Archive for the ‘fishing’ Category
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How to Catch the Big Fish
For many people, taking up a hobby like fishing can be a relaxing way to spend a summer’s day on a weekend. For others, however, fishing isn’t just a hobby – it’s a serious sport. The select few who really take their fishing seriously usually have a common question: how do I catch the big fish? If you want to stop catching minnows and start catching muskies, this article will be a great guide.
1. Go where the big fish are.
Seem obvious? Okay, let’s try an experiment. Write down five local lakes you know that have fish that grow longer than a foot, nose to tail. Can you do it? If not, you’re going to have to do some research, ask around, and find out what you can do to start fishing where the big fish are waiting to be caught.
Many times, an ordinary Google search isn’t enough. Try asking some other fishermen at a local bait shop or fishers you come across on a lake. Many times, the die-hard fishers will be able to not only tell you where the big fish are, but when to fish for them and how to catch them.2. Know your target.
Common “big” fish caught around the United States include Muskellunge (muskie), Northern Pike, types of bass, and even catfish. If you’re going to catch the big fish, you’re going to have to know their habits – what they eat, where they eat, and what they’re often attracted to. You can’t expect to go out to a big lake, throw a worm on a hook, and catch a picture-worthy fish.
Instead, read up on your target and learn about their behaviors. Consult some fishing magazines or even an online source like Wikipedia. After about a week’s worth of easy reading, you’ll feel that you know your fish inside and out. The more experience you get, the more you’ll be able to search for a wider variety of big fish.
3. Match the bait with the fish.
You have to customize your strategy around the type of fish you’re going for, otherwise you can’t predict the kind of results you might get. In doing your research on your big fish of choice, make special note of the kind of bait and tackle that typically attracts your fish. If you know when the fish are most active and can drop some enticing bait into the water, you stand a good chance of finally catching that big fish.
Fishing is great, especially when you chase after challenges that a beginner wouldn’t necessarily try. The more you expand your awareness of local fish, the better you’ll get.
Photo Credits: Eldar
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Children Fishing Safety Tips
Fishing with your children is a very relaxing and fun experience, but it could become a horrifying one if you’re not properly prepared for the worst. Being safe should be one of your prime concerns while out on a fishing boat, especially if you’re taking the trip with small children. This article will outline a few tips and precautions that you should take before going on your boating trip.
Basic Rules
It’s important that before you go out onto the water that you let any children know the basic rules that they need to abide by on a boat. These rules include no running, looking around you before you cast, and making sure that you keep your floatation device on. You should especially explain why each of these is important, as kids might not instantly realize that they could hurt someone else if they hit them with their cast. If they refuse to abide by the rules, find some way to lightly punish them that will make them realize the importance of the rules.
Buddy System
During a fishing trip it’s important that you stress the dangers of the water to everyone. It’s not a bad idea to establish a buddy system in which two people are with each other at all times. If you don’t feel comfortable with two children being the buddies in the buddy system simple pair one child with one adult. This will ensure that each child is properly watched by a respective adult.
Supplies
It’s important that you bring any sort of supplies that you feel you may need while on a boat. It will be hard to get back to shore and to the car if there was a medical emergency so make sure that you bring a first aid kit and any medication that you may need. It’s also a good idea to bring more personal items such as sunscreen or insect repellent. The last thing you want to remember about your fishing trip is how you were sunburned and got bitten by mosquitoes the entire time. If the weather is hot it’s important that you bring a sufficient supply of water or other cold drinks so that your family and friends don’t get dehydrated.
Take some time and read over the supplies listed in this article and consider any additional supplies you may need. Bringing children on a fishing trip can be a hassle, but if you develop a few basic rules and remember to bring any supplies you need then you will be sure to have a safe and fun fishing trip.
Photo Credits: XcBiker
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Tips for Small-Lake Fishing
Let’s be honest: unless you live on the coast, you won’t be able to enjoy a grand sea every time you head out to fish. For some people, this is just fine by them, as they prefer inland lake fishing. But what if you can’t even find a large inland lake? Then it’s time to figure out some great tips and strategies for having a great outing even though you feel like you may be able to swim the length of the lake. Here are some tips to help you come back with plenty of fish.
First, a quick physics lesson. We live in space and time – and since your space is limited in a small lake, it will help to optimize your time. What is the best time to catch fish? If you have to wake up early in the morning, even a little before dawn, or wait until evening, do so if those are your best chances to catch small fish. If you can fish on a calm lake, you’ll have the advantage of finding undisturbed fish.
Some small lakes have rules that dictate how long people can run their motors on a high level. You’ll want to avoid these hours, as smaller lakes will be easier to disturb. During these hours, make sure that you have something else to do so that you don’t get antsy waiting to fish. If you can, try to get your fishing done early as opposed to later, as this will free up your time as the evening hours roll around.Next, be sure that you can optimize your bait. What does “optimizing your bait” mean? It’s just a fancy term that suggests you have the right bait for the right kind of fish. Ask some locals nearby what kind of fish you can expect to catch, and what the biggest kind of fish enjoy for bait. Then head to the bait shop. If you simply roll up to a lake with the same old bait, you can’t always be sure you’ll be bringing the right “stuff.” Sometimes, worms and leeches will work just fine, but it always helps to be sure, just in case.
After that, try to find out the behaviors of the fish you’re catching. If they flock to one area, be sure you put your boat in that area. Since there won’t be a lot of options in a small lake, it’s quite likely you can find out if there’s an ideal “spot” for fishing.
Remember that fishing requires preparation and patience – if you have neither, chances are you won’t come back with much. But if you have both, you can succeed, even on a small lake.
Photo Credits: Kamil Porembiński
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Fly Fishing
Nymph fishing is a fly fishing technique and likely the most challenging too. Because the fly, which is very small, is underwater this can often be a tedious test to even the best angler. Needless to say, even the most patient fishermen can find this frustrating. Trout fishing is where the best of what the angler has to offer needs to come to the forefront mainly because of the diet that trout have. Trout eat insects that are called sub surface insects or nymphs. This is why if an angler does not have several techniques down pat he will be greatly limited to where he can fish and what he can use.
An angler is attempting to mock a specific stage of insects when nymphs fly fishing. This is why all fly fishing is done underwater, not on top of it. This makes fly fishing with nymphs more challenging because the fish will never rise to the surface in an attempt to gulp an insect. In contrast to dry fly fishing when the angler uses nymphs the angler will not be able to keep his eye on the fly and that is where the challenge comes into play as it makes it more difficult to detect strikes and set the hook.
The challenge gets even bigger with nymph fly fishing because the nymphs have a tendency to float along or just near the bottom of the water. The problem comes in as the nymph is often “bumping” into underwater obstructions, particularly rocks. The angler then feels these bumps and can easily mistake them for bites. Especially for beginner anglers this can be quite challenging as the strike indicator will momentarily pause when the nymph hits a rock. It is only a matter of time before the nymph actually does get hooked on something and then it has to be freed.
Fly fishing with nymphs causes the angler to have to use methods to get their fly down into the water. This is not a challenge with dry fly fishing because all fishing occurs right on the surface. Everything in dry fly fishing is two dimensional. With nymph fishing, however, the angler needs to determine how deep the trout are and then figure out how to get their fly to that depth which adds another dimension to their fly fishing. In order to do this successfully the angler needs to know how to get nymph to the right depth and how to make good and precise casts so the nymph is allowed to sink to the right depth of where you think that the fish are.When dry fly fishing the fish will normally hit the bait really hard but with nymphs this is not the case, they are much more graceful when approaching nymphs. Trout are gentler with nymphs and sometimes this is nothing more than laziness, waiting on the nymph to come right to the fish. It is because of this, setting the hook properly when fly fishing with nymphs is extremely important for success. These are the challenges of fly fishing with nymphs.
Photo Credit: href=”http://flickr.com/photos/chaddycakes/”>Chaddycakes
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Fish for Dinner: What Kind of Fish Are Great for Catching and Eating?
There’s nothing quite like a meal freshly picked from the lake and the satisfaction of knowing that you went out and caught your own dinner. Kids love to do it, and it’s a great way for parents to bond with their children. But what are the best kind of fish to catch and actually prepare in a meal?
In this article, we’ll take a look at several types of fish that make the best “eating fish.”
-Walleye.
Walleye is considered one of the best-tasting freshwater fish and can be thrilling to catch, with a record 42-inch Walleye being the largest ever caught. Walleye will provide plenty of meat to cook as the typically grow to over two feet in length. They’re not an easy fish to a small child to catch without the assistance of an adult, which can make them a bit problematic.
Walleye have excellent vision (their light-reflecting eyes give them their name) and typically come out during low-illumination (think dawn and dusk) or in choppy waters, where they have an advantage over prey. Walleye can also swim deeper, which can make them more of a challenge to catch.-Bluegill.
Very popular in the upper Midwest (Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan) and Texas and Lousiana, Bluegill are smaller than Walleye, but easier to catch. They are considered to be on par with Walleye in terms of taste, and can be caught relatively easily by children with simple bait such as worms or flies.
Bluegill are also called “panfish” because of their size and the methods typically used to cook them. They are also a great fish to help teach your son or daughter how to fish, as they can be quick biters and will tend to come up to shallow waters to feed.
-Smallmouth bass.
Growing anywhere from two to six pounds, smallmouth bass are a relatively medium-sized gamefish that live in both rivers and lakes, and can be caught by simply “angling” techniques or with flyfishing. Smallmouth bass have a reputation for being fighters when hooked, and typically can make some splashing when near the top of the water. This might help your child learn how to work with fish that fight back.
Smallmouth bass are great for cooking as well, with a clean white meat that goes great with dinner.
Many of these types of fish are relatively common and will make a great fish to seek out during your next camping trip or visit to the lake. Learn more about each fish to easily identify them and teach your children about the different species.
Photo Credits: e53
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How to Save Money on Fishing
These days, finding ways to save money aren’t hard. Everyone’s trying to save money, whether it’s using coupons, cutting back on expenses, or just making clear-cut sacrifices. What most people get wrong is believing it’s necessary to go through a lot of pain in order to scrimp and save. Sure, it might take some thinking, planning, and preparation, but that’s it: really, in the end, the purpose of saving is to sustain a high quality of life.
You can do that while keeping your fishing outings. If you’re an avid fisherman, there’s no reason to cut back on a hobby you love simply because times are tough. Instead, follow these quick tips and you’ll be saving money on fishing in no time.
Tip #1: Catch or make your own bait.
Admittedly, a small container of worms won’t exactly set you back so far that you’ll never financially recover. But there are some forms of tackle that are simply too expensive to really give a care about. Dig a hole after a rainy day to find your worms and consider making your own tackle: some quick research will yield a treasure trove of fun ways to do this at home. You’ll also re-connect with your fisherman’s roots when you create your own tackle, as you can truly say you “caught your own fish.”
Tip #2: Buy used equipment.
This is a quick way to save money in any endeavor that requires purchasing new equipment on a semi-regular basis, and it holds true for fishing. If you don’t mind a scratch or two on your fishing reel, you can easily purchase some effective equipment that works just as well as new equipment – except for a few extra miles on the odometer.
Tip #3: Rent!
One of the most effective ways to save money in the short-term is simply to rent equipment you would otherwise purchase. When we’re talking about fishing, the term “equipment” can even refer to a boat. Only rent if you’re sure you want the experience that renting provides – don’t rent simply because it’s cheaper. Use “renting” as option of last resort when you have no other way to get the fishing experience you’re after.
Combining all three of these tips, you’ll find that you understand how to have fun, effective fishing trips that provide just as much of the fun fun for half the price. Consider applying these tips to everything – make your own tackle, buy a used fish detector online, rent a boat – and you’ll be living the high life for average-Joe prices. Isn’t that what we’re all looking for?
Photo Credits: Michael (mx5tx)
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Fun Things to Do On a Camping Trip
In this digital age many people have no idea what they can do for fun on a camping trip in the great outdoors. There are so many possibilities for fun, whether you are a family with young children or a group of young adults, there is something that everyone can enjoy doing. This article will outline a few of the choices you have for having fun on your camping trip.
Fishing
If you go camping anywhere near a lake or body of water, why not try your luck in fishing? Many people find fishing relaxing and some people even find it to be a competition. ESPN has even aired shows where people are competition to catch the largest bass. You can teach your children how to fish, or you can turn your fishing experience into a competition of who can catch the biggest fish for dinner.
Go Exploring
Preferably if you’re camping you picked a location that is somewhere that’s not right next to a road. One of the biggest appeals to camping is the sense of adventure that you feel being alone outdoors. Kids and adults alike can appreciate exploring and finding neat animals, trees and streams in the woods. It is amazing how something like a climbable tree can go from being just a tree to being a discovery.
Scavenger Hunt
Can’t find a way to make your kids enjoy going for a hike? Why not try a scavenger hunt. All you have to do is compile a list of things that you want your kids to locate and watch as suddenly a boring hike turns into a fun game for them. Be sure to make the difficulty appropriate based on their age. If they’re young make it easy, and if they’re a little older make sure you make it appropriately more difficult.
Campfire Games
When it gets dark out that’s when there are all sorts of opportunities for fun games. You can tell ghost stories by the campfire or you can play flashlight tag out a ways. Be careful when it’s dark, however, as people can get hurt or even lost very easily in the woods. This is much more important if you’re camping in a habitat that supports animals like bears or any animal that poses a threat to humans.
With a little creativity you can turn a boring camping trip into a fun experience for your family or friends. Remember to keep the activities safe and make sure that everyone wants to do a certain activity; don’t focus on what just you want to do.
Photo Credits: wili_hybrid
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Three Great (and Cheap!) Fishing Rods
Let’s be honest: not everyone is obsessed with fishing. For the non-fish-freaks among us, buying complicated fish-finding equipment, renting a boat, and pursuing the biggest species isn’t always a possibility. Of course, that doesn’t mean we’re not avid fishermen once you put a rod in our hands.
If you plan on getting outdoors this summer and hitting some freshwater lakes for some quick fishing, and you don’t have any fishing rods to borrow, you’ll most likely be in the market for a new rod. You’ll need something simple and strong, designed for fresh water but capable of handling some big catches, should they come your way. With that in mind, here are some fishing rod suppliers that offer you options that won’t bust your “activities” budget.
The Ugly Stick Fishing Rod is considered one of the strongest fishing rods available for cheap. A quick search online will yield prices of around thirty dollars for one of these rods. With durability and strength as the highly-touted strong points, you’ll also make sure that those thirty dollars stretch far with each use. These are great options for the amateur fisherman who only wants to use the fishing rod a few times throughout the summer.Shimano Fishing Rods are similarly strong options with perhaps a greater degree in variety. You can try everything from a Deep Drop Trolling Rod to casting and spinning rods with longer handles. If you are a beginner, the choices might be a little bit overwhelming, but you can start with a nice, cheap basic fishing rod if it all gets a little confusing. Be sure to look for sets that the whole family can enjoy.
Finally, the Falcon Original Freshwater rod is a simple, no-frills attached fishing rod that makes casting easy and fishing even easier. A Falcon Rod is designed to withstand the kind of fish you might expect to find in freshwater lakes and streams – perfect for anyone who wants to do some fishing off the pier or in a small boat. If you need a fishing rod in a hurry and you see the name “Falcon,” you won’t be going wrong.
Heading into any outdoorsman’s store, the choices can seem daunting, but if you know what you want your rod for, and know what you should expect to pay for it, there shouldn’t be anything overwhelming about buying a fishing rod. If you’re still confused, try borrowing a friend’s rod and find out what kind of rod you enjoy most.
Photo Credits: psmithy
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What Kind of Boat Should You Buy?
If you’re an avid fisherman, you’ve probably had consistent access to one boat or another during your tenure out in the water. But if it’s come time to upgrade – or buy a new boat entirely – you’ll have to ask yourself what kind of boat is right for you. In this article, we’ll explain the different types of boats and why they might or might not fit your specific needs.
Boat Type #1: Aluminum fishing boats.
Many fishing boats are made from lightweight aluminum and include a simple steering motor in the back. These boats are typically built with no-frills: they’re simply about the fishing. If you are buying a boat simply for yourself, or are on a tight budget, this might be the boat for you. You can use it to fish or to take relaxing cruises around the lake.
Boat Type #2: Bowriders.Bowriders are some of the most common boats you’ll see on the lake, a sort of all-purpose boat that is targeted to the whole family. They work well for fishing, cruising, and typically will have more seating as well as accommodations for swimming. This is the type of boat to get if you have a family with different needs. You can use it in the morning for a fishing trip and in the afternoon for water skiing.
Boat Type #3: Pontoon boats.
Pontoon boats are the slower boats built as “floating docks” that you won’t really be using for water skiing. These are also a good boat for the family, and the amount of space will be great for fishing. If you have an adventurous streak, this might not be the boat for you, but it is frequently the type of boat that lakeside families really enjoy.
Boat Type #4: Walkaround boats.
Called the “ultimate family fishing boats,” walkaround boats are popular on the Great Lakes as they typically are capable of hauling in larger fish like salmon and other anglers. These boats will often be equipped with rod holders, making them great for deep-sea fishing, as well, and leading to many walkarounds being used in coastal areas.
Boat Type #5: Houseboats.
For the true boat and fishing enthusiasts, what could be better than living where you fish? Houseboats can be parked along coasts and rivers and some people even choose to make them their way of life. They can also be fantastic to rent and experience for a brief period of time before returning back to land, or as a “trial period” to see how you really enjoy the houseboats.
Photo Credits: Jiths
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Five Things to Know Before You Go Ice Fishing This Winter
With winter upon us, many people in the northern states of the U.S. and in Canada are getting ready for ice fishing season. Ice fishing can be a great, relaxing sports that gives us something to do in the colder months of the year, but it can also be a safety hazard – after all, you’ll be sitting on a sheet of ice! If you want to make sure that you enjoy your ice fishing this winter, without compromising your safety, these five tips should be a good start.
1. Know the ice strength, and only go one the ice when you know it’s safe. There will be signs up all winter warning you about the strength of the ice, so pay heed to them. A good rule of thumb for knowing whether ice is strong enough is looking out and seeing if other people with more weight – people and equipment – are out there already and have been for a while. You’ll want to make sure the ice is strong, so it’s a good idea to be patient and wait for it rather than risk falling in. (Do remember, however, that early in the season, “first ice” tends to be stronger, as ice later in the season can be more rotten.)
2. Know what effects ice strength. Whether or not the ice can hold you isn’t only about its thickness – after all, wind conditions can make ice thicker in one area and less thick in another. The current under the ice, the wind, underwater plants, and the time the ice formed during the season will all have an effect on the quality of the ice.3. Don’t explore. It might be tempting to get all the fish that other people are missing by venturing out on your own and exploring ice yourself, but this can be incredibly dangerous and it’s highly recommended. Remember: fools rush in where angels dare to tread. It’s better to know that a lake’s ice can support weight.
4. Wear wool as the layer on your skin. Wool retains its insulating properties even when wet, so if you do fall in the water, you’ll want to be wearing wool. On the outside of your body, you’ll want to have something water-resistant to keep you dry.
5. If you do have an issue with the ice, stay calm. Don’t panic even when the situation seems to call for it – panicking can make a bad situation worse. Instead, educate yourself further on how to handle ice in a difficult situation. A calm head will help you keep your wits about you.
This article is by no means a comprehensive safety guide to ice fishing. Ice fishing is a more complicated and risky sport for that. But hopefully these tips will help you understand that ice fishing isn’t only about understanding how thick the ice is.
Photo Credits: Vince Alongi
