Dog Training Club: August 2014

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Striper Fishing Tips for Chesapeake Bay

Maryland--Chesapeake Striped Bass
In the portion of the Bay in Maryland, striped bass is common known as "rockfish." Adult striped bass average 32 inches and are most plentiful near the upper portions of the Bay, where they hang around the Bay Bridge and rocky structures.

Virginia--Chesapeake Striped Bass
In Virginia, the striped bass is known as a "striper" and averages around 36 inches. Stripers live within the entire southern shore, but fish for them around Virginia Beach where there is a large population. Virginia stripers congregate around bridges and feed close to shore. Catch stripers consistently around structures such as rocks and sand bars within strong flowing current.

To fish for striped bass within the Chesapeake Bay area, purchase a state license from either Maryland or Virginia since a license from either state covers fishing within the entire Chesapeake Bay area. Resident and nonresidents of Maryland or Virginia can pick up a license at local bait and hardware shops.

The spring season runs from April to June in both states but is dependent on the temperature of the water. Early spring and fall generally are the best times to catch striped bass on the Maryland side of the Chesapeake Bay. In April and May, fish for stripers on the Virginia Chesapeake Bay side, as the bay waters warm up and fish become increasingly active.

Chesapeake anglers should use thick, long rods when fishing for stripers because they provide strength and can withstand the power and weight of a hefty striped bass. According to "Chesapeake Angler," use a 9- to 11-foot deep-sea fishing rod when fishing deep water for stripers. When hooking a big striper, users of this rod report that the rod will not break. In addition, use strong fishing line and sinker weights that are heavy enough to cast when fishing the Chesapeake Bay.

From a boat, Chesapeake anglers employ the technique of trolling, in which you allow your bait to trail behind the boat in the water, to catch striped bass. Utilize various rigs and baits such as both live and dead fish and artificial lures. Stripers will strike the bait hard, thinking it is a fast-moving baitfish. Anglers in the area also use a technique called "jigging," in which you dangle a small plastic jig in the water and jerk it up and down, simulating a darting fish.

How to Catch an Eel

Instructions

Get together a good assortment of fishing tackle. Catching eels requires about the same equipment as carp fishing. A good solid rod-and-reel system with a medium-strength line will suffice.

Use a swivel attached to the line. A swivel will allow easy movement through the water once the eel has been hooked. Tie on a lead as well to prevent snags if the eel heads for the weeds or sunken trees.

Give enough slack on the line. Eels will drop the bait if they feel resistance of any strength. Let the reel spool stay open.

Fishing in the darkness or on moonlit nights offers a better chance of hooking eels.

Provide dead bait to the eel. Eels are scavengers and predators. Eels prefer dead bait, yet will occasionally strike a small live bait fish. Place the hook through the toughest and strongest portion of the bait, or the eel will simply make off with a free meal.

Fishing Techniques for River Salmon

While some state and local wildlife officials claim certain rivers contain salmon, such a claim doesn't necessarily mean fish reside in great numbers or that the waters are conducive for fishing. The best salmon rivers are waters with fairly deep pools, considerably fast-moving currents and a rocky, substrate-like bottom.

Generally, salmon swim up-river in the mid-spring (April) and remain in rivers until mid-to-late July. In late summer, commonly August and early September, salmon typically swim back out to sea. Fishing after fall is commonly sparse. Most salmon seasons also end in July or August, depending on state laws and water conditions.

A variety of bait is used to catch river salmon. In spring, the fish are particularly active and will bite on a variety of underwater live bait such as night crawlers, shrimp, shad and large leeches. Following nearly a full season of feeding, salmon become a bit particular come late summer. Generally, from about mid-June to August, anglers prefer artificial flies.

Catching salmon in rivers involves some significantly heavy-duty gear. Most anglers outfit themselves with large, rugged reels and 10- to 15-foot rods. Three- to 5-foot leaders are tied to a variety of strong line. It is common for fisherman to carry about 100 yards or more on their reels. Under normal conditions, anywhere from a "0" to a No. 4 hook is used. A variety of sinkers and bait rigging methods are used to compensate for the moving water of a river such as drift fishing, which involves casting bait up stream and allow it to drift down, and plunking--finding a calm pool or migratory route and allowing bait to dangle in front of passing fish.
To catch river salmon with a fly rod, a long, plastic-tipped rod is commonly used with a heavy enough line to navigate the waters. A No. 3 to No. 4 hook is commonly used to rig salmon flies.

How to Use the Hula Popper Topwater Bait when Bass Fishing

Instructions

Use a Hula Popper around the same color of the area you are fishing. If you're planning to cast near lily pads, use yellow and green poppers. Use a dark Hula if you're fishing for bass around logs or trees.

Cast the bait near the lily pads and let it sit for a minute. Let the rings from the splash dissipate, then crank the reel. The popping motion should entice the bass to strike.

Use a depth finder to find a drop-off near a structure like a log or tree. Suspended largemouths tend to gather in areas like this. Cast your line parallel to a log and slowly pop it along the side of the log. Wait up to a minute before trying again.

Saturday, August 30, 2014

How to Build Tip-Downs for Ice Fishing

Instructions

Begin by constructing the "rod." Cut a 1-inch dowel rod to 24 inches in length. Use 1 1/4-inch tubing clamps to clamp the prespooled fishing reel to one end of the dowel rod. Screw one 1/4-inch eyelet into the dowel rod directly in front of the reel, then place another eyelet at the opposite end of the dowel rod. Pass the fishing line through these two eyelets to complete the rod.

Construct the base from 2-by-4 lumber. Cut a piece to a length of 20 inches, then cut the base into a point so you can punch it into the snow. Next, cut a 2-inch by- 2-inch deep square out of the top of the lumber, then cut notches on either side of this square perpendicular to the 2-inch side of the wood.

Complete the tip-down by attaching bait to the end of your fishing line and letting the line to a predetermined depth through a hole in the ice. Push the base of the tip-down into the snow approximately 10 inches from the edge of the hole. Hammer two finishing nails 8 inches from the base of the reel on either side of the rod and place the nails into the notches on the 2-by-4 base. The weight of the reel will keep the tip of the tip-down up until a fish takes the bait, at which point the rod will tip down, indicating a hit.

Fluke Fishing Tips

Deep, rocky fishing grounds snap hooks and sinkers, so bring extras. With varying wind and tides, have sinkers from 6 through 12 oz. and wide gap fluke hooks. Use teasers and bucktails. Have a light, sturdy rod with a light reel. Use spinning reels and a boat rod with 30 lb. test fishing line. The best line to Bucktail with is Braid. Braid line cuts through the water with little resistance to hold the bottom better. Use a mono shock leader for your rig and for your main line use 20 to 30 lb. test braid.

Use squid for live bait. Cut your squid long and thin with a slice at the bottom to create a flutter tail. Spice up the squid with a sand eel or spearing. Also use mackerel belly, fluke belly, bluefish and skate. Fluke may get used to one scent of fish so keep them excited and always have big selections of live bait on board. For bigger fluke, use big smelts, sandeels, sardines and strip baits. Strip baits are bluefish, mackerel, tuna, false albie and mahi skins. The shine of these baits attracts the fluke.

When using an artificial lure, use a short trace of leader material and a barrel swivel. Use one foot of 20 lb. fluorocarbon leader material. It looks invisible in the water, which adds to the natural appearance of the lure. Tie it to a small barrel swivel to which the running line from the reel is tied. Gel-spun lines are best because normal fishing knots may be used.

Fluke like lively baits and feed when the tides and bait are moving. The object of the "Jig Method" is to keep your bait moving so if a fleeting fluke sees it, he&039;ll want to eat it. To use this technique, drop your line to the bottom, when it hits, lift the rod up and let it sink down to the bottom again. Repeat rapidly. The "Slow pull method", is a slow motion form of the "Jig." Drop your line to the bottom, wait 10 to 15 seconds. Slowly lift the rod tip and wait for a bite. If you get a bite, do not let the line go slack. Always keep tension on a "jiggler."
The "sit and wait" method is to wait for a bite, and lift the rod tip when you get one.

Always net a fluke head first. Fluke will wiggle and swim their way out of nets if they go tail first. Always remember, feel your bucktail making contact with the bottom and keep it bouncing. Cast against the current, a.k.a. "the under the boat drift." Work the jig back to the boat and start over when its back in front of the boat.

Friday, August 29, 2014

Tips on How to Repair a Cracked Fishing Pole

Instructions

Unscrew the rod and remove the fishing line so you are only working with the damaged section of the rod.

Assess the damaged section. If the damaged section of the rod is not broken into two separate pieces, but the crack nearly splits the section in two, cut the rod into two pieces at the break and follow the repair instructions under Repairing a Complete Break. Continue if the crack is small or runs vertically.

Sand and trim away splinters so the crack is as smooth as possible.

Fill the crack with epoxy and slide a ferrule over the damaged area, attaching it with more epoxy. Select a ferrule that fits snugly around the diameter of the damaged section of the fishing pole.

Allow the epoxy to dry before use. Reassemble the fishing pole and restring before use.

Trim the frayed ends of the broken section of rod. Sand the broken edges to leave you with smooth ends on both pieces of the rod.

Apply epoxy to both broken ends of the damaged section and attach one end of a ferrule to each broken end. Select a ferrule that fits over the ends of the broken section, but does not slide up and down the rod.

Allow the epoxy to dry before use. Attach the ends of the ferrule to each other and string your fishing pole as usual.

Early Summer Bass Fishing Tips

Begin your search in the shallow-water areas in which bass spawn. Bays and coves with an abundance of shallow cover such as emergent vegetation, boat docks, and fallen timber will hold bass. On sunny days, the bass likely will hold tight to such cover, while they are more likely to be out roaming away from the cover under low-light conditions. Your first casts should be with a quick-moving bait like a spinnerbait, or a topwater bait. These allow you to cover water and find active fish. Once you find active fish, continue casting until the area quits producing. Then tie on a slow-moving, saturation-type lure such as a plastic worm or jig and pig. Flip and pitch these in and around cover.

By early summer, some bass will have spawned and already vacated the shallows. These fish move from their spawning areas to the first available cover or structure in deeper water. As a result, look for likely areas in which the bass spawned, then head into four to eight feet of water and look for the first drop-off, weed flat, or inside weedline. All of these areas will hold bass, and irregularities in them will congregate them. Those irregularities might be where a hard bottom meets a soft bottom, where there is a bunch of rocks in the middle of a weed flat, or where the inside weedlines makes a point or inside turn. Throw lipless crankbaits or spinnerbaits over these areas in a search for active fish. Some of the bass in these areas might still be recovering from the spawn and may not be as inclined to hit a quick-moving bait. As a result, plastic worms and jigs and pigs fished slowly along the bottom are effective.

Bass can be in many places during the early summer period. Deep water is not likely to hold large numbers of fish, but it can hold some big fish. The best option is to search for newly developing deep weedlines. This is the point where vegetation quits growing because the sunlight no longer can penetrate far enough into the water to allow the vegetation to grow. During the early summer, the deep weedline can be anywhere from about 10 to 20 feet of water. One good option is to cast a deep-diving crankbait around the weedline and search for active fish. Lead-head jigs and worms fished slowly along the bottom also will produce, as will plastic worms and jigs and pigs.

While some bass rarely move shallow when the water temperatures get warm, that is not the case in the early summer and bass that are not already in shallow water will rest in deeper water and then move shallow to feed. The reason is simple: The shallows are where the food is. Shallow water will be especially productive under low-light conditions, but it is worthwhile to stop in the shallows and make a few casts every hour or so. If you fish the same body of water often, you should notice patterns of when bass move shallow, which will make it easier for you to target them.

During most of the year, topwater baits are most productive under low-light conditions. During the early summer, however, they can be productive all day long. Make a few casts with a topwater and you soon will know whether bass are willing to bite them or not. Topwaters can be good baits for luring a bite from a big bass, and are among the most fun ways to catch bass.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

How to Hook a Minnow

Instructions

Decide whether you plan to troll or cast-and-retrieve a live minnow, suspend it from a bobber, or drift fish a minnow on free line. This will determine which way to hook the minnow. Keep live minnows in a cooler or bait bucket with an aerator.

Use a lip hook for trolling a minnow. Use a hook thats less than half the length of the minnow. Insert the point of the hook under the mouth behind the lower lip, and push it up behind the upper lip. The hook shaft will be facing forward and the hook tip will face upward. Lip hooking works well for cast-and-retrieve or slow trolling a live minnow.

Hook the minnow through the top of the back for bobber fishing. Insert the hook tip just in front of the dorsal fin, just low enough to avoid damaging the spine and disabling the minnow. Use a leader length of three to five feet from the bobber, or less if fishing in very shallow water.

Hook the minnow through the tail for free-line fishing. Insert the hook tip at the fleshy base of the tail and run it through, ending with the hook tip and shaft facing rearward. Cast the minnow gently and let it drift and swim freely.

Hybrid Striped Bass Fishing Tips

Generally, hybrid stripers tend to avoid other fish, especially predators. Hybrids are usually found in deep pools and will hover around dropoffs. In streams and rivers, fishing is usually best near cool eddies, calm pools and near rock faces. They are also abundant near the mouths of moving water where they feed on small bait fish brought to them by currents.

Beginning in early spring and into summer, hybrid striped bass are extremely active and can be caught in areas where they are common. In fall, like their cousin, the striped bass, hybrids will school and feed on a variety of food near the water surface (called a boil). While fall hybrid boils are not as pronounced as those of the pure striper, they do offer solid fishing well into fall months. In fall, casts into deep, open waters will produce fish, while moving streams and rivers are often hot beds.

Generally a fast-striking fish, hybrid striped bass are often suckers for flashy, moving lures. Most experienced hybrid anglers prefer crank baits, jigs, spoons and large, diving and top water lures, which are often the most successful in fall and moving water. Because hybrid stripers are capable of fighting like a pike, novice anglers tend to overcompensate with heavy tackle, which is simply not needed. Light to medium rods will allow for better feel and the ability to set hooks quickly. Line strength of eight to 10 pounds, on a standard spinning reel, will allow for long casts and enough strength to reel in a running wiper.

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

How to Use a Standard Wooden Tip-up

Instructions

Open the tip-up up. There are many variations of the standard wooden tip-up, but they all have to be opened up to be used. "Opening up" means unfolding the item so that the wooden "arms" can hold the tip-up over a hole drilled into the ice. Some wooden tip-ups have two wooden pieces that unfold into an "X" shape, while the reel and flag are on a perpendicular wooden piece. Open up your tip-up and lock it into place with the wingnuts on the sides. Make sure they are snug so the tip-up will not collapse and possibly fall into the hole.

With the tip-up open and the arms locked into place, pull some line from the reel and attach a shiner to the hook. Be careful that the line doesn't come spinning off the reel with the weight of the shiner now pulling it down.

Take the flag and pull it all the way up the vertical shaft. Then bend it over and hook it to the trip mechanism. Make certain you have hooked the flag arm (which is made up of a strip of metal) on the correct side of the trip. The trip mechanism runs the length of the wooden tip-up. When the reel starts to spin as a fish takes line out, it will trip the mechanism, causing the flag to go up. If you set the flag on the wrong side of the trip, it will fail to set off the flag.

Make sure the flag does not go off as you set the wooden tip-up above the hole, allowing the reel arm to submerge into the water with the hook and shiner. You do not want to get slapped in the face by this flag and metal strip as it goes off, especially on a cold day!

If it is windy out, you need to turn the tip-up so the trip mechanism is facing into the breeze. Otherwise, the flag will be blown off the trip by the wind and go up without a fish having taken the bait.

When a flag goes up, it means a fish has taken the shiner. Get to the tip-up in short order and look at the line. if the reel is spinning, you have a fish on. Take the tip-up out of the hole by one of the arms and place it down gently, away from the hole so that you don't fall over it. Then grab the line and give it a hard yank in an attempt to set the hook in the mouth of the fish. If you feel the fish on, you have to pull the line in by hand until he comes out of the hole.

The "Rapala Fishing Frenzy" Wii Hints

The first and most important thing to get accustomed to in the Wii version of "Rapala Fishing Frenzy" is the unique casting mechanics. The game's manual and tutorials are somewhat sketchy about this crucial aspect, so here's how it's done. With your dominant hand holding the WiiMote, press the thumb stick of the Nunchuck to the up position. Draw the WiiMote back to a directly vertical position, the button face of the controller facing directly away from your TV screen. In a smooth, wide motion, bring the WiiMote forward to face the television, releasing the analog stick of the Nunchuck at the moment the controller becomes horizontally flat in your hand. The better the timing of your button release, the straighter and further your cast will be. You can make a gentler cast with less reach, but the same precision by not drawing the WiiMote all the way back to vertical before you cast your line.

While a well-cast lure is key to success, it's also of strategic importance to find the right spot for fishing. Use the WiiMote to steer your boat around with an eye on the Fish Finder in the bottom right hand corner of the screen. The key is to find a fish of the desired size, then match your lure to its depth. The deeper the fish, the larger the lure you should choose to reel it in. Cast and wait for the lure to sink to your fish's depth then use the WiiMote to twitch the lure until the fish comes after it. It's also possible to land big fish by staying close to the dock and casting in the direction of deeper spots in the lake. You'll know when you've snagged a big fish because the onscreen green-to-red tension gauge will go into the red.

When you snag a fish, watch the screen for controller prompts: shake or roll the controller to follow the onscreen actions. What the game won't tell you is that it's also necessary to press the "Z" button--the bottom trigger of the Nunchuck--to let the line out if the tension meter gets too high. Make sure not to press the "C" button--the circular button at the top of the Nunchuck--by accident. This will cut your line and release the fish. By alternating rolling/shaking as prompted and judicious use of the "Z" button to lower tension, you'll land big fish in no time.

How to Catch a Mackinaw

Instructions

Different lure blades create different vibrations in water.

Determine the type of blade or blades (lures) you will use when trolling for the mackinaw. The rotation of the lure's blade in the water---or its vibration---will determine its ability to attract fish. If you plan to move slowly through the water, avoid narrow blades. The narrower the blade of the lure, the less water resistance that blade will have, thus resulting in increased vibration. If you are attempting to attract a big fish like the mackinaw, you will want to troll slowly and keep the lure's blade from vibrating too quickly.

Small spoons are ideal when trolling for mackinaw trout.

Choose your bait or lure. If you're using bait, bits of white fish are ideal to catch a mackinaw. Other types of bait that you can use include lake herring and minnow. For a lure, most fishermen use a small spoon (such as a Needlefish or Midge Wobbler), a small plug or even a worm.

Troll with ease. Don't rush it. The mackinaw trout is a big fish, and big fish get tired easily. They do not like to waste any more energy than is necessary to catch their food. Therefore, gently moving your boat across the surface of a lake should net you a better catch.

Move the boat across the lake in a figure "S" while varying your speed. Guiding the boat in a straight line will cause the troll and lure to plunge deeper, slowing their movement. This will create a negative effect on the spin and vibration of the lure's blade. Alternatively, swinging the boat in curves will make the troll and lure intermittently rise to the surface. This will attract any nearby mackinaw searching for food.

Try allowing the troll and lure to fall dead in the water, then begin trolling again. The erratic movement of the lure or bait will alert any nearby fish, thus attracting them to strike. Similarly, increase the speed of your boat, then slow down abruptly. Any movement that mimics the characteristic of a small fish darting through the murky waters of a lake is advantageous to any fisherman attempting to catch the mackinaw trout.

Tips on Fishing a Texas Rig Worm

Cast your worm into heavy lily pads, waterweeds, grass or where there is bottom structure like brush or stumps. Watch your line as the worm slowly descends to the bottom. Set your hook hard if you detect a tap on the worm or if you see a movement in the line where it enters the water. Use a lifting and dropping motion once your worm reaches the bottom. Keep the line taut as you slowly lift the worm a few feet. Let it settle back to the bottom, keeping "in contact" with it by having no slack in the line. The key to this presentation is to be methodical and keep lifting and dropping the worm. If you are directly over the worm in your boat, you should stay with a spot for a few minutes before casting elsewhere. If you are a distance away in a boat or on shore, then reel in a little bit each time you lift the worm. This will eventually bring the worm back to you and still cover a large amount of the water. Always be on the alert for a bite. Watching the line often is the only way to tell a fish is taking the worm. It may move sideways or even back towards you as a fish swims with the lure in its mouth.

You may swim the Texas rigged worm along the bottom of a lake or pond. Cast the worm out and let it sink before starting to reel it in. When you feel the worm touch on the bottom, you can reel in a bit quicker to keep the worm up. Every now and then, you can let the worm encounter the bottom. By doing so you will have a better idea where the bottom is in relation to the worm. Typically, you will reel in the worm with a slow pace. You will have to detect bites by the tapping feeling that the fish transmits through the line when it offers at the worm.

The hookset is an important factor when using a Texas rigged worm. Once you think that a fish has the lure in its mouth, lower your rod tip, carefully reel in your slack and then with a strong motion pull up on the rod tip. Accomplish this with great force and drive the hook into the jaw of your quarry. You may want to invest in a strong fishing rod that is a heavy action type. With these, you can pull up with the gusto required to set the hook without worrying about your rod having enough flex to get the job done. Once the fish is on the line you may want to set the hook again just to make sure that you buried it in the lip of the fish. This may be needed since the hook in the Texas rigged worm isn't exposed.

How to Use a Frabill Pro-Thermal Tip-up

Instructions

After you have drilled a hole in the ice, take the Frabill Pro-Thermal Tip-Up and remove the flag arm from its holder. The flag arm is a metal rod with a colored flag attached. It tucks into a slot on the upper disc body of the tip-up. Gently remove the arm and pull the flag all the way up to the top of it.

Lower the reel arm. The Frabill Pro-Thermal Tip-Up has another arm that tucks into a cut-out space on the bottom of the disc. It must be lowered for the tip-up to be deployed.

Let some line out from the reel, then hook a shiner onto your hook. Depending on how deep you are going to set your shiner, allow the line to go down into the hole and the water. If you are going to set your shiner shallow, you need to hold onto the reel once you are at the selected depth so no more line goes out. There is a metal guide piece that slides up and down the reel arm. Make sure the line is going through this piece. It allows the line to come off the reel evenly and keeps it from tangling around the reel.

Hold the Frabill Pro-Thermal Tip-Up by its side with the reel against your body so line cannot run out of it. Take the flag arm and place it under the catch mechanism that is attached to the top of the reel arm. This mechanism is nothing more than a rectangular piece of plastic that spins when line comes off the reel. Once it spins, the flag arm is released from under it and goes up, alerting the ice fishermen to a biting fish. You can set the flag arm under either side, but most people set it under the one that is obviously longer, to prevent it from slipping up due to the wind and vibrations on the ice.

Carefully set the Frabill Pro-Thermal Tip-Up over the hole in the ice, being sure to not tangle any line as it lowers. The tip-up must be placed so the catch mechanism is facing into the wind. This will cut down on "wind flags," false alarms caused by the wind blowing the flag out from under the catch. One of the benefits of the Frabill Pro-Thermal Tip-Up is that if you do this, you will rarely get a wind flag.

Know that the Frabill Pro-Thermal Tip-Up is shaped to cover the hole, keeping the hole from freezing. If there is lots of snow on the ice, you must clear it away from the hole so the flag can be seen if it goes up. One of the disadvantages of the Frabill Pro-Thermal Tip-Up is that the flag arm is shorter than on most standard tip-ups. You must make a mental note of where you have placed it if there is snow cover, so as not to miss any flags.

When the flag goes up, remove the Frabill Pro-Thermal Tip-Up from the hole, grabbing it by the side of the disc. Hook the fish with a hard yank and then bring it in. Once you have either caught the fish or failed to do so, you can use the catch mechanism to reel up the line, making sure that it distributes evenly over the reel to avoid tangles.

Ice Fishing Tips for Smelt

Ice fishing for smelt, which are generally between 6 to 8 inches in length, requires equipment similar to fishing for crappie or panfish. You need an ice auger, or spud, to make a hole in the ice, and a fishing pole made for jigging. You also need small jigs, bait--bloodworms, grubs, minnows and even slices of other smelt--and a depth-finder sinker. According to "Panfish" by Dick Sternberg and Bill Ignizio, smelt are known to bite at night. They suggest having an ice shanty to fish from and a heater to stay warm. Setting up a shanty in advance is common.

Once you've arrived at your shanty, or completed setting it up, drill a hole with your auger or chip the ice with your spud. Tie on your jig, or small hook, and clip on your depth finder. Place it in the water and open your fishing reel until you hit bottom, when your line goes slack. Mark this spot on your line by tying a small knot and then reel the line back in and remove the depth finder.

Bait your jig with a small piece of grub, bloodworm or other food. Some anglers prefer to use several hooks or jigs tied to a single line because smelt swim in large schools, and multiple fish can be caught at one time with this technique.

Drop the line down to the depth you like and begin jigging. When you feel a bite, set the hook and reel your fish in. Make sure to grab the smelt quickly; they often hold onto the bait but are not hooked properly and can wiggle off the hook and fall back into the water.

You may go home empty-handed if you fish the wrong area of a lake known to have smelt. According to "Modern Methods of Ice Fishing" by Tom Gruenwald, smelt can be found in deep water from early to mid-winter; this means you need deeper fishing holes. Gruenwald indicates that late-winter ice fishing often finds the smelt in shallower water, where they are more easily collected. Sternberg and Ignizio add that the mouths near the creeks and rivers where smelt run during their spawning season are good target areas in the late-winter months.

Dropping crushed eggshells into the hole to act like chum in the water is known to attract wandering schools. Gruenwald notes that in New England, anglers tie a small hook to yarn and dip it in iodine. The iodine leaves a seaworm-like scent in the water. Coastal smelt are known to feed on seaworm. When the smelt bites, their teeth get tangled in the yarn, making them easier to catch.

Lake Powell Fishing Tips

Lake Powell is open year-round for fishermen. The time of year you visit will determine your choice of gear and fishing tactics. The lake is very active in the spring months when the fish are spawning. During this time, bright grubs and spinner baits are great at attracting fish. Summer months bring out the water sportsmen with their powerboats and jet skis. It is best to fish either at dawn or dusk as the activity on the lake will drive many of the catch to seek safer, deeper water. Floating and top-water baits are highly desirable. By fall, most of the motorboats are gone and the fish will come up into shallow water as they get ready to move into the canyons for the winter. Winter is considered a well-kept secret by many local anglers, as the tourists have left but the fish are still hungry. Most artificial baits and jerk baits work very well during this season.

Lake Powell is incredibly accessible with many different types of rod, reel and bait combinations. Lightweight rods that are easily manipulated for jerk baits and swimmers are ideal. Reels do not make much of a difference, but be certain that yours will open easily to correct any snags. Any deep fishing will bring algae or other undesirable matter onto your line. The season will largely determine your bait selection; remember that top-water lures work best when the fish are moving into the canyons and grubs or sinkers in the spring and fall when they are coming out. Adjustable lures such as the Bandit Minnow are excellent because of their versatility in year-round fishing areas.

To reach the lunkers that spend most of their time in the center of the lake, as far as possible from human distraction, plan to charter a boat or bring your own. Remember to clean off any mussels that cling to your hull prior to entering the water. These have become a major problem in many area lakes. Guided tours offer a boat and experienced angler for a private fishing trip on Lake Powell. Many of these companies will even fry your catch for dinner at the end of the outing.

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Ice Fishing Tips for Northern Pike in Minnesota

Use a wire or steel leader since pike have rows of sharp teeth, and fishing line is no match for them. Attach the hook or lure to the leader, then tie your regular fishing line to the leader. While other fish, like walleyes, are leader-shy, pike are not. The best ice-fishing rod is a heavy action spinning or baitcasting rod, paired with a spinning or baitcasting reel. Spoons are the best lure option. If pike are not responding to your spoon, try a sucker minnow fished on a hook and presented beneath a bobber.

Pike in Minnesota eat smaller fish like sunfish, perch and suckers. Throughout the winter, pike can be found roaming around the lake, searching for a meal. Active pike generally are about halfway down in the water column and often can be found around schools of other, smaller fish. To limit the search for pike, focus on green vegetation or structural elements like drop-offs, humps and reefs. The edges of all these areas are most likely to attract pike.

Northern pike are one of the earliest-spawning game fish in Minnesota, beginning the process of reproduction in the weeks and months before the ice leaves the lakes. Pike begin the early stages of the spawn by starting to move toward their spawning grounds, which are shallow or boggy areas with muddy bottoms. These places often have cattails growing in and around them. The bay itself likely will be too shallow to hold many fish under the ice, but vegetation, points and drop-offs that are near the bay are good options. The fish will feed in these areas as they prepare to spawn.

One of the best ways to target northern pike under the ice in Minnesota is by imparting a jigging action on jigs and live bait or a plastic trailer, or a spoon. Make sure to keep the jig or spoon moving so that it imitates a wounded or dying fish. You can try dropping the lure all the way to the bottom, but a better bet is to jig about halfway between the ice and the bottom, since pike often roam around the middle point of the water column.

The most successful anglers do not stay in an area if they haven't caught a pike within about 60 minutes. Move to new spots and drill holes until you find pike that are aggressively eating, or at least willing to bite.

Monday, August 25, 2014

Tips on Bass Fishing at Cedar Creek Lake in Texas

Follow the birds to find schools of hybrid striped bass and white bass. You will typically find more largemouth bass in the clearest areas of Cedar Creek Lake--typically in the lower end of the reservoir. The lake's record largemouth bass was found in this area, and the fish weighed almost 15 lbs. Choose fishing spots around Clear and Caney creeks, where there is submerged vegetation. The northern end of the lake has emergent vegetation, but most of the areas are very shallow.

While the moderate temperatures of northeast Texas allow for year-round fishing opportunities, the warmer months are the best time to catch bass, according to information from the Texas Department of Wildlife published at anglerguide.com. For example, fishing for white bass (sand bass) and hybrid striped bass are typically better between late March and September, with March and April being the best months. All types of bass typically are in strong feeding patterns in the top water sections at dawn and dusk during the hot months, when they tend to be more aggressive.

Bass are hunter fish, so you'll be using different techniques to catch them than you would with other types of fish. The weather and season will also affect your fishing techniques. For example, if you are fishing in the daytime in the warmer months, most bass will be found in deep, cool holes at the bottom of the lake. Dredge the bottom and use plastic worms to lure them out. If you are fishing in the cooler seasons or on cooled-off summer evenings, most bass will be found in shallow water. You can find schools of them under overhanging tree branches and along the shoreline. Use top water lures and slabs (lures used mainly for bottom fishing) to catch them.

Many local fisherman use live bait, such as night crawlers and other bugs to catch hybrid striped and white bass. Consider using frog-style bait for largemouth bass. According to an article in Game and Fish Magazine, largemouth bass are such ferocious predators that they will eat frogs.

Tips on Walleye Fishing

During certain phases of the moon, walleye fish are at an abundance for catching. The days that surround the new and full moons are a great time to fish for walleye. Walleye spawn during the new and full moon phases, which causes them to become more aggressive. During this aggressive state, walleye will strike at almost any bait, making this a great time for fishing.

Choosing the right bait is the key when catching walleye. The color of bait plays an important part, too. Use bright colored lures in water that is dark and murky. For water that is clear, use lures that have a more natural color. Live bait, such as minnows, is great for catching walleye. Use a bottom-bouncer rig when using live bait. Bouncer rigs are L-shaped and have a lead weight that is molded to the shaft, allowing the bait to bounce off the bottom creating slack. Slack in the line allows the walleye to swallow the bait easily. Crankbaits are artificial baits that resemble and mimic smaller fish. Using a proper technique is good when using crankbaits to catch walleye. Once the crankbait reaches the proper depth, raise the tip of the pole up slowly until the line goes slack and repeat.

Using the proper rod and reel is important because you want to be able to feel the subtle bite of the walleye. A 6- to 7-foot graphite medium spinning rod is the one to use. Attach a spinning reel with 8-pound test line. Fishing line heavier than 8 pounds can weight your bait down,making it hard to fish.

How to Wind Up an Ice Fishing Reel

Instructions

Take the end of the fishing line and make three wrapped coils over the center of the ice fishing tip up reel. Pull the end up and through each of the coils and then pull tight.

Hand-spin the dowel so the line spools up on the center and comes off the raw line spool (the spool the line comes on when it is purchased). Reel in enough line for your fishing hole. As a general rule in ice fishing, you need one-third to two-thirds less line than fishing in water versus ice.

Cut the end of the line from the raw spool. Tie your hook, sinkers or surface bobber to the tip-up fishing line and then head out to get those slow, cold fish.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Rapala Pro Fishing Game Tips

Always choose a spot far away from where you want to cast. The further out you can cast your line the better (anything under 75% reduces the chance of attracting fish significantly). You can improve the length of your casts by increasing the reel sensitivity to high.

You need the right bait for the right fish, so use this list to prepare. King Salmon love the Silver Long Cast Minnow, Muskie like the Silver Huskey Jerk, and Silver Salmon are wild over the DD Husky Jerk Silver.

The largest fish are always found during the first minute of fishing and during the last minute. This makes it extremely important that your first cast be a good long one. If you get a bad first cast, "Pause, Quit Site, and then Select New Site." This will maximize your chances of getting the prize fish as quickly as possible.

How to Catch Fish

Instructions

Locate the ideal place to fish. Some fish are only found in certain waters and at different part of the day and year. Be aware of the fishing schedule of the type of fish you seek. When you locate the right waters and time be sure to fish around rocks or under over-head trees. Fish tend to stay or group themselves in the shade.

Select appropriate bait. Choose the right bait to use to lure fish. Ideal items include worms, locust, grasshoppers and lure. Check fish bait and tackle shop for supplies. The bait used would determine the kind of fish attracted so be sure to know the right bait to lure the type of fish you desire

Bait the hook. Affix your bait onto the hook. This is an important step because fishes are not exactly dumb animals. If you bait and hook is too obvious it would be ignored. Set baits to look as natural as possible and try to disguise the hook. Using two types of bait might help.

Cast your reel. Make sure the area around you is clear to avoid accidents. Push and hold in the button on your reel. Draw back the pole behind you over your shoulders and snap the pole end like a whip. This would propel the hook straight into the water. As the hook shoots forward into water release the button. A bit of practice may be necessary.

Reeling in the fish. When there is a catch, you have to reel in the fish skillfully to avoid losing it. When the line suddenly goes out or the bobber jerks under you should draw in the line slowly until it is tight. This secures hook in the fishs mouth. Draw back on the pole and begin to reel in the fish. Do not drag or force it; try to tire the fish before reeling it in completely.

Unhook the fish. Using gloves to hold the slippery fish, you can decide to unhook the fish using either your bare hands or pliers. Pliers make it safer for you and the fish. Squeeze the sides of the fish head to open the mouth. Observe how the hook is attached and then gently unhook. Place fish in bucket of water or use a stringer for large fishes.

How to Catch Bluefish Surf Fishing

Instructions

Purchase a wire fishing leader from your local tackle store. Choose a leader with no to minimal lead weight on it. Bluefish have very sharp teeth so make sure the leader is made of wire and not mono filament if you want to keep your catch on the line.

Tie the wire fishing leader to the fishing line coming off of your pole. Blue fish will fight hard, and if you expect to catch them you must tie a good knot.

Attach the hook to the other end of the wire leader. Some leaders will already have a hook, and some will just have a clip to attach the hook to. Pick a hook that is a bait holder so the bait stays on in the surf.

Hook the bait on. You can use live bait or dead bait like mullet. Other types of bait fish will also work so check out your local bait store to find out what the locals in your area use.

Select the area of surf you want to catch bluefish from. Bluefish will travel almost everywhere in the surf looking for bait to bite so you do not have to be to particular about where you drop your line.

Cast your line out. You want the bait to travel out and land in the water and remain in the top portion of the water column. You can achieve this by limiting the amount of lead weight you are using. Use just enough weight to cast the bait out and no more. You can catch more bluefish keeping the bait toward the top of the water.

Wait patiently for a bluefish to bite. When the bluefish bites, you will feel it. They do not take the bait in a subtle fashion. As soon as the bluefish bites, it will typically run out some line. Let the fish run for 2 to 3 seconds before setting the line by pulling back on it with moderate pressure.

Reel in your bluefish. Be aware the fish will fight and leap. Get a good grip on your pole and plant your feet while you're reeling in your catch.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Tips on Catching Big Fish Out of the Newport Bay

Swimbaits come in a variety of color, but chartreuse and motor oil are favorites in Newport

Rig up with a medium-heavy spinning or baitcasting outfit to catch big fish in Newport Bay. Spool a rod and reel combo with eight- to 15-pound line. Most fish you'll catch will run a pound all the way up to 25 pounds, so be sure you set your reel's drag fairly loose in case that big halibut or white sea bass hits.

Once you are rigged up, there are a few baits and plastics you'll need to carry with you whether in a kayak, rental boat or if you're bound to shore. For bait, a basic sliding-sinker rig with a small sliding weight above a swivel and a size 2 or size 4 hook about 18 inches below will do. Davey's Locker offers scoops of live anchovies which is the best bait, but they can die quickly if you don't have a bait tank or at least bait bucket.

As for plastics, try a hula-type grub which offers a curly tail on one end and a skirt on the other mimicking swimming organisms like crabs or smaller fish. Small swimbaits in chartreuse and brown are also a good choice. Use a leadhead kind of hook with these to get them down to where the fish are.

Davey's Locker Sportfishing

400 Main Street

Balboa, CA 92661

949- 673-1434

www.daveyslocker.com/openNEW.html

Whether you fish from a jetty or a boat in the bay, time the tides and you'll do well

Sure your work schedule and other obligations dictates when you can fish, but unlike trout fishing which is typically good in the morning and evening, fishing in a spot like Newport is good when there is tidal movement. If there is a low or high tide in an hour, fishing is going to be good and for about an hour after the tide reaches it's high or low mark. The area sees four tidal movements a day.

Tides create current, bringing nutrients and food to fish, encouraging them to eat. Fish time their meals with these tides. It's like river fishing. If the tide is going out, set up for a low tide. Anglers should fish down to their targets, picking which side of structure a fish might be holding near. Bay bass will hide behind objects in the water to avoid extra swimming and to be ready to ambush wayward anchovies or your imitations.

Boat dock pilings are top producers. Good days can see a fish on every piling

Newport Bay is best fished from a boat much like you see the guys fishing for largemouth on bass television shows. The fish sit near rock piles, pilings or any other structure. Structure means a home and easy meals as every fish in the bay looks for shelter from the tidal currents or protection from bigger predators.

Fishing the pilings from the last dock before the jetty all the way around the entire bay can be sensational. If you time the tidal fluctuation just right, you can have three to four hours of non-stop fishing and end up catching and releasing as many as 50 fish in that time.

Anchovies are best, but if you prefer to toss swimbaits and grubs, try the AA Worms' Monarch Grub, Shad Tails and Single Tail Shrimp. Use a lightweight leadhead and sink these plastics along dock pilings or cast them along side of a pier, swimming or bouncing them back to the boat. Vary your speeds until you find the right one. Yamamoto's Hula Grub in black or brown with some red flake is another option. Fish this one straight down pilings. They will often get bit on the drop so monitor your line as it releases from the reel.

When it comes to bigger fish in Newport Bay it's all about time on the water and using slightly larger swimbaits and grubs. Sure switching to a larger plastic or live bait will mean less action overall, but sometimes that's the only way to catch a bigger fish. You'll have to sacrifice quantity if you want quality, but you never know when a bigger fish will hit.

Tips for Gar Fishing

Gar are found in rivers and lakes. They can eat up to 40 lb. of fish per feeding, which makes them a pest for anglers. If they happen to be near while you are fishing for a different species, they will take your bait and most likely the fish around you. Gar are often present right under the surface of the water, waiting to strike at fish surfacing. A good pair of polarized sunglasses in bright sunlight will help you see gar. You will see their long, slender and sometimes spotted bodies gliding in circles under the boat.

Anglers mistakenly catch gar on trotlines and with live bait meant for other fish. Gar take bait quickly and fiercely, which gives the person holding the pole a big job. Hooks are not the best choice for catching gar since gar have such a long, narrow mouth. This makes it extremely challenging to set a hook. Hookless rope lures are one method anglers use. Nylon rope is frayed and tied on the end of the line. Gar go for the frayed rope, thinking it's food, and their teeth get tangled in the rope, allowing the angler to reel them in.

Place rope lures and nooses in the water, and let them sink toward the bottom. Use a heavy 16 lb. to 30 lb. braided line. Experienced fishermen can set multiple lines at a time. Fishing for gar is much like fishing for other bottom dwellers. Gar will take bait easily, so when they see the lure going by, it's likely you will catch one. Gar appear to be slow moving until the fish are ready to strike. They strike fast, so using live bait may take a few tries. Many anglers swear by the hookless rope lure since it's effective and doesn't cost anything for bait.

Gar make for good exercise once on a line. They become angry and will swim away quickly or jump in and out of the water. Large gar jumping around your boat can make a big mess. You can haul smaller gar onto the boat with gloves and wrap them in burlap to protect yourself from sharp fins and scales. You may need to hold larger gar on the line, in the water, until you can run the boat ashore and drag the fish out of the water.

Friday, August 22, 2014

Tampa Bay Fishing Tips

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission offers lifetime recreational fishing licenses for residents. Visitors can make use of the many fishing charters available in the Tampa Bay area. If fishing from a licensed charter, you won't need to obtain a license; you also don't need one if you are fishing from a licensed pier. Non-residents, however, need a license to fish from shore or any vessel other than a for-hire vessel.

There is no shortage of species in Tampa Bay. Snook, redfish, redfish trout, cobia, trout, tarpon, black tip reef shark, snapper, Spanish mackerel, pompano, and grouper are among the fish caught here.

Some good places to try fishing from either shore or a boat are the Skyway Bridge fishing piers, the Courtney Campbell Causeway, Fort DeSoto Park, and Gandy Boulevard Bridge.

The Skyway Bridge has two fishing piers, both already licensed. Dubbed the "longest fishing pier in the world," the piers are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Bait, ice, souvenirs, drinks and snacks, and tackle and pole rentals are available.

Fort DeSoto Park is in Pinellas County, Fla., and is comprised of five keys: St. Christopher, Madeline, St. Jean, Bonne Fortune and Mullet Key. The park has two fishing piers. Often caught species here include lady fish, permit, pompano, Spanish mackerel, and king mackerel.

Courtney Campbell Causeway connects Tampa and St. Petersburg, Fla. The bridge has frontage roads on each side where fishing is available. The catch here includes spotted trout, cobia, tarpon, snook, pompano, and lady fish.

Gandy Boulevard Bridge is also between Tampa and St. Petersburg. Both ends of the bridge have fishing piers. Both piers are handicap accessible and portable toilets are available. Possible catches here are spotted sea trout, pompano, tarpon, cobia, Spanish mackerel, and lady fish.

Winter is a great time to fish in Tampa Bay. The cold weather makes the fish look for warmer waters. So, says Captain Sergio Atanes, fish the west end of the bay at first light because sunlight will hit this area first.

Creeks with muddy, dark bottoms tend to absorb and keep heat, drawing snook, which has a low tolerance for cold, as well as redfish. Creek shorelines are usually 3 to 5 degrees warmer than other water, warm enough to draw fish.

Also look for concrete docks and seawalls. The sun will heat the concrete, which will transmit heat to the waters by it. Marinas are also good options, as they have ample seawalls and docks to draw fish.

Atanes also recommends areas near power plants; there are three in the Tampa Bay area.

Night Walleye Fishing Tips

Anglers often do not realize how vital the light is until they try fishing after dark, especially when clouds block what little light there otherwise would be. As a result, anglers should keep their boat as free of clutter as possible and have a flashlight or head lamp handy. If extra fishing rods are lying around, it is likely they will get stepped on and broken. Unless the net is in an easy-to-reach location, a walleye could break the line or free itself from the hook before anglers can shuffle around to reach it. Keep a minimum of items on the boat deck after dark, and know where they are so you do not have to fumble for them.

Walleyes often move into shallow water to feed after dark, focusing their attention on the minnows and other small fish species that inhabit shallow flats. Search out shallow rock or weed flats adjacent to deep-water areas that walleyes inhabit during the day. If the walleyes are nowhere to be found in the shallows, go to the drop-offs, weed edges, or other areas where you catch them during the day. It could be they are actively feeding, but just did not move up to shallow water to do it.

One of the best ways to locate and catch walleyes after dark is to troll crankbaits for them. Use crankbaits that swim in the top of the water column, since walleyes' attention will be focused upward and they likely will not be shy about blasting your bait. Some anglers use planer boards to spread their crankbaits out and get them as far from the noise of the boat as possible. Other anglers use their trolling motor and let out 50 feet or more of line. While the walleyes may be spooked when the boat initially goes over them, they likely will be ready to hit your bait when it swims by.

Anglers often choose to troll crankbaits after dark because doing so allows them to cover large expanses of water. But there are times that using live bait like a leech or minnows is a better option. That is especially true if the walleyes are in a confined area, like on top of a shallow rock pile or in a specific portion of a weed bed. In these cases, anglers should use a lighted slip bobber and cast to these precise areas. As with fishing for walleyes during the day, it is important to use lively bait.

Even though night fishing for walleyes is often a shallow-water affair, anglers must keep safety in mind. If you are trolling, pay attention to the depth of the water and to anything in front of the boat. Many anglers have destroyed a boat prop by running into a rock they did not know was in their path. Your boat should have proper navigation lights (most states have requirements in that regard), and it is a good idea to carry navigational devices like compasses, which can point you in the right direction should you become disoriented after dark. It is a good idea to wear a life jacket anytime you are in a boat, but especially after dark.

About Pulaski Salmon Fishing

The Pulaski River has long been a famous salmon river. From the earliest days of settlement, anglers have enjoyed these waters which boil with Coho, steelhead, rainbow trout, brown trout and other large fish. As other rivers became blocked by dams and hydroelectric plants, the Pulaski River remained open for salmon to make their annual runs from Lake Ontario back to their original spawning grounds. Today, it is one of the last remaining salmon rivers on the east coast, and arguably the most popular.

If you want to catch salmon during the spawn, the Pulaski River is the place to do it. You will find miles of river to fish, with several tight spaces with fast water where the salmon converge, as well as long and deep runs where they gather energy before continuing their pilgrimage upstream.

The best time to fish in Pulaski for salmon is from September to October; however, you can catch fish well into December. Typically, the peak season is early October when water temperatures are around 58 degrees, and water flows are moderate. During this time, the Coho salmon are most prominent. As the season progresses and water temperatures drop, the fishing can slow down. Steelhead enter the river later in the season, normally at the end of November. They fight a little harder and can be more exciting to catch.

The Pulaski River is relatively shallow from the mouth of the river to about a mile upstream. You can wade in most areas, except when the river flow is high. The protected area is about a half mile upstream and covers a pretty significant portion of the river. You can take a float boat or drift boat to fish the river, or drive along Route 5 and find a spot to fish. To fish in the Douglaston protected area, you need to buy a pass, and the office where you buy it is right on Route 5, in the parking lot near the river entrance. Passes can sell out, so go a day early to reserve one for the following day if you can.

If you want to fish the Douglaston salmon run you should book a room in one of the many angler-oriented hotels in the area. There is a Super 8 in town, a place called the 1880 House and many others. You can find out all the latest fish reports by stopping into one of the tackle stores in town. Generally anglers use salmon eggs, and fish near the bridge in the center of town, but others venture up or down river, and many opt to fish the protected area off of Route 5. Take a few days to get a lay of the land and try a few different spots. One day with a guide is definitely recommended for beginners or first timers.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Bass Fishing Tips for Small Ponds

How to use jigs for bass fishing

Instructions

Bass fishing jigs in order to lure the big bass to your line and provided you know about the proper technique of using these bass fishing jigs as well as the right color, you can make a good catch without much fuss or bother.

There is no wrong season to use a bass jig. It can be worked in the variety of places bass are holding, in cold water drop-offs or around weed beds in late summer. Jigs are just a great bait a lot of fishermen don't use because they've never taken a little time to learn to use one.

Why Use A Trailer
Of course, you will need to decide whether the bass fishing jigs should have a trailer put on them or not though before making this decision, you need to understand just what the trailer is used for.

Tiger Muskie Fishing Tips

Tiger muskie thrive in the same conditions as northern pike. In late spring, the fish will return from deep water and roam warm shallow areas. By summer, they look for cover near dropoffs and suspend in weed beds. The presence of tiger muskie can be spotty in some areas, as game officials do not usually stock them in waters where pure muskie are native and self-sustaining. This means anglers must do some research to determine where the species is abundant. Most state departments of fish and wildlife can direct anglers to lakes and rivers rich in tiger muskie.

Although several of the tiger muskie's feeding habits mirror those of the pure muskie, the fish also behaves like a northern pike. While standard pike and musky lures will attract tiger muskie, the key to successful fishing lies in choosing the right colors. As a rule, bright, flashy lures are best on overcast days when water is cloudy or dark. Sunny and clear water conditions commonly call for gold, black, purple or brown lure colors.

Weather conditions, must notably light and wind, strongly affect tiger muskie behavior. When the water is calm, attracting fish can be simple. When it's windy, most anglers give up. However, on windy days, tiger muskie will often head to windward shorelines. There, they feed on prey pushed to them by wind currents. Roaming windward shores on breezy days is a trusted secret of experienced tiger muskie hunters and can produce trophy fish.

Bass Fishing Tips for the Ohio River

Much like the Mississippi, Ohio River has many areas of backwaters formed by the river's dams. These areas are usually large and calm and contain fallen trees. They create backwaters of dense shorelines and pocketed pools. If you have a boat, trolling is a preferred method for catching trophy bass in the Ohio River backwaters.

Largemouth bass often hide in weedy areas on the edges of dark pools. On the Ohio, four- to 10-foot pools are usually located near areas of moving water. In dammed areas, these drop-offs are along shallow, weedy areas. If you are fishing pools, work your bait along weed lines, to lure fish out of their dark haunts.

River bass commonly feed off a variety of live fare that float along with undercurrents and other natural movements of the water. In moving water, diving lures, jigs and spinners are preferred. In backwaters, plastic worms, crank and jerk baits, plugs and live bait near weed lines, pools and shorelines, are usually enough to lure lunkers out of hiding.

In spring on the Ohio, crank baits, plugs, spinners, and plastic worms are suitable in the backwaters. In moving water, you will favor jigs, diving lures and live bait. When females are spawning, males will protect beds, making top water baits the lures of choice in the mornings and early evenings. During the day, crank baits and jigs are suitable in the deeps.

Ohio River largemouth commonly begin their summer feeding habits shortly after females spawn. The species prefers shallow water and shorelines when the water is cool (mornings, evenings). During the day, bass will head for deeper water and hide in dark pools. Top water, buzz baits and live bait are preferred in the shallows, while spinners, crank bait, plastic worms and jigs worked in pools and deep water are suitable methods. Troll the backwaters during midday heat.

Depending on the area along the Ohio and weather conditions, largemouth bass head to deeper waters as summer turns into fall. While some anglers choose to abandoned bass fishing during fall, many find success in deep waters and the southwestern areas of the river. While the fish will be bit sluggish, jigs, live bait (leeches, night crawlers, crayfish, minnows) and buzz baits will produce fish.

Kayak Fishing Tips

Kayaks can be prone to capsizing, even when experienced people are using them. Put floats on your equipment to keep it from getting lost, should you have an accident. Foam floats are inexpensive and can save you from needing to replace hundreds of dollars' worth of equipment. Store wallets, cell phones and similar items in a waterproof bag, which will protect your valuables from the water that will get into the kayak.

A longer kayak allows for better movement and is easier to push through the water. While it might be less maneuverable in tight spaces, a longer kayak allows you to reserve more energy to devote to fishing.

When you are mounting accessories (e.g., bait buckets or rod holders) to your kayak, get into the kayak and have someone else hand them to you. This allows you to place these essential items where they will be easy to reach. Changing the placement of these accessories might be difficult or impossible once you are out in open water, so situating them early is ideal.

When you go kayak fishing, take as little with you as possible. Unlike when you are fishing from a motorboat, you are going to be providing all of the energy necessary to move your kayak. The more equipment you have, the more drag you are going to be dealing with. Keep your kayak light for immediate mobility.

While space is limited on a kayak, it is still possible to carry live bait with you. Live bait can be transported in a bait sled, a bait tube or even a live bait tank. There are custom tanks available that can be mounted on a kayak. You may also supplement your bait with cutting up some of the fish that you catch.

When you are in a kayak, your weight distribution is important. Where your head points, your body is following, so face down the centerline of your kayak. Turning in the kayak can lead to capsizing, so take pains to avoid that.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Bass Fishing Tips for Diamond Valley Lake

When searching for bass in Diamond Valley Lake, look in rocky banks and steeper areas. Launch your boat and troll fish in deeper waters and backs of coves. According to California Game and Fish, structures were planted around the entire lake allowing the fish to spread out. Several small islands as well as underwater reefs are available for bass to conjugate. Other effective spots are near rocky shorelines in depths of 10 to15 feet. Also don't overlook the main points of land that sink into the water as spawning bass frequently hang on these points. During spring, dependable bass hotspots include areas around the rock quarry, the water inlet tower, behind the island in Rawson Cove and the small saddle dam on the north shore.

Use worms to get you the most bites with either split-shot, drop-shot or Texas-rigged. Other effective baits include smaller baits, jigs and reaction baits like topwater baits, spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, swimbaits and buzz baits. When casting for bass during the early morning, big topwater lures like the Zara Spook over submerged spots are most productive. During spring, use a lead head jig or a scrounger head rigged with a split-tail fluke in soft plastic with a pattern that imitates the color of shad baitfish.

Use the lightest line you can get such as a 4 to 6-pound line because Diamond Valley Lake has relatively clear waters. When fishing on waters covered with trees and brush, use a heavier line set up. As the temperatures start to rise, shift to rigs with top water baits like shad pattern poppers. Fish during the spring and early summer for the most productive fishing because that is when the bass are spawning.

Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Minnesota Walleye Fishing Tips

Lindy rigs are among the most effective baits for walleye fishing because they allow anglers to present live bait in a natural fashion, which is an important part of fishing for walleyes, a species known to be finicky. A Lindy rig includes a walking sinker above a swivel, a leader that is 36 inches or longer, and a hook. The best fishing rod for a Lindy rig is 6.5 to 7 feet long.

If walleye anglers in Minnesota have two options for fishing walleyes, one should be a Lindy rig, the other a lead-head jig and live-bait trailer. Whereas Lindy rigs are most effective when trolled or drifted over large areas, jigs are more effective in situations where anglers have located walleyes and can focus on fishing in a specific area. Jigs also can be worked through cover more effectively than Lindy rigs, and be cast and retrieved, too. The most common jig weight is 1/4 oz.

Minnesota has an abundance of lakes that are well-known walleye producers. These include Lake of the Woods, Mille Lacs, Leech, Vermilion, Upper Red, and Winnibigoshish. These lakes are good for walleye fishing but tend to attract many anglers. As a result, some choose to concentrate on smaller lakes in the state, which also can produce good walleye fishing. To find these lakes, check the "Lake Finder" feature on the website of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (see link in Resources). Anglers can look at many lakes on the site and learn about the walleye populations in those lakes.

Walleyes begin to spawn around the time the ice disappears from the Minnesota lakes. This is usually in April and early May. The fish move into shallow, rocky areas, especially where there is current present. The males will stay in these areas for a couple of weeks or more, while the females leave shortly after spawning. The walleyes move deeper as the water temperature warms and the days become longer. Some walleyes head to deep structure like underwater humps and reefs, while others move into beds of vegetation.

Walleyes move into shallow areas under low-light conditions to feed. As a result, anglers who fish early in the morning or around dusk should focus on the tops of drop-offs and the edges of underwater humps or reefs. When the sun climbs higher into the sky, the walleyes remain on the edges of these structural elements, but move into deeper water. Anglers can troll crank baits or cast jigs under low-light conditions and catch walleyes, but when the fish move deeper, it is time to slow down and troll or drift a Lindy rig tipped with a leech, night crawler or minnow.

Since many of the lakes in Minnesota are crowded during the day, especially during the summer, the hours after dark can be a good time to catch walleyes, especially in clear-water lakes. The walleyes will be in the same areas in which they spend the daytime hours, but will move into shallow water. Anglers who are successful often troll shallow-diving, minnow-imitating crankbaits. It is important in this situation to let out as much as 50 yards of line, since the walleyes can become spooked when the boat goes by.

Fishing Tips for Walleye in Indiana

While the walleye is an indigenous fish to the state of Indiana, its natural distribution has been limited. As a result, Indianas Department of Natural Resources stocks walleyes in many lakes, rivers and reservoirs throughout the state for food and recreational sport. According to Walleye Central, an Indiana state record walleye weighing 14 pounds 4 ounces was caught from the Tippecanoe River in 1977.

According to Take Me Fishing.com, walleye are the largest member of the perch family and can reach a mature length over two feet. However, Indiana walleyes are normally caught around 12 to 15 inches and weighing 2 to 5 pounds. Female walleyes grow considerable larger and weigh more than males. Walleyes are olive-green and have gold flecks. The lower section of the tail has a white tip. Additional identifying features of walleye are large, glassy eyes that gave rise to their name. Also, walleyes have a black rear base with spiny dorsal fin lacking spots.

In the early spring, walleye congregate close to shore and in areas with sandy bottoms. In addition, they are found in weeds or around rocky structures, which are near areas of sand. The presence of sand is very important when it comes to spawning. Walleyes desire sandy bottoms to reproduce, in addition to a strong current, which oxygenate walleye eggs. Anglers should cast lures onto the sandy bottoms as walleyes behave extremely aggressively as spawning nears and will hit just about any lure thrown in their direction.

Night fishing provides anglers great opportunity to catch walleyes. Late spring and early summer offers excellent walleye night fishing. In evenings, as darkness begins to set large females emerge from deep water and cruise shallow spots along the shore for easy prey. Slipping in and out of from the deep areas to shallow, walleyes utilize the cover of darkness to gobble up oblivious minnows and baitfish. With glow in the dark floating bobbers and small split shots and baited hooks, anglers can cast 10 feet from shore and allow their line to drift. Walleye eyes glow eerily under water when light is shined upon them. However, their eyesight provides them great vision in nighttime, as they can spot baits as far a 20 feet away.

Walleyes traditional cling near the bottom, so an angler&039;s best chance of catching a large walleye is to get bait close to the bottom. According to Twin Lakes Outfitters, anglers that use a 3-way swivel rig can position their bait right on bottom, where the walleye lurk. Anglers can fashion the 3-way swivel rig with a worm harness. A 3-way swivel has three connection points. One attaches the swivel to the line. Then tie a two-foot piece of line to a one-ounce lead sinker. Finally, attach several feet of line to a worm harness or fishing lure. This rig is intend for trolling, however it can be used while fishing from a pier or from a high vantage point such as a cliff in fast current.

Monday, August 18, 2014

How to Easily Catch a Trout Using Power Bait and a Little Patience

Instructions

Prepare your rod and reel and slide the line from the reel through the eyeholes of your rod and out the end. Give yourself enough line past the last eyehole to easily work with for the next step.

Insert the end of the line into your sliding sinker (weight). See the picture on the left for an example of what the sinkers look like.

Insert the end of your line into the small bead.

Insert the end of your line into the end of your snap swivel that is not the actual snap. See picture.

Tie a clinch knot or improved clinch knot to tie it off and make sure you cut off any excess fishing line. Set the rod aside. We're now going to work on the "leader" or your assembly.

Take your spool of 2 lbs. test fishing line and cut off a piece that is about arm's length. This piece of fishing line is what we call a "leader."

Take your swivel without the clip (see picture) and tie a clinch knot to it with one end of your arm's length leader.

On the other end of your "leader", tie a clinch knot to your small treble hook. Be careful because the book is very small and sharp. Cut off any excess fishing line.

Unsnap the clip that is attached to the end of your snap swivel that is attached to your rod and reel. Insert the swivel from your leader into the open snap swivel. Close the swivel. You may be wondering why there are so many swivles. This accomplishes two things: 1) Your line will not be tangled as your bait spins around in the water, and 2) If your leader breaks or your hook comes off, you can easily add another "leader" without having to take apart your entire rig.

Open your jar of powerbait and use your index finger to take a marble sized portion. Roll the powerbait in your hands until it is in a spherical shape.

Insert the treble hook into the ball of powerbait so that the entire hook is covered. Use your finger to safely squish the bait around the hook so the hook is secure inside.

Carefully cast into the lake as far as you can and let the sinker take your bait close to the bottom. Keep your reel open as your bait sinks, and do your best not to disrupt the line as this happens. Close your reel.

Gently rest your rod and reel at an angle so that your rod tip is in the air and your reel is close to the ground.

Let it sit for about 20-30 minutes before you reel it back in just incase you lost your bait. Trout are very smart (hence the thin leader) and may take a while to give in and take the bait. During this time, you can read or talk to your family!

If you get a bite, pick up the rod and set it (pull it back and up) so that the hook will lodge into the trout's mouth. Remember, it's not a shark, so you don't have to pull back too hard. Just enough to set the hook.

Reel it in slowly. Your fishing line is very thin and could potentially break. If you have a fishing net handy, get it ready for when you bring the fish close to shore.

Net the fish, store it away or throw it back, and repeat! Congratulations!

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Walleye Fishing Tips in Early Spring

The saying that the three most important things in real estate are "location, location, and location" also applies to walleye fishing in the early spring. While the fish can be active and willing to bite, you will not catch any unless you locate them first. Shallow, rocky areas--especially those that have water moving through them or nearby--attract walleyes in the early spring as they prepare to spawn. Other likely locations are shallow rock piles, sunken islands and points that have rocks on them.

The early spring is a good time to catch a trophy walleye, but that does not mean you necessarily should use heavy equipment. In most instances, the water is at its clearest during the early spring. Walleyes are finicky as it is, so do not add to their natural wariness by using equipment that is easy for them to see. Instead, use light line--6-pound test is a good option--and light jigs or sinkers--from about 1/16-oz. to 1/4-oz. Use the lightest jig you can, but make sure it is heavy enough so you can maintain contact with the bottom.

Walleyes focus on minnows during the early spring period, so it is a good idea to use a minnow for bait, or a lure, like a crankbait, that resembles a minnow. If you choose a live minnow, hook it on a jig or on a Lindy rig, which consists, in order, of a sliding sinker, swivel, 36-inch leader, and hook. Minnows also can be fished below a bobber, which is especially productive once you have located an early that walleyes are using.

Many anglers opt to fish for walleyes from the shore during the early spring. Since the fish are in shallow water during this part of the year, it gives anglers the opportunity to take a relatively low-tech approach to catching them.

Since the walleyes are in such shallow water, they can receive a lot of pressure from anglers. But since most fishermen fish during the day, some anglers choose to head out at night. The fish are often less pressured after dark and may be more willing to bite. If you have located the walleyes in a specific area, use a bobber and a minnow to target them. If you have not located them, tie on a floating, cigar-shaped crankbait. Troll this lure slowly along rocky shorelines or shoals. Avoid making any unnecessary noises.

Bass Fishing Tips for Marsh Creek Lake, Pennsylvania

If you are age 16 or over you are required by Pennsylvania law to have a valid Pennsylvania fishing license. Both residents and non-residents must keep the fishing license on them at all times while fishing. Fishing licenses can be bought by phone, in person from license issuing agents or county treasurer offices. You can also buy a license online at the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission website.

Fishing can be done at Marsh Creek Lake from both the shore and boat. However, gas powered boats are prohibited on the lake. Only non-powered and electric powered boats are allowed. Boat rentals are available for a fee at Marsh Creek Lake for those with a valid driver's license. Generally, bass fishermen have a higher rate of success when fishing out of a boat. Using a boat allows the fisherman to go where the bass are.

Marsh Creek Lake has pads and weeds that grow thick. These areas are where largemouth bass like to congregate. According to Pennsylvania Game & Fish, "Hotspots include the wide bay below Conestoga Road, the bay in front of the state park office and the area by the dam". Bass typically hit on artificial bait such as rubber worms, spoons, jigs and crankbaits. Most bass fishermen prefer using a rod and reel to catch their fish. Trolling is another option for bass fisherman using a boat. Trolling is when the boat slowly pulls the fishing line as it sweeps the water waiting for the bass to take the bait.

To help locate bass, look for schools of bait fish. Typically predatory fish--such as bass--will be near the bait fish.

Water temperature can make or break your bass fishing success. During colder temperatures, bass move to shallow waters and hit more on top water lures. When the water temperature heats up, bass go into the cooler, deeper areas of the water. Typically, you successfully catch bass during the hotter months by using a plastic worm as bait and lowering your line closer to the bottom of the lake.

Deep Water Bass Fishing Tips

Bass fishing is much easier than it was a few decades ago. As technology has advanced, it has given anglers tools such as GPS (Global Positioning Systems) and depth-finders. These tools are so advanced that they can help the angler know the terrain under the water better than ever before.

Greg Vinson, a BASS Elite Series angler, told ESPN that with technology available, he does his homework before he ever leaves his house. He'll look for spots that look attractive before he goes fishing, then attack those spots once he gets on the water.

Not every lure is made to fish in deep water. Deep-water lures must be heavy enough to get down to the appropriate depths, but light enough that it doesn't hinder the rod action for an angler.

Popular lures for deep-water fishing are jigging spoons, large spinnerbaits, soft plastic lures weighted down with drop shot and, of course, deep-diving crankbaits.

Vinson also points outs that position is everything.

No matter what depth of water you are fishing, at its core, an angler is trying to trick the fish into thinking what's at the end of your line is real. Therefore, mimicking what happens in nature is key.

Position the boat to where you can fish the current. It's easier when you can see the current, but try different angles to find the right way to bring the bait across in front of the fish. This may take casting from all angles and directions.

Sunday, August 31, 2014

Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass

Acquiring a License to Fish the Chesapeake Bay

Fishing Season for Chesapeake Bay Striped Bass

Tackle Selection

Striper Fishing Tips

Instructions

Suitable Rivers

The Correct Season

Bait

Gear

Instructions

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Instructions

Tackle Recommendations

Bait

Methods

Friday, August 29, 2014

Instructions

Repairing an Incomplete or Vertical Break

Repairing a Complete Break

Start in shallow water

Head slightly deeper

Deeper still

Keep the shallows in mind

Consider a topwater bait

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Instructions

Suitable Water Conditions

Seasonal Success

Lures and Tackle

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Instructions

Casting

Finding a Spot

Landing a Fish

Instructions

Lift and drop

Swimming

Hookset tips

Instructions

Gear

Location

Tips and Tricks

Fishing seasons

Gear and tackle

Boating and guided tours

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Rig Properly

Location

Pay Attention to the Spawn

A Moving Lure

Mobility

Monday, August 25, 2014

Best Spots to Fish

Best Season to Fish

Best Fishing Techniques and Bait

Let The Moon Be Your Guide

Baits

Rod And Reels

Instructions

Sunday, August 24, 2014

Getting Ready to Fish

Use the Right Bait

Timing Is Everything

Instructions

Instructions

Saturday, August 23, 2014

Rigging And Bait

Planning To Fish

Guide Secrets

Where to Find Gar

Lures

Catching Gar

Once Caught

Friday, August 22, 2014

License to Fish

Types of Fish

Where to FIsh

When to Fish