How to Make Your Camping Trip More Exciting

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Camping trips are meant to be exciting whether you’re going with your family or with a group of friends. Whether your group is adventurous or just looking to brave the outdoors there is something for everyone. If you’re off to a bad start though, what can you do to make your camping trip more exciting? This article will list a few ideas that can get your camping trip back on the right track.

Go Exploring

If you’re already at the campsite what’s stopping you from going to explore the wilderness? You never know what you may find out there and it’s a good way to take your mind off any hardships you may be facing. It’s amazing how even the smallest discovery can be exciting when you’re out camping with a group of friends. It’s important that when you go out exploring that you at least bring other person with you in case you get lost. Two heads are better than one when trying to find your way back!

Play Games

Making up different games is half the fun when you’re out camping with your friends and family. There are all sorts of games that you can come up with using the environment that you may have found, whether that is trees or a lake. From freeze tag to racing the woods is a great environment to play all sorts of games. Try to keep them safe because it could be very easy to hurt yourself in the woods, especially if you’re playing in the water.

Try To Rough It

Many people like to rough the great outdoors when they go camping. To them this can either mean being completely helpless to just have to catch your own dinner, whether that is a fish or whatever. This creates a sense of isolation; some people love this feeling because camping is a way to get away from the hustle and bustle everyday life.

Look For Wildlife

Looking for animals is great fun in the woods because often times they’re smart enough to stay away from you making it hard for to observe them. This can even be turned into a competition of who can find whatever animal first. It’s important that if you do seek out wildlife that you don’t anger it. Even the smallest animals can be dangerous if they attack you, especially if you don’t have the proper first aid.

Remember, camping trips are meant to be exciting, don’t just go outside put up the tent and go to sleep. Try to have some fun, catch some dinner, explore, there are endless possibilities waiting for you in the great outdoors.

Photo Credits: TheNickster

Fly Fishing

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

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.

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

Five Reasons to Bring a Swiss Army Knife

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

Many of us marvel at television shows like the Discovery Channel’s “Man vs. Wild” and marvel at all of the things the survivalists are able to accomplish with so little support out in the wilderness. But there’s a common denominator to many of these shows – and to better survival, in general – that helps explain their success.

Their knife.

Any knife has a million and one uses in the wild, but a quality knife like a Swiss Army Knife, with its variety of blades and options, is even more practical. With that in mind, here are five reasons to bring a Swiss Army Knife on your next camping trip.

1. Scissors.

Each Swiss Army Knife comes with a small scissors. These scissors might seem superfluous indoors, but it’s only out in the wild where you discover the kind of help they can offer. Whether you’re repairing tents or untying knots, it’s definitely more practical to have a small pair of scissors in your back pocket.

2. Fold-away blades.

It’s not only convenient to have a variety of blades and tools at your disposal, but being able to fold them away safely is a major plus. You can keep all of the different tools and blades tucked away in your back pocket, saving you both worry and space. A Swiss Army Knife can be like having a toolbox the size of a Chicken McNugget.

3. The knife, stupid!

Don’t forget the benefits of a knife – whether you’re cutting meat, gutting a fish, shaving bark, or peeling an apple. The chances aren’t very good that you’ll find yourself in a life-or-death situation on your next camping trip, but it can’t help to be prepared while enjoying the benefits of a strong blade.

4. Preparing for the unexpected.

If you’re really venturing far into the wilderness for a more rustic camping experience, the chances are good that you’ll encounter something you didn’t plan for. A simple knife is definitely beneficial, but a knife with all of the options of a Swiss Army Knife will help you feel that much more prepared.

5. Getting used to the outdoors.

It’s not the same “outdoors” experience when you bring a camper into the woods and enjoy all of the same luxuries you have at home. Sometimes, it’s better to get out there, use tools you wouldn’t otherwise use, and explore your “survivalist” side.

There are more reasons to bring a Swiss Army Knife along with you on your next camping trip – this is just a small sampling. To explore more of the reasons, why not make a purchase and get off of the couch and into the woods?

Photo Credits: Alesist

Three Great (and Cheap!) Fishing Rods

Tuesday, January 12th, 2010

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.

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

Five Things to Know Before You Go Ice Fishing This Winter

Tuesday, January 5th, 2010

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.)

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

How to Get Up Early and Go Fishing Comfortably

Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009

Some people love the early mornings – the way the dew on the grass looks and smalls, the early-morning sky tumbling by in its reflection on the serene fresh-lake water, and the great moments where the only sound around is the splashing of a freshly-caught fish. It sounds great, but for some people, making an early morning happen just isn’t in the cards.

If you can’t stand waking up to an alarm at five or six o’clock in the morning, you’re not alone. Some people just don’t seem to be “morning people.” But that doesn’t mean you’ll have to go without a comfortable, unforgettably early-morning fishing experience. Here’s how to pull it off without pulling out your hair.

First, don’t only set your alarm clock, set your “mental alarm.” As you lay down to go to sleep, remind yourself a few times that you want to wake up at a specific time, and literally tell yourself you’d like to wake up comfortably and ready to go. You might be surprised at the effect a simple mental reminder can have on you, especially if you combine it with a good seven or eight hours of sleep and the precaution of an alarm clock next to your bed.

Upon waking in the morning, you still might find that you don’t feel you have enough sleep. It might be cold outside, and you don’t want to get out from under the covers. A great way to build momentum that will take you out of the covers is actually to prepare the night before. Sleep in your (safe) fishing clothes! Have a rod and your tackle box not too far from the bed. You might even want to try sleeping in your shoes. When you wake up, you’ll know that all you have to do is simply put your feet no your ground and you’re just about ready to go.

Photo Credits: kretyen

Five Tips to Become a More Courteous Fisher

Tuesday, December 8th, 2009

Before you head out on your next fishing trip, it will pay to know some of the rules of common courtesy. If you’ve been noticing other fisherman glare at you while you’re out and don’t know why, it’s possible you may have been violating some of the unwritten rules of fishing – or even some local laws. To make sure that you are more courteous the next time you’re out looking for Muskie, here are some rules of common courtesy you’ll want to follow.

1. Give other fishers their space. Fishing is often a territorial sport, so if you crowd another fisherman or bring your boat too close to theirs, you’re being obnoxious. You’re also being dangerous, as you want to keep plenty of space between each boat. Some potential consequences to fishing too close together can include scaring away the fish they were trying to catch and creating a wavey wake that throws the other fisherman off their balance. Be sure to keep your distance.

3. Throw a few back. Don’t come into their lake and catch up all the fish. You might think this makes you look good in front of other fisherman, but they’ll only resent you for showing them up. Be sure to throw a few fish back – including some large ones if you have caught some already – to keep the sport in the area alive.

4. Respect the professionals. If you’re in an area where there are professional fisherman around, be sure to give them plenty of space out of respect for their livelihood. This doesn’t always apply to inland lakes, but in coastal areas, you’ll see a lot of commercial fishing boats and you don’t want to get in the way of them and putting food on their family’s table.

5. When in doubt, think. If you’re getting glares, ask yourself, “would I be annoyed if I were them?” Try to put yourself in their shoes and see if your behavior’s been obnoxious. You can’t please everybody all the time, but you can work to be more thoughtful.

Photo Credits: bugeaters

One Powerful Technique to Help You Catch Muskellunge

Thursday, October 15th, 2009

In fishing, the Muskellunge, or “Muskie,” is one of the most popular fish to try to catch. Growing as large as two to five feet in length and not always common to find, the Muskie can make a great photograph to bring back home or post on Facebook. But because they’re not too easy to find, let alone catch, catching one will require a bit of a challenge.

In order to take a Muskie out of the water, you should be armed with the right information about Muskies. You’ll also want to learn a powerful technique for getting the Muskies out of their daily routine and after your tackle. Here’s how:

The technique, relatively common among more avid fisherman, is known as the “Figure Eight.” In this technique, you use the tip of your rod to “draw” an eight into the surface of the water. This will bring your bait around in frantic movements that resembles a baitfish trying to avoid predators. In essence, you’re trying to simulate the appearance of prey at a disadvantage. For a large fish like a Muskie, this can be a very intriguing sight.

When you’re fishing for Muskie, you’ll want to incorporate a technique like this on a habitual basis – you might even use a Figure Eight when you don’t see a fish as you’re about to pull up your cast. You’d do this to make sure there isn’t a fish waiting nearby that might come up and go for the supposed prey.

Will this catch Muskie for you? Not necessarily. You’ll have to learn more about the Muskie, including where they are most populous, and try to go where they go. You’ll also want to make sure you have the right bait to attract their attention, not to mention the experience of working with a few Muskie in your career as an amateur fisherman.

Photo Credits: Crowhand

Five Distinct Fishing Techniques

Monday, May 4th, 2009

If you’ve ever taken your child out swimming and haven’t been sure about what kind of techniques to teach, don’t worry: you’re not alone. Many of us who would like to consider ourselves fun-loving and adventurous are willing to go out on a fishing trip, but how often do we really know what to do to actually catch the fish? In this article, we’ll take a look at five distinct fishing techniques that you can employ to actually look like a professional.

Doodling

Doodling is essentially a fishing technique that relies on using the worm as your chief type of bait. This will probably work better on the smaller fish that congregate toward this type of food, so keep that in mind. Doodling will entail using your worm by shaking your rod after dipping it in the water, then waiting a good half a minute for fish to approach your hook. After that, you can give your rod another shake and try to draw it around a bit.

Night Fishing

Night fishing usually emphasizes hunting the bass that tend to be interested in what you have during this time of the day. If you’re going to be night fishing, you have to make sure that you have all of the proper equipment and know all of the local ordinances involved.

Casting

When you’re fishing, casting is one of the most fundamental techniques you use in order to get your hook into deeper waters, plunging your hook into an undisturbed area of the lake or stream you’re fishing in. Overhand, underhand, and sidearm casts are different ways you can try to cast with greater efficiency – just make sure to stick with one technique to really get it down pat.

“Playing the Fish”

Playing the fish is a term that refers to what you do with a fish once it appears you’ve actually lured it into a bite. This will typically entail a quick jerk to “set the hook” into the fish’s flesh, followed by setting the “drag” on your rod to prevent the line breaking.

Flipping/Pitching

The “pitch” is a type of cast that causes very little disturbance to the water – instead of flicking your rod in order to send the hook out deeper into the lake or stream, you simply let the button loose and drop the line manually into the water, giving you a more stealthy way to pursue your fish.

These are just five things to keep in mind when you’re out fishing – remember that any one technique will take a bit of practice before you get it down to an art, particularly if you’re a beginning. The more you learn and the more experience you gain, however, the better you’ll understand which technique to employ and why.

Photo Credits: nugun

Welcome to Hike Camp Fish

Sunday, March 1st, 2009

Thanks for coming to Hike Camp Fish. We are going to hiking and camping in forests and fishing in near by lakes as we review campsites all over the world.  We’ll also be reviewing camping equipment, fishing equipment, hiking, camping, and fishing techniques, and much, much more. I hope you’ll join me. If this site is going to be successful, I am going to need you to be active with comments and suggestions. I can guess what you want to read about, but it’s much, much easier if you simply tell me.