Archive for August, 2009

Timing Your Fall Bass Fishing Right

Most bass fisherman know that fishing during the spring months is perhaps the most probable time for pulling in obscene amounts of fish. But the spring spawn is only a couple of months long, at the most. So what is a bass fisherman suppose to do the rest of the year?

Well, one option is to consider is fall bass fishing. But fall bass fishing is similar to spring bass fishing, in that there is a fairly narrow window of time when you can really get on top of some good fish, and that is timing the water temperature change. When the hot summer weather begins to fade, and the surface water temp falls into the sixties and seventies, that is when you want to attack. The shallow water temperature will drop, and when it gets into that optimum range, the largemouths will come up from the deeper areas and will feed in abundance in the shallows. And this is the exact time that you should be out there, throwing your best lures at the fish.

As you continue following my fishing tips, and the fall wears on, the water temperature will continue to fall, and the bass will start their descent. One thing you will notice is that when the temperature at the top of the water is about the same as the deep water temperature, locating bass will be difficult. Because of the uniform temperature, some bass will be in the shallows, and some will be deeper. So you’ll find them at various depths and divers locations.

When the water temp is in the fifties, the bass will be at medium levels, lurking around good structure and cover. But once the temperature gets below 50, you will find it difficult to catch bass at all, even with the best techniques and lures. Water temperatures that cold just cause the bass to get very sluggish, and they do not go after food very often.

Fly Fishing for Women – A Beginner’s Guide

Women Learn Fly Fishing Tips

Women have been fly fishing for nearly as many years as men have, but in recent years the sport of women’s fly fishing has really taken off. There are more women participating in the sport of fly fishing each day, as more women discover the tranquillity of fishing outdoors close to mother nature, as well as the relaxation of fly fishing.

There are many clubs and organizations around now that deal specifically with woman’s fly fishing. One such organization is International Women Fly Fishers, an international non-profit organization which brings women interested in fly fishing together from all over the world, and also have a directory of women’s fly fishing in the United States and from around the world.

Fly Fishing Gear for Women

Men and women are not created equal in body shape. For many years if you were a woman wanting to get into the sport of fly fishing, you would have had to purchase gear tailored for a men. Recently the variety of fly fishing gear available for women to buy has improved considerably. Most of the large fly fishing manufacturers have realized that women are a growing percentage of the fly fishing market, and they have started making fly fishing gear designed to meet the requirements of women. Whether a woman is looking to buy freshwater fly fishing gear, or saltwater fly fishing gear, there is now equipment specifically available.

Gear made specifically for women include fly fishing rods which are designed to be lighter, and have smaller grips to suit the smaller hands of women. Waders designed to fit the shape of a woman’s body are also now available, as well as women’s wading boots. Manufacturers are now also making fishing vests and chest packs shaped for the woman’s body.

Sage, makers of some of the finest fly rods in the fly fishing industry (such as the Sage Smallmouth Fly Fishing Rod), now make a fly fishing rod tailor made for women, the Sage Z-Axis Small Grip Fly Rod. Winston also make the Winston Joan Wulff Fly Rod, which is another high quality rod. Both these rods are lightweight and have the smaller grips which are better suited for women.

Simms have now launched waders that are specifically shaped to fit women, the Simms Women’s Headwater Waders. These stockingfoot waders are excellent quality, and are made from 3-layer Gore-Tex material. Simms also make wading boots specifically designed for women, the Simms Women’s Headwaters Boot, which are narrower than equivalent men’s wading boot, are lightweight, and are ideally suited for women.

Blowdown Lake, Stein Valley Nlaka'pamux Herita...
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One of the most important things that any fishermen won’t have to forget is to bring along his tons of lures so that he can enjoy catching all the fishes in the lake all throughout the day but according to some Banjo Minnow reviews, why try to bring a whole lot of fish lures when you can only bring just a few of them in order to catch all the fishes in the lake? You may not know it but lots of fishermen like you who are now entertaining the idea of buying artificial lures for fishes that can look like a fish and there are some that even smell like fish and can even move like a fish to simulate a small fish to lure the big fishes. If you really like to enjoy fishing, you better bring your own artificial “larger-then-life” fish lures along with you.

Honestly, there are a lot of companies who are selling their own Banjo Minnows because of the hype of this fish lure. Sad to say, the Banjo Minnow fishing lure that they are promoting on the Net are not what they seem to be. Some don’t conform with the standard regulations and you might think that what you have purchased is a reliable Banjo Minnow fish lure but it’s not. So, how will you ever prove to yourself that what you have seen and would like to buy is the best and most reliable Banjo Minnow?

The only way to find out if what you are investing in is the real thing is to go to the Internet and read some customer or product reviews that will give out testimonies from people who have tried to buy a Banjo Minnow 006, for instance, and how they have enjoyed their fishing trips because they have caught a lot with the help of this fish lure. Once you have read a review or two, that’s the time that you can decide what kind of Banjo Minnow would you like and where to get them.

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An Introduction to Bass Fly Fishing

Tools and Techniques for Bass Fly Fishing

The sport of fly fishing has in the past been all about catching trout. Its possible today to catch just about any freshwater or salt-water fish using fly fishing flies and techniques. Because of the fighting qualities of bass, bass fly fishing has become extremely popular throughout the world. Pound for pound, bass fight harder and longer than any trout (except for the very large steelhead trout). Because of the shape of bass (they have a flat body shape), there is increased resistance when you try to pull bass through the water with your fly rod. Bass fly fishing is slightly different from tout fishing, but the basic skills used are the same.

Smallmouth Bass Fly Fishing Technique

Smallmouth bass are found in rivers and streams. With fishing rivers and streams, quite often there are trees and bush lining the river or stream, and therefore not enough room behind you to make a full overhead cast. Therefore learning to roll cast is recommended. Take a look at the following fly fishing casting techniques introduction for more information on roll casting. To give yourself enough space to use the overhead casting technique, you could wade into the river or stream.

When fly fishing rivers and streams its also important to know how to mend the line. As rivers have faster and slower currents, the fly line may overtake the fly, or the fly may overtake the line, thus disturbing the natural drift of the fly, and possibly spooking the bass. Mending is the technique whereby a section of the fly line is lifted and moved in order to re-align it with the drift of the fly. Smallmouth bass mostly sit and wait for prey in the small pools in the river which are formed by submerged rocks, trees, or other objects. Target these pools when casting for smallmouth bass. With smallmouth bass fly fishing, using streamers that look like crayfish or small baitfish often produce good results.

Largemouth Bass Fly Fishing Technique

Largemouth bass are found mostly in ponds and lakes. Largemouth bass flies commonly used are normally pretty big. Deer hair flies are commonly used, and poppers are also quite popular. Terrestrial flies (flies which resemble land based insects that land on the water by accident) are also quite effective. When casting dry flies for largemouth bass, its a good idea to land your fly near to weeds, rocks, lilies or other underwater objects where largemouth bass love to hide when stalking prey. After the dry fly hits the water, just let it float for a few minutes – then make the dry fly twitch, before retrieving the fly slowly. The fly lands on the water will often provoke the bass into striking the fly.

Bass Fly Fishing Equipment

You can use the same equipment for bass fly fishing that you would use for trout fly fishing. Bass fly fishing normally requires a fly fishing rod between a 6 to 9 weight. Select your fly line weight to match your fly rod. It’s not necessary to have an expensive rod and reel for bass fly fishing, and a good fly rod for someone starting out in the sport of bass fly fishing is the reasonable St Croix Triumph Fly Fishing Rod. You can use the same double-tapered line used for trout fly fishing, but its recommended that you use a weight-forward line for bass fly fishing. Although you can catch bass with normal trout flies, you will have more success with bass specific flies.

If you are looking for articles about fly fishing techniques, tips, and product reviews, take at look at the news feed for Fly Fishing Elite at Feedage.com.

catch bass with bluegills

Click Here To See Old School Bass Fishing Secrets From 12 Backcountry Bass Masters!

Many bass fisherman do not care to fish for bass using live baits, but to be honest that is good for you because that means there is very little fishing pressure. You do not need to have a boat to fish for bass using live bait many large bass have been caught from the bank using this method probably because there is very little fishing pressure. You can fish for bass using live bait in ponds lakes or rivers. Using live baits to catch largemouth bass is probably one the least used methods to catch bass, but if you learn what baits work best you can catch some very large bass using the following two methods I am going to talk about in my article today.

Fish live striped shiners and bluegills for largemouth bass.

Shiners make great live baits for bass and I recommend using the following two types, and they are the golden and striped shiners. These shiners both are similar in size ranging fro 3 to 6 inches. Some larger shiners can reach 12 inches in length but don’t use them for bait. Concentrate on using 3 to 6” shiners. You can purchase both types of these shiners at your local bait shop, but if you can catch your own shiners that are local to the area they work much better.

The golden shiner is much more common in the Eastern States but can be found in the southern, Midwest and Northern States also. Though it has been known to reach lengths of 30 cm (12 in), in the wild the golden shiner is usually between 7.5 and 12.5 cm (3 to 5 inches) long. The body is laterally compressed (deep-bodied). The back is dark green or olive, and the belly is a silvery white. The sides are silver in smaller individuals, but golden in larger ones. There can be a faint dusky stripe along the sides. The anal fin is large and has 8-19 rays, while the dorsal fin comprises almost always 8 rays.

The striped shiner can be found on the East Coast and through out the Midwest and Southern Canada. The striped shiner is a deep-bodied and slab-sided large species of minnow. They have large scales and silvery sides with a darker colored back. They get their name from the series of dark stripes that run down their back and come together in the center of their back behind the dorsal fin forming “V” shapes. They usually have a few dark colored scales which look like dark blotches along their sides.

The bluegill, bream or sunfish can be found all over the US and Southern Canada and they are very easy to catch. You want to catch small ones ranging in size from 3 to 4 inches. It has been my experience that the smaller gills are the best live bait for largemouth bass. Make sure you check with your states department of natural resources to make sure it is legal to fish with bluegills because some states will not allow it.

How to set up your largemouth bass live bait rigs to fish with shiners.

1.0 Using the right bass rod and reel combo.

I recommend you pick a heavy duty bass outfit for when you fish live baits for largemouth bass. You can use lighter rigs but it’s easier to fish heavy duty rigs in thick vegetation. I personally use a open face spin cast set up with a reel spooled with 15 lb firewire and a heavy duty spin cast rod 7 ft in length. These rigs are great if you are casting from the bank.

2.0 Here is how you setup a bass fishing live bait slip bobber rig.

Before we get started you will need to obtain the following fishing tackle. You will need a 4” slip bobber, a bead and bobber stop, a three way ball bearing swivel, Cut pieces of fire line 12” and 14 inches, a 4 / 0 5/ 0 circle hook, and a ¼ oz bass sinker. Pickup the slip bobber about 4” in length and push the end of the line from your rod and reel combo thru the slip bobber. Next slide the bead up the line then the bobber stop. Next tie on the three way swivel to the line using the top eyelet. Then pick up the 14 inch piece of fireline you cut and tie one end to the bottom eyelet of the three way ball bearing swivel. Next pick up the 12 inch piece of fireline you cut and tie either a 4/ 0 or 5 / 0 circle hook to one end. Then tie the other end to the open eyelet on the three way swivel. Then the last thing you want to do is tie on the ¼ oz bass sinker to the bottom of the 14” fireline you cut. The bass sinker should The bass sinker should be at the very bottom of your live bait bass rig when you are finished.

3.0 Here is how you hook you live shiners, and bluegills correctly to your bass live bait rig.

Slide the 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook thru the lips or right behind the soft flesh of the dorsal fin of bluegill, bream or sunfish. Make sure it can swim freely in a circling motion. Slide the 4/0 circle hook through the eye socket of the larger shiners and right behind the soft flesh of the dorsal fin of smaller ones. Make sure your baits are lively when you cast them out.

 

Well folks that concludes my article on catch bass with live bait,catch bass with live shiners,catch bass with bluegills,live bait fishing for bass,using live bait to catch largemouth bass,using bluegills to catch largemouth bass,using shiners to catch largemouth bass,golden shiner,striped shiners. May your next fishing trip be a success!

 

Mark Fleagle has been fishing for over 30 years. Check out his website to get some amazing fishing information and fishing articles loaded with fishing tips about using bluegills to catch largemouth bass that really work! Download your Free Copy of Bass Fishing Secret Weapon Special Report At: http://www.oldfishinghole.com/blog/index.php/2009/06/15/bass-fishing-secret-weapon-special-report/

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Antique Fishing Lures

When we think of antique fishing lures, we often imagine the tools that our forfathers must have used for fishing. Yet, some people collect antique fishing lures and even use them from time to time. What distinguishes new models from older ones is that modern lures have a sleekness and a luster that make them a lot more similar to live bait. In fact the word that best describes antique fishing lures is stiffness. A feature recognizeable in old and new models alike is the imitation of the insect look used in river fishing.

When you collect an antique bass fishing lure, they are most likely to come with a story that you’ll remember and tell to friends and family when you get the occasion. Normally, classic lures will work for almost any type of fish, although exceptions for this general usage do exist. Information is pretty scarce on older fishing lures, because the new models are in the spot light at present.

Many stores still provide antique fishing lures although you may not find them precisely under this very name. Auction houses and some Internet sites may be the right places to visit for such acquisitions. These places usually have different varieties of fishing lures in stock and the prices they ask for are also different from one source to another depending on certain factors. Sometimes you can get certain antique models in modern shops together with recent designs, either for comparison or just for the sake of diversity. Hobbists could also give one some hints about where to find more for your collection.

If you search the Internet for antique fishing lures, you will also be able to find, some kind of information on the history of fishing, on the first gear manufacturers and their tradition as well as many other things worthy of consideration. You can also find books and guides, collectors’ information as well as specialized publications such as fishing magazines.

There is the category of collectors for whom the historical value of the antique fishing lures is what matters the most despite their high prices. Such highly valuable designs can be even one hundred years old, and they usually belong to mature collections that are occasionally sold at auctions. These lures are really expensive, somewhere in the area of $1,000 to  $5,000. People who buy them belong to a distinct group of collectors of about 300 to 500 members at present. From time to time such select groups receive new members in the forms of collectors with experience and something to share with the rest.

Investing In A Shakespeare Fly Fishing Rod

Fishing
Image by James J Jenkins via Flickr

Shakespeare has become a very popular name in fishing over the years.  The company was founded over 100 years ago by a William Shakespeare.  As time has passed Shakespeare fly fishing rods have increased greatly in popularity for a number of different reasons.  One of the main reasons that people buy Shakespeare fly fishing rods is that they tend to be reasonably priced when compared to other similar models.

Shakespeare produces a large variety of different types of fishing gear.  They even make several lines of fishing gear designed specifically for children.  From saltwater fly fishing to telescopic rods Shakespeare has got just about anything an angler could hope for.

Different Things To Look For When Purchasing A Shakespeare Fly Fishing Rod

One of the first things many fishermen look at when selecting an appropriate rod is its size.  Depending on where and what you will be fishing, the length of your rod will vary.  For fishermen looking to catch salmon a longer rod will be necessarily.Most Shakespeare fly fishing rods designed for salmon fishing will be between 12 feet to 15 feet in length.

Another thing to consider when selecting your Shakespeare fly fishing rod is how many sections is it.  If you plant to travel with your Shakespeare fly fishing rod on a regular basis you might want to select one that breaks down into several pieces.Some of the more portable rods offered by Shakespeare are made up of 7 sections to really help make them easy to carry and easy to store when you are not using it.

An item that is often overlooked when purchasing a Shakespeare fly fishing rod is a carrying case.  Many rods come with a carrying case that was specially designed to accommodate it.  There are also cases that can be purchased separately if the fly fishing rod you are considering buying does not come with one.  Cases can come in a few different forms.  One popular style is the tube case.  This is a hard shell case that protects your rod from damage.  Another popular case is a waterproof case.  It was designed to be lightweight which makes it easy to carry but will protect your rod from damage and water.

Before you purchase your Shakespeare fly fishing rod make sure to get a good feel for it.  Head to a local fishing supply store and see if they have a display model on hand.  See if the grip feels right for you and that you are comfortable with the rod overall.

Go here for more about fishing tips and bass fly fishing techniques.

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Choosing An Antique Fly Fishing Rod

When you walk through the aisles of a fishing store you may be surprised at the selection of fishing rods that are available to choose from.  You will see everything from Shakespeare fly fishing rods to some very sophisticated handcrafted rods.  While there may be numerous different types of fly fishing rods available to choose from many people prefer to use antique fly fishing rods instead. 

There are a variety of different reasons that a fisherman would pick an antique fly fishing rod.  Many fly fishing enthusiasts take up a second hobby of collecting antique fly fishing supplies.  This can include anything from an antique fly fishing rod to tackle. 

Many fishermen have unintentionally gotten involved with antique fly fishing equipment.  Perhaps a trip to a grandfather’s house unveiled his collection of antique fly fishing rods that eventually makes its way to you.  Instead of purchasing new equipment to fish with why not use the antique rods.

It should not come as a surprise for those wishing to purchase and collect antique fly fishing rods that there is typically a large price tag attached to them.  Collecting these antique rods and other antique equipment is quickly becoming a popular hobby for many fishermen and price tags tend to reflect that.

Different Types Of Antique Fly Fishing Rods

Wooden antique fly fishing rods are some of the most popular around.Depending on where they were made their overall appearance can vary greatly from one model to the next.  Some of the first antique fly fishing rods that were made were extremely long.These are frequently harder to find and fishermen tend not to like them because they are so long.

The more popular antique fly fishing rods tend to be those that are between 6 feet and 9 feet in length.  They are mostly made out of split bamboo.  Many antique rod collectors look for the shortest split bamboo rods that they can find as they tend to be the most valuable.  As with most things antique, quality matters. 

Always beware when purchasing antique fly fishing rods.  Try to verify that the entire rod is original and made from a worthy maker. It is not uncommon for a fly fishing rod restorer to add parts of a high quality rod like a handle to a low quality rod to pass it off as an original when it really is not.  You do not want to waste your money on items like these.

Go here for more about fishing tips and bass fly fishing techniques.

Many people that are passionate about fly fishing will notice that there are several other ways to enjoy fly fishing without ever getting near the water.  Some people enjoy tying their own flies while others like to build their own fly fishing rods.  Both offer great alternatives when fly fishing itself may not be a possibility. 

One great example of a time when building your own fly fishing rod is particularly satisfying is on a rainy day.  If you had intended to get up on a particular day to head to your favorite river to do some fly fishing only to find out that the weather has wrecked your plans you can chose to spend your day building a new fly fishing rod instead.  This allows you to enjoy one of your favorite hobbies even when the weather is not cooperating.  It is also a great way to build your fly fishing rod collection. Before you know it your collection will include antique fly fishing rods and your own home made ones too.

Different Ways To Learn How To Build Your Own Fly Fishing Rod

One popular way that fly fishermen learn to build their own fly fishing rods is by taking a class.  These classes are typically conducted by skilled craftsmen who are particularly passionate about both rod making and fly fishing.  They will typically have a wealth of knowledge regarding best techniques for building your own fly fishing rod as well as great recommendations for which tools work best to build them.  The classroom environment is also a great place to meet other fly fisherman looking to branch out into this new hobby as well.

Another great way to help you learn to build a fly fishing rod is by instructional book.  Several books have been published over the years that will give you the general procedure that you will use to build a fly fishing rod.  When looking for a good book to use, make sure that there are plenty of pictures and diagrams that you can work off of.  Also it will be a good idea to choose an instructional book that covers all of the different tools that you may need when you build your fly fishing rod.

While it certainly might not be the easiest way to go about it, many people like to tinker and experiment on their own.  Take a fly fishing rod that you particularly like and try to construct something similar to it.  Local hardware stores and fishing stores will likely have all of the parts you need to get started.  The process of experimenting on your own might yield some pretty impressive results.  It might also take you several tries to master a particular technique so make sure you do not give up right away.

Go here for more about fishing tips and bass fly fishing techniques.

If you have suddenly decided that you want to take up fly fishing you might realize that you need to do a bit of research before you can get started.  One trip to a fishing store might scare off a few people that do not know much about fly fishing.  This is because that there are aisles and aisles of different products that fishermen will use for fly fishing. 

Among the many products that you will find in a fishing store are rods and reels.  Because there are so many different types and combinations of products it is easy to be overwhelmed.  One way to solve the problem is to select a fly fishing rod and reel combo.  This type of fly fishing gear is already put together in a way that the products are geared towards particular types of fish or different types of fishing locations.

In order to pick a fly fishing rod and reel combo all you really need to know is what you intend to fish and where.Then you can just simply select a fly fishing rod and reel combo that has been designed to accommodate your needs.  Seasoned fisherman may chose to build their own fly fishing rods but a combo is a great place for a beginner to start.

Different Types of Fly Fishing Rod And Reel Combos

While there are many different weights of fly fishing rods available to choose from the two weights that are the most popular are likely to be the 5 weight and the 8 weight.  If you are looking for a general purpose fly fishing rod and reel combo then choosing a 5 weight will most likely be a good decision for you.

If you intend to fish for large fish such as salmon, pike, or snook you might be benefited by the purchase of an 8 weight fly fishing rod and reel combo.  This rod will be heavy enough to handle the bigger fish that you intend on catching.

If on the other hand you are looking to fish for trout, bluebill, or pan fish you will likely find that a 5 weight makes the most sense for you to buy.  There is no need to invest in a heavy duty fly fishing rod and reel combo if you have no need to take it to its limits.  You will also save money purchasing the 5 weight over the 8 weight if you do not need the added durability of the rod.

Go here for more about fishing tips and bass fly fishing techniques.