Pike
Image by David_Howell via Flickr

This post goes back a few years, like about 45 years.

My younger brother and I were fosters kids and for a few years we lived on a farm in central Ontario. They had a huge farm and a river ran through the back of the farm where the forest began. We spent as much time as we could playing around the river and jumping off the bridge. It was a lot of fun and great memories of time that wasn’t the best for us.

Well one day we were back at the river and followed it to the bridge. People fished the river all the time but this particular day these two men were fishing pike and had left their young son up on the bridge with his little fishing rod, expecting him to just play while they, the men, fished.

About 20 minutes, well I am just guessing as I was just a kid back then myself, but it wasn’t long and this little kid started screaming that the had a fish. His dad and the other guy came running. John and I were laughing and almost as excited as the kid was.

I remember thinking that the kid was going to fall in because he had his fishing rod and half his body sticking through the fence railing.

His dad thought it was a catfish and didn’t really hurry even though this little guy was holding of for dear life. Then the fish jumped and it was a pretty big pike and not just a catfish. That dad all of a sudden started moving a lot faster.

Them managed to catch the pike and then the next thing I heard was the dad trying to convince the kid to give him the pike and to not tell his mother he caught it. He even offered the kid money but money didn’t mean anything to him at his age.

While I was sitting here thinking back to that day I remember that one year John and I had fireworks. I was sticking the little firecrackers in the railing of the bridge and lighting them. It was great fun until I realized that the bridge had caught fire.

I did my best to get water from the river and put it out but all I had was my hat and it wouldn’t hold much water by the time I got back on the bridge. This bridge was right close to the the next side road, fortunately. A guy driving by on the other road saw the smoke and myself freaking out and saved the day.

I never told my foster parents as it would have been a death sentence and that guy never told on us either.

That old wooden bridge has long since been replaced by a steel bridge.

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Get to Know the Eagle Fish Finder

Fish finder
Image by Blue Square Thing via Flickr

Fish finders aren’t just for commercial trawlers anymore. Weekend warriors everywhere are now using these sonar devices to take the guesswork out of finding areas where fish are feeding. No matter what kind of fish you’re looking for or what kind of water you’re fishing in, a locating device is a great piece of equipment to have with your fishing gear. The Eagle fish finder is quickly becoming the trophy tool among avid fishermen because of its design and accuracy. It’s ideal for small boats and is very reasonable in price. If you want fish finders explained, then read on, as the pros and cons of the Eagle will be weighed to help you decide if it’s the right product for you.

There are several different styles of the Eagle fish finder and all are quite easy to use and reasonably priced. Due to its size and lightweight construction this device can be used on small boats including float tubes, kayaks and canoes. The transducer, the operational piece of the fish locator, mounts onto the vessel using a suction cup. Because of its durable and water-resistant casing, this convenient device can be utilized in both freshwater and harsh saltwater settings. An added benefit of this piece of equipment is the screen design. It is bright and readable – even in full daylight. The Eagle ranges in price from around $100-$500 and comes with a one year manufacturers warranty.

Like the Garmin fishfinders, the Humminbird fishfinders and the Lowrance fishfinders, the Eagle fish finder depends on the transducer for its effectiveness. The transducer emits the sonar signal that detects fish, weeds and underwater structures beneath your boat. The signal bounces back to the boat and is read on the screen. With its 20 degree cone angle transducer mounting, the Eagle offers up to 60 degrees of fish detection and also has a high sensitivity setting to allow you to locate more fish.

Among the Eagle’s biggest selling points is user-friendliness. As soon as you have arrived at a possible fishing site, switch on your fish locator. The equipment will show the distance downward and water temperature to around 600 feet in the screen’s corner. The sonar chart will scroll and display everything directly underneath the watercraft as you drift or troll for schools of fish. By using the menu options you can adjust the sensitivity of the apparatus. The fish will be displayed as a straight line if you are stopped.

It’s important to remember that sonar can sometimes be fooled by branches and other floating debris. Still, portable fish finders can greatly improve your odds of landing a trophy fish. Yet if you really are a fishing enthusiast, then don’t become entirely dependant on sonar. Part of the fun of the sport is using your instincts and tracking down schools of fish. However, when you do want a little help, the Eagle fish finder is a great tool to have.

Need help deciding on the right fish finder? From the Lowrance HDS-10 fishfinder/GPS chartplotter to the Eagle FishEasy color compact, there are fish finder reviews to make the choice easier for you.

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Fly Fishing On the Mighty Madison
Image by Roche Photo via Flickr

Getting tired of fishing all the same ole spots over and over? Perhaps you haven’t given fly fishing a try yet. Once I was introduced to the sport of fly fishing my fishing experience changed considerably.

For those fishers who have only ever used a spinning rod it’s time to give fly fishing a go, you can thank me later.

Fly fishing is fun and exciting and when you hook that first fish you’re going to see a whole new angle to fishing.

You only have to understand a few simple things and you will be fly fishing and catching in just a few short minutes. It’s not rocket science.

Be sure you have the fly fishing supplies you need, nothing sucks more than to go fishing and find left things behind. I like to visit all the fly fishing stores in our city and any other city I happen to pass through but I also like to check out eBay for some great deals. I do try to keep my money in our local economy of course.

Of course eBay isn’t the only place online that you can buy fly fishing supplies but that’s for another post.

I wasn’t fly fishing for a week and I was already tying my own flies for catching brook trout. Yes you can even get fly tying supplies on eBay if you don’t have shops locally.

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A large stream, part of the headwaters of the ...
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It would be impossible to fly fish without having the right fly fishing tackle. Fishing rod, reels, lines, flies , waders and a tackle box are some of the fly fishing items which will be useful for fresh angler and experienced angler. You will certainly need to pick a rod that can help you to accurately cast the fly line and which has artificial flies attached to it and the fly reel is designed to hold your fly line as well as allows you to supply drag whenever it is required which will surely be the case whenever you land an especially heavy fish or even a fish that is very quick.

Fly Line Fly Fishing Tackle

The fly line is designed to help you cast with ease and a terminal tackle is often used for connecting the fly line to an artificial fly. In addition, to these items of fly fishing tackle you must also take along the right kind of accessories including all tools and gadgets as well as clothing that will help ensure safer and more enjoyable fly fishing. You need accessories to help you prepare and maintain your fly fishing tackle and to also deal with the fish after it has been caught; in addition, you need accessories to help you stay comfortable and safe and it also makes sense to include fly boxes into which you can place as well as transport artificial flies.

A fly fishing tackle box is of course essential for transporting your fly fishing tackle and in case you plan on spending an entire day out fishing you will also need to take along sufficient food as well as drinks and of course your fly fishing tackle; so makes sure that the fly fishing tackle box is large enough to hold all the required items.

You need to also pay special attention to wearing the right kind of clothing which in turn will depend on where you plan on fly fishing and also the type of fish species you are trying to land. For example, when fly fishing for salmon you will need clothing that allows you to spend an entire day in the river and these clothing items must also ensure that you stay warm and are protected from water and they should have sufficiently large pockets to get what you need in a hurry.

Shopping for discount fly fishing tacklescan prove to be a daunting task unless you know where to look for the best deals. Going through tacklebargains.com site is necessary for anyone who is going to buy such types of fly fishing tackles.co.uk which is committed to providing you with the most attractive bargains.

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If you are always going to the beach with your family and/or friends, maybe you would like to try something new aside from eating and swimming? How about a new recreation called surf fishing? At first glance, you could say that there is no big deal when it comes to surf fishing. It’s just the same as any other fishing trip that you already know. You just need to hold a fishing rod and you just stand in one spot on the beach, wading on the cool saltwater beach and wait for something to grab your line. Surf fishing is a lot harder than you think and you need to learn some surf fishing tips first. It’s okay if you just want to try it out but if you are getting “hooked” on surf fishing, then, you need to find useful tips.

But before anything else, let me have the chance to share to you some surf fishing advices that I’ve learned. The time element in surf fishing is very important. According to some expert surf fishermen, one of the best surf fishing techniques is knowing the time when to go surf fishing and the best time to go surf fishing is high tide, before all of the beachgoers that scare fish come to the beach. So, what do I mean by that? Go surf fishing when everyone else is still fast asleep or something like that.

In spite of the rushing of waves at the beach, you don’t have to buy a specialized fishing rod and other equipment or gear. According to some book guides that teach surf fishing basics, it’s not on the rod that determines your success but how well you cast. When deciding how well you cast, be realistic about what you can accomplish so that you can catch the maximum of fish that you want. And basing on this, the best rod is something that is shorter so you can easily move from one spot to another.

There are still many things you need to know about surf fishing but for now, it is enough to know that surf fishing is really an enjoyable thing to do while on the beach.

Puget Sound Fly Fishing
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More and more people around the world for all walks of life are fishing as a form of relaxing and pleasure. Perhaps fishing is a form of mantra but to most it is an art. This form of art, which most people have invested in lots of time and money and even, pasted on from generation to generation is priceless.

To learn to think like a fish is a lesson that is crucial and will be a deciding factor whether ones fishing trip will be successful or not. There are many things to take into consideration when planning to take up fishing as a hobby or art.

Fly fishing gear is first and foremost item that should be considered. The search for perfect fly fishing gear should not be painstaking procedure as one would rather be fishing than shopping for fly fishing gear. Fly fishing gear is dependent on the type of fish sought.

How To Choose The Correct Gear For Fly Fishing

It is pretty easy to choose the correct gear when one knows how to:

  • Select the correct fly rod with matching fly line
  • Choose a fly fishing fly (that is fly fishing lure)
  • Cast the fly line
  • Start to retrieve
  • Hook into you your fish.

In fly fishing gear the type of rod and waters to cast fly is very important. It is good to have heavier the rod for stronger currents. The reel is less important in fly fishing in comparison to the rod.

Most modern day commercial fly fishing gear leaders usually achieve having multiple portions of the fishing gear in one product. This is not quite advisable for a beginner to use as it takes away the essence of the art of fly fishing; a skill learnt and passed on from generation to generation.

However one wish to invest in the sport there should is always an alternative by purchasing discounted fly fishing gear. Many leading sales outlets sells this discount fly fishing gear. Over and above, fly fishing gear can be purchased on the Internet and other resources. However, should one wish to really take the art of fly fishing seriously, it will be good to invest if top of the range rod and reel.

On average a rod will cost on a range on $15 -$1 000 but if one would opt to go for cheaper fly fishing gear, it would catch you that fish but it would be more effective as a decoration.
So, go ahead and catch that fish!

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Info For My Fishing Sunglasses

A pair of Wiley-X PT-1 shooting glasses with a...
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I was out with a fishing buddy just yesterday and my sunglasses came in quite handy. I keep a pair of prescription sunglasses that are polarized so that I can see into the water. It makes for more excitement when you can see what you are fishing for. They also protect my eyes from UV rays.

Sunglasses are very stylish for all ages. But wearing sunglasses has more advantage than just trend and fashion.

How can sunglasses be useful while we are fishing?

Great catch could be lost if you don’t wear fishing sunglasses. The glare drastically reduces visibility when you watch the water surface with the naked eye: you won’t see the underwater structures or the fish. Moreover, without fishing sunglasses it will become almost impossible to watch the water surface; eye strain leads to weariness, not to mention that there is also the risk of getting more serious eye damage. Fishing sunglasses provide the glare elimination and good blockage of the harmful ultraviolet rays. Many fishermen prefer buying sunglasses for all weather conditions so that visibility remains great no matter the fishing whereabouts. The materials that the lenses are made of could however influence the choice of the right fishing sunglasses.

Good durability and perfect visual acuity are provided by glass lenses, yet, they are criticized for being too heavy and breakable. The most popular lens choice is polycarbonate that makes the fishing sunglasses lightweight and resistant to impact, although rather prone to scratch if compared to glass resistance. A good word of advice here is to avoid fishing sunglasses with acrylic lenses because they can cause viewing distortions despite their anti-glare properties. Another element that should influence your choice of fishing sunglasses is lens color; gray, copper, brown and amber are the most frequent of all.

There is no color distortion with gray lenses, and the light absorption rate is high. These fishing sunglasses go great for open water fishing on bright sunny days. Copper fishing sunglasses have a soothing impact on the eyes, they increase the visual abilities, working great for fishing that requires lots of sighting applications. Brown works great for all circumstances too because of the great contrast and the real color perception. For bright sunshine or clouded days, for lakes or streams, brown lenses will serve the fisherman well.

As for amber lenses, this kind of fishing sunglasses are effective on cloudy days or when the light conditions are low at dawn and at dusk. Do not neglect the importance of polarization because the anti-glare coating used on quality fishing sunglasses does not allow the reflected light to pass to your eye. Plus, without polarized lenses, flat or bonefish will be impossible to catch. Last but not least, good sunglasses will also prevent wind and insects from entering your eyes, increasing the comfort and making fishing even more enjoyable.

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Fly Fishing Casting Made Easy For All

Fly Fishing The Colorado
Image by 50%ChanceofRain via Flickr

If you are planning to go fly fishing using free fishing lures, it is important that you are good at casting your rod or you are going to have some problems actually catching the fish. Many casters are not very proficient at dealing with different types of situations. So it is important that you learn more about how to cast the right way. With the following tips and a lot of practice, you should be able to improve on your fly fishing casting techniques.

One great tip that will help you when casting free fishing lures is to make sure you get rid of the slack before you start the cast if you want to get the line to effectively go through the air. This is important for both back casts as well as forward casts. You will waste some of the casting stroke if you don’t get rid of that slack first.

Whether you are doing back casts or forward casts, you need to accelerate and then come to a stop. This means that when you make the cash, you need to increase the speed of the cast, and then suddenly stop. This will help to really allow your line to go out and it will give your cast plenty of travel as well. You’ll get a nice cast when you keep this tip in mind.

Remember to keep your rod tip of free fishing lures in the right direction when you are casting out your line. The line is going to go in the direction that your rod tip is pointing. If you end up accidentally curving the tip of your rod by the way that you hold it or cast it, then the line is also going to end up curving when you make the cast. So be aware of the tip of the rod when you are trying to get your cast to go in the right direction.

Being smooth is very important when it comes to fly fishing casting. The best fly casters are very smooth. You need to learn to get the right timing on your cast, and then later you can work on the distance. The more you work on getting smoother, the better your casting will become. Of course this is going to take a lot of practicing on your part to accomplish.

Don’t aim at the water when you are casting with your rod. Instead you should figure out where you want to cast, then aim about eye level above that point. This way you avoid casting down, which will stop your cast up short. Aiming at eye level will help to give your homemade lures the distance that you want and it will be smoother for you as well.

These are just a few important free fishing lures tips that can definitely help you to improve your cast when you go out fly fishing. Start working on these tips and continue to practice. With enough practice, eventually you’ll start getting the cast right, which will improve your fishing.

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Beginner’s Guide To Buying Ice Fishing Gear

Going fishing on a frozen body of water is Winter activity that can be enjoyed by anyone regardless of age. It’s relatively inexpensive to get fixed up and with tips from experienced ice fishermen, a beginning fisherman can be expected to catch some fish their first trip onto the ice.

But what does a Greenhorn need in order to start ice fishing? There are a wide range of options fishing gear on store shelves, a Newbie could easily spend 100’s of dollars on ice fishing supplies and still wonder if they have all they need.

This is why I wrote this list of the basic ice fishing equipment that a Beginner will need to get started. What’s even better is that for less than what a Family of for can eat out at a steak house these days, you can purchase all the fishing gear that a Newbie will need to begin fishing on the hard water.

For starters, you’ll want to get an auger to bore holes in the hard water. I’d get a five or six inch auger meant for ice fishing for panfish like Perch, Bluegill and Crappie. If you want to go after bigger fish like Bass, Pike and Walleye, then For Beginners, I’d want a eight or ten inch ice auger. You have two choices, power augers or the manual augers. You need to keep in mind that the manual augers are less expensive but need more effort to use. You will also need a scoop to keep the ice chips out of the ice hole.

Your second purchase needs to be tip ups or an ice rod. The majority of ice fishermen drill numerous holes over bottom structure and use numerous tip-ups to increase their chances of catching fish. Other fishermen prefer to ice fish with an ice fishing rod. If it was me,I’d get a few tip ups along with a good rod so you can see which tactic catches you the most fish.

The line you use for fishing should be designed for ice fishing. The ice cold water can make the line so stiff that it breaks easily. That’s why you’ll want to make sure and get line specifically designed for fishing through the ice. Cortland makes a product called Ice Line that is great. The line is the most important part of your ice fishing gear.

The best ice fishermen will tell you to get some jigs and lures designed for ice fishing. Tiny jigs are a good choice for panfish like Perch, Bluegill and Crappie. Also tear drop jigs and tiny spoons will come in handy when the panfish get finicky. As for bait, panfish love mealworms and spikes while larger fish such as Walleye prefer Worms or baitfish like smelt. Talk to the people at your local bait store to see what’s they recommend a Beginner use their first time out on the ice.

Don’t forget to purchase something to sit on. Most seasoned ice fishermen use an ordinary 5 gallon bucket. Some will even bring lawn chairs out on the ice, but a five gallon bucket will also help you haul your gear to and from your fishing hole.

This is all you need to get started. Make sure you get a fishing license and read up on the regulations for the area you plan on fishing. Being fined for breaking a law can ruin any trip. Now go out and have some fun. And most of all, be safe and follow all the safety rules for getting Outdoors in the Winter.

If you have been around fishing for a while, then you know that the absolute best time to go on the prowl for bass is during the spring months. As bass prepare for the spawn, they inevitably will go on a binge just before the spawn occurs. When they are spawning, you will be able to find bass that are in two feet of water, right up in the shallows where you can nab them particularly easily.

More than likely the best time to catch fish during spring bass fishing is just before they begin to spawn. Instinct tells the females that they will suffer extreme fatigue after they spawn, and thus they need ample nourishment prior to that time in order to be able to have the necessary energy to rest and recuperate after they lay their eggs. So as the water temp gets above 50 degrees, they will move into the shallows and begin to feed. But until the water temperature gets into the mid fifties, you’ll have a tough time catching them. But be prepared for when the water temp does get into the mid 50s, as that is when you must be on the water, throwing your best baits at the fish. Focus on good action, slow moving baits during this time, as the water is still cool, and the bass like easy meals.

You can have success during the spawn, but usually only with the males. They are the ones that guard the nests, and if you are able to get your bait close enough to the nest, often you can get a defensive strike out of the male bass. Just remember that the males are the ones that guard the nest, and the sows will have retreated back into deeper water for recovery.

The post spawn is also good fishing. When the water temperature rises above seventy degrees, normal bass activity will begin, and bass will feed in the shallows during the cool of the day, and retreat to deeper water as the heat comes in. Whatever you do, there is no denying that the spring time is the best time for bass fishing, and these bass fishing tips will help you catch more fish.