Hooks - Many anglers use hooks that are much larger than they should be. Anytime that you're fishing for trout you want to use hooks that are small and sharp. Most trout fishermen use hooks that are much too large in an attempt to make their bait appear natural. This is easily remedied by using gang hooks when fishing for trout. Whether you are fishing in the flowing water of a river or stream or a lake that's been planted with trout, gang hooks are your best bet. Many trout are also "missed" due to dull hooks, so change your hooks often (or carry a hook sharpener) in order to make sure that your hooks are as sharp as possible.

If you want to experience more trout fishing success, add one (or all) of these tips to your trout fishing repertoire sooner rather than later. They will serve you well for many years top come and result in more and bigger trout.

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!
Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_h

3 Tips to Have More Success When Trout Fishing

2009-08-08T22:31:00.000-07:00

Remember Your Hands - What do I mean by remember your hands? The fact is that trout have a very sensitive sense of smell and can easily detect unnatural scents on their prey. If they detect an unnatural scent (such as the odor of human) on your bait, they are much less apt to bite your offering. This is why you want to "remember your hands", and make sure that your hands are free of any unnatural scents that might be present. This is easily accomplished by rubbing a handful of grass into your hands before baiting up. Trout attracting sprays can also be sprayed on your bait to mask any unnatural scents.
Remember Your Line - Fishing for trout is usually performed in cold, clear water and the less visible your fishing line is to the fish, the better. Whenever you are trout fishing you always want to use fishing line that's as light as possible and that you are comfortable with. I personally use four pound test for almost all of my trout fishing, and have found through experience that any line heavier than six pound test is overkill. Always use light line when fishing for these fish.
Remember Your Hooks - Many anglers use hooks that are much larger than they should be. Anytime that you're fishing for trout you want to use hooks that are small and sharp. Most trout fishermen use hooks that are much too large in an attempt to make their bait appear natural. This is easily remedied by using gang hooks when fishing for trout. Whether you are fishing in the flowing water of a river or stream or a lake that's been planted with trout, gang hooks are your best bet. Many trout are also "missed" due to dull hooks, so change your hooks often (or carry a hook sharpener) in order to make sure that your hooks are as sharp as possible.

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!
Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_h

Make Anyone a Better Live Bait Angler Live Bait Fishing

2009-08-08T13:14:00.000-07:00

Live Bait Fishing - Tips to Make Anyone a Better Live Bait Angler

Live bait fishing in freshwater is one of my favorite activities and in this article I'll provide you with a few tips to make you a much more successful live bait angler. What makes me someone that you should take advice form? Well, the biggest thing is that I've been fishing with live bait for more than 25 years so I've got some experience. Not only that, but I learned much of my original knowledge from a man I've always considered to be a bait fishing "master".

This article is about bait fishing is fresh water for fish such as trout, smallmouth bass, whitefish, walleye, and crappie. My favorite place to fish for many of the above species is in the flowing water of rivers and streams. This type of bait is very effective in rivers and streams, but can also be used in standing water as well. When using this type of bait in still water likes lakes and ponds it's a good idea to enlist the help of a slip bobber.

Slip bobbers are the only bobber that should ever be used when fishing with live bait, in my opinion. These bobbers allow your line to be reeled in and cast as normal. The depth of the bait below the bobber is controlled with a very small piece of rubber called a bobber stop. Slip bobbers need to be employed when live bait fishing in the still water of lakes and/or ponds.

The two most popular (and effective) baits that can be used in fresh water are the minnow and the worm. Both of these baits are readily available and can be used effectively to catch all of the fish mentioned earlier. Worms are easier to keep alive than minnows and having your bait be as lively as possible is a must for fishing with bait.

Another "must" for the live bait fisherman is to use fishing line that's as light as possible. When fishing with live bait we want the bait to be the focus of the fish's attention. The lighter your line, the less visible it will be to the fish. This simple tip will help you be a more successful live bait fisherman. I personally use four pound test monofilament for almost all of my live bait fishing situations and regularly hook and land 2-6 pound fish.

When using live worms as your live bait it's important to have an effective way to carry your worms with you while fishing, especially if you're wading in a river or stream. The best live worm carrier that I've ever seen is the Bait Bag. This little pouch holds your live worms while you're fishing and keeps them at your fingertips so that baiting up and re-baiting takes seconds. A Bait bag is a "must have" item when live bait fishing with live worms.

Another great tip that will make you a better bait fisherman is to always use gang hooks to rig your bait. Gang hooks are just a pair of small hooks tied back to back on light line so the focus is on the bait and not the hooks. Gang hooks allow for a very natural presentation of your bait, especially if that bait is a minnow or a live worm. The natural presentation of your bait is of the utmost importance when bait fishing.

Keep these simple fishing tips in mind on your next fishing excursion. They have been helping me be more successful for more than twenty years and I know they will do the same for you.

3 Things to Remember When Trout Fishing in Rivers Or Streams

2009-08-06T22:29:00.000-07:00

When you think of fishing for trout, the state of Montana more than likely at least crosses your mind. Montana has long been known as a great place for trout fishing, heck movies have even been made about Montana trout fishing (ever heard of A River Runs Through It?) The state of Montana and trout fishing go together like a hand and a glove, there's no doubt about it.
At the end of the day, trout are what brought me to the great state of Montana after years of bouncing around the country in search of good small river fishing. The unfortunate thing about Montana trout fishing is that the focus (as is the case with trout fishing in general) is almost always on fly fishing. Now there is nothing wrong with fly fishing, but I've never personally cared for it at all. I love to fish for trout, but don't like to do it by waving feathers in the air.
More than 20 years ago, my river fishing mentor called fly fishermen "flea flickers", which I tend to agree with. In this article I'm going to provide you with three things to remember when fishing for trout in river or streams anywhere in the world, and none of the tips will have anything to do with feathers. The trout fishing tips in this article are for the hundreds of thousands of traditional anglers out there who choose not to fly fish.

Check The Regulations - When fishing for trout anywhere, regulations vary from river to river, and even from stretch to stretch within certain rivers. Some rivers are designated exclusively for fly fishing (a "law" that I've never understood) or artificial lures, and slot limits could be in place. The point is that when trout fishing, make sure you read the licensing book so you know the rules on the water that you're fishing.
Do Research Beforehand - trout fishing can be a bit difficult in certain areas without the help of things like drift boats and/or rafts. Many of the "blue ribbon" trout rivers are quite large and all but impossible to fish effectively without the help of a drift boat and/or raft. This is why doing research before going fishing in Montana is a great idea. You want to have an idea of what you're going to be dealing with before heading out. This tip is actually a great tip for any new fishing area.
Have An Effective Bait Carrier - Many of the trout rivers that need to be waded (this is the kind of river that I personally prefer) can be quite remote. Especially after you work your way a mile or two up or downstream. This is why having an effective bait carrier is a great idea when fishing for trout in Montana. Having an effective way to carry your bait means that your bait is always right where you need it so you can concentrate on fishing, and enjoying the scenery that trout fishing has to offer.

Keep these 3 things in mind and your Montana trout fishing trip will be much more enjoyable. All I know is that in 25 years of fishing for trout, I've personally never experienced more beautiful trout or fishing scenery that most trout fishing has to offer, and I'm able to experience all of this without waving a single feather in the air. Who would have thought such a thing was possible?

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 25 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!
Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

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3 Pieces of Trout Fishing Gear Every Trout Fisherman Should Use

2009-08-04T22:28:00.000-07:00

When it comes to fishing for trout there is certain gear that every trout fisherman should use and many times don't. In this article I'll list the 3 pieces of trout fishing gear that every fisherman should use, and reasons why this is the case. There are many trout anglers who choose not to use these important pieces of trout fishing gear and it costs them.
Using the proper gear can make a big difference in not only the number and size of fish caught, but also in the amount of wasted time on the water. In my 25 years of trout chasing experience I've found that the more efficient I am on the water, the more time that I spend with my line in the water where the trout are, rather that out of the water while I re-bait or re-tie. The bottom line is that you want to spend as much time as possible with your line in the water.

A Fishing Vest: A fishing vest is a "must have" item for trout fisherman. A vest is the best way to carry your trout fishing gear. This is especially true for any angler who spends time fishing for trout in rivers and streams. Many people think of fishing vests being for fly fisherman, but fishing vests are great for spin fishing as well. The many pockets are great for carrying all of your trout lures, baits, hook removers, extra line, etc. A fishing vest is a piece of trout fishing gear that every trout fisherman should use.
A Bait Bag: When fishing for these beautiful fish a bait bag is certainly a "must have" item. As a matter of fact a bait bag is a "must have" item for anyone who fishes in rivers and streams. When you fish in rivers and streams the time spent searching for your bait to bait in your waders or vest is significant. With a bait bag this problem is solved and your bait is always at your fingertips ready to be used. Having your bait hanging from your fishing vest waiting to be used is a huge time saver when fishing for trout.
Retractor w/ Snippers Attached: Having a retractor with a pair of small snippers attached is integral to saving time when trout fishing. A pair of line snippers (I use nail clippers) makes tying up and re-tying much faster. When I'm fishing for trout, I have to re-tie either trout lures or gang hooks quite often and having a pair of clippers hanging from my vest is a huge time saver. The clippers being on a retractor is great because the clippers can be used then simply released, and the retractor 'zips' the clippers right back up. Every trout angler should use a retractor with a pair of snippers attached.

If any of the above pieces of gear aren't a part of your trout fishing repertoire they should be added sooner, rather than later. Every one of these pieces of fishing gear will make anyone a much more efficient and effective trout angler. Fishing for trout, especially in small rivers and streams, will never be the same with the addition of this gear.

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

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Fishing Crappie Rigs

2009-08-02T22:23:00.000-07:00

The simplest crappie rigs seem to be the most effective. A single hook tipped with a minnow and suspended under a bobber and split shot, a mini crank bait, or a small jig are examples of simple crappie rigs. Sometimes a slightly more complex rig is required. Here are two examples.
The first crappie rig is called the Stack Rig. This is a double-bait crappie rig that is being used by more and more crappie anglers. This Stacked Rig works on finicky crappies all year round.
To build the Stacked Rig, attach a size 4 or 6 standout walleye finesse hook 24 to 36 inches above the end of the line. To the end of the line, tie a 1/16 ounce chin-spinner jig. Dress both hooks with the appropriately sized soft plastic. These can be the same or different style of bait. If the crappie are extra finicky, lip-hooking a live minnow to one or both of the hooks is recommended.
This crappie rig can be fished the same as swimming a jig. Using a slow, straight retrieve, swim the rig past suspended crappies, or fish that are staging near a point or hump. An undulating, lift and drop presentation can also be very effective.
The second rig is called the Tailwater Tandem Rig. Spawning river crappies moving upstream often congregate near riprap, wing dams, and other rock structures. The Tailwater Tandem Rig is perfect for searching the fast water that brings in threadfin shad and other forage fish.
Tie a size 8 3-way swivel to the 10 to 30 pound test braid main line. This line will provide sensitivity and abrasion resistance. Tie a 6 inch leader of 10 pound braid between one of the eyes of the 3-way and a floating jig with a size 2 hook. Attach a 24 inch length of 10 pound braid to the other eye. The other end of this line will be attached to the split ring or round-bend snap of a 1/16 to ¼ ounce blade bait. Some blade baits have more than one line attachment holes. Connecting the line to the rear hole will usually produce a wide, slow wobble. The forward hole will usually produce a tight wiggle. A grub or tube bait on the floating jig will complete the rig.
The Tandem Rig should be cast near rock structures such as riprap and wing dams. Allowing the rig to sit on the bottom will cause the floating jig to dance in the current. Jigging the blade bait will cause the floating head to move very erratically. To draw attention, jig aggressively, then twitch to entice strikes.
Either one of these crappie rigs should help to increase your catch.

Chester is an avid fisherman who enjoys being outdoors and going fishing.
Everyone likes to catch fish. If you want to find tips and resources to catch more panfish check out my latest website at Pan Fishing Tips.

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Small Bass Boats 3 Things Every Small Fishing Boat Must Have

2009-07-18T13:08:00.000-07:00

Small Bass Boats - 3 Things Every Small Fishing Boat Must Have

Are you in the market for a small bass boat? Small bass boats can be a very affordable and effective way to go fishing, but there are some things that every small fishing boat must have. This article is about those things. As a matter of fact, this article will list 3 of the most important aspects every small fishing boat needs to have.

Although a small boat is much less expensive than a traditional boat, you can still expect to pay from three or four hundred dollars to upwards of five thousand dollars for a quality boat. Small bass boats can come in many forms from canoes and kayaks to pontoons and float tubes (both inflatable and hard plastic). These boats can be great for bass fishing. Before you make a purchase though, make sure that you small boat has these 3 things.

Plenty Of "Leg Room" - Many small bass boats don't have any room to store rods, reels, tackle, and/or bait. Make sure that your small fishing boat isn't made for people who don't fish. Many inflatable canoes for example are made for shooting whitewater, rather than fishing. Some inflatable pontoons have very little room for tackle, whereas some have plenty. Just make sure there is room to maneuver for your style of fishing.
Maneuverability - Make sure that the small fishing boat you choose is easy to maneuver. For example, some small pontoon boats (both inflatable and hard plastic) are very difficult to maneuver. Maneuverability is very important when it comes to small bass boats. You want to be able to easily get to where the bass are.
Quality Workmanship - This is probably the most important aspect of any small fishing boat. Of all of the small bass boats on the market today, Sea Eagle makes some of the best. Buying your small fishing boat from a quality manufacturer is of the utmost importance. Outcast is another company known for their quality workmanship. The bottom line is that when it comes to investing in small boats, purchasing a quality product is key. A high quality small fishing boats will last for a lifetime.

Make sure that whatever small boat you choose has the 3 features and you'll be happy with your decision for many years to come. When it comes to small bass boats there are many things to consider, but these are three of the most important.

Tips For Catching More And Bigger Bass

2009-06-18T13:09:00.000-07:00

How to Catch Bass – Some Tips For Catching More And Bigger Bass

Many anglers not only want to know how to catch bass, but more importantly how to catch more bass. Almost anyone can go out fishing and catch as bass or two, but constantly catching bass is another story. In this article I'll outline a few tips for catching more and bigger bass. When implemented, these bass fishing tips will help you be a more consistent and effective bass angler.

There is one thing that an effective bass fisherman does to become "effective" and anyone can do it. Actually this one thing isn't reserved exclusively to bass fishing, it actually applies to all fishing. That one thing is practice. There is simply no substitute for spending time on the water practicing your craft. The more time that you can spend on the water fishing, the more effective you will become as an angler. There is simply no substitute for practice.

With that said, lets get down to learning how to catch bass, shall we? The below tips will help you catch more and bigger bass.

Water Clarity - Water clarity is very important when learning how to catch bass with consistency. Here are some general rules when it comes to water clarity. In clear water bass rely heavily on their sight to determine what to eat. In clear water conditions you want to use line that is as light as possible. Line in the 6-8 pound range is a great idea. Bass are much more apt to see your line in clear water conditions. In stained or muddy water bass rely much more on their lateral lines to "feel" their quarry. For this reason in stained/muddy water conditions, lures that provide a lot of flash or vibration are a good idea.
Lure Color - The color of your bass lure can make a big difference in success rates. When the water is clear, you want to use colors that mimic the baitfish in the area as closely as possible. Realism is the key to color in clear water conditions. When there is a lot of cloud cover in the sky, the color of your lure should change as well. Chartreuse has always been known as a good color on cloudy days. Black and brown are also good color choices when there is heavy cloud cover.
When You Are Fishing - This time of the day and month that you are trying to catch bass is of the utmost importance to catching more and bigger bass. You can know the most opportune times for fishing simply by paying attention to the weather and moon. These two forces of Mother Nature have an amazing impact on the feeding behavior of bass. When it come to the bass fishing tips in this article, this may be the best. Being on the water when one (or both) of these factors is in your favor makes a huge difference in the number and size of bass caught.

If you are interested in catching more and bigger bass, these simple tips will help immensely. Add them to your bass fishing repertoire sooner, rather than later, and don't forget to spend as much time on the water as you can. These bass fishing tips will serve you well for many years to come.

The Best Way To Rig A Worm For Fishing

2009-05-18T13:11:00.000-07:00

How To Use A Worm As Bait – The Best Way To Rig A Worm For Fishing

For anyone who uses worms as bait, this article is for you. Whether you are new to fishing or you've been fishing for many years, worms are one of the best known and most effective baits that can be used. Fishermen have been using worms as bait ever since the only fishing rod available was a long stick. The interesting thing about this is that for most of that time the way that anglers use a worm as bait is not the most effective way that a worm could be used as bait.

If you want to know how to use a worm as bait you need to consider what a worm looks like in normal situations. Have you ever went out on a summer night after it rains and caught night crawlers? Or seen a worm on the sidewalk after it rains? A live worm is outstretched and moving in normal situations. If a worm accidentally crawled out of a river bed and got pulled downstream by the current, what would it look like? Again, outstretched and wriggling, while suspended in the water.

So why as anglers have we always figured that the best way to use a worm as bait was to thread said worm on to a hook? Or to hook the worm over and over again creating what I've always called a "worm ball"? The most likely reason is because no one ever showed us a better alternative than the two that I just mentioned. Now don't get me wrong, the two ways to rig a worm mentioned above will obviously catch fish, it's simply that they aren't the best or most effective way to rig a worm for fishing.

The best way to use a worm as bait is by making your worm appear as much as possible like it does in nature. This is accomplished by using a set of gang-hooks. Gang hooks are simply a pair of hooks tied in tandem which enable your worm to be presented as bait in an outstretched and natural manner. Presenting your worm in natural manner is much more effective, especially when it comes to larger more experienced fish.

Gang hooks are attached to your line using a barrel swivel (to prevent line twist) and can be used with almost any fishing method. These hooks are most effective when fished in rivers and/or streams. A live (or synthetic) worm rigged on a set of gang hooks and allowed to flow naturally with the current of your favorite river or stream is an extremely effective fishing technique. This technique can be used to catch fish such as smallmouth bass, trout, and even walleye at certain times of the year.

The bottom line is that the best way to rig a worm for fishing is a set of gang-hooks. As I mentioned earlier, this configuration of hooks can be used in almost any fishing situation from bottom fishing to fishing for Crappie with a slip bobber. Add these effective fishing hooks to your fishing repertoire sooner rather than later.