Which Bait is Best?

One of the most complex decisions an angler needs to make is which kind of bait is going to be the most likely to catch him or her the most fish. After all, the entire purpose of bait is to catch the attention of a hungry fish with the promise that it is merely a harmless piece of food. This means that having the right bait can mean catching as many fish as the angler sets out to catch.

Fishing bait comes in the form of artificial baits, live baits, and dead baits. Learning to use each form of these baits comes with experience and some would say gut instinct. Here are some fishing tips as well as some basic descriptions of all of baits so that you can decide for yourself.

Live Baits

Obviously, these are baits that you use that are alive when you are using them. These can be in live creatures such as blood worms, smaller fish, nightcrawlers, crawfish and more. Usually whatever the locals are using and having success with will usually be the best choice for fishing in that particular area.

Many fishermen choose to save some money by catching their own bait with their own fishing gear such as nets or other traps. However, the bait shop in your town can help you to select the proper bait for the season that you are fishing in.

Dead Baits

Dead baits are similar to live baits with one rather obvious difference. These baits are dead. The selection of dead baits is exactly the same as the live baits but choosing to go the dead bait route will mean that it is less spendy and much easier to store for a day of fishing.

Some of these baits are best fished whole if you are looking to catch large fish, however, bait that is cut up into chunks is usually going to get you more of a reaction as the odor of the cut bait will make its way throughout the water and attract any hungry fish that might be in the area.

Artificial Baits

These baits are neither dead, alive, nor natural in any way as they are made artificially to look like the live baits that you might normally buy. These lures are baits such as topwater plugs that are made to mimic the look of an injured fish. The industry of the artificial baits is always coming out with newer versions of lures that keep promising to catch you more and more fish. However, many anglers consider them less effective than actual, natural bait.

On days when you are unable to make it out to the water, try out some great online fishing games to keep yourself entertained and your skills sharp.

How to fend off a Wild Animal

While watching wild animals in their natural habitat can be an extraordinary experience and a great photo opportunity for you while you are out bass fishing, they are still wild animals. If you happen to be taking a nature walk or a hike throughout the forest, the desert or the mountains, it is important to keep in mind that you are the one intruding on their territory and with this fact comes some risks. While most of us recognize how dangerous it is to surprise a mother bear with her cubs, it is also just as dangerous to stumble upon a mountain lion or other large animal with their young as well. Here are some simple precautions you can take if you find yourself in any of these situations while fishing in the wild:

If you spot a Black Bear: If you are minding your own business on a trail and suddenly notice a black bear at an uncomfortably close distance, never attempt to approach the animal. If you are traveling within a group of other people, it is important that you all stick close together keeping children even closer. If the bear happens to approach you at this time, stand as tall as you can in order to look as big as possible. Next, be as loud as possible by shouting, clapping and banging on anything nearby that could create a loud and alarming noise such as pots or pans. If the bear happens to make off with anything from your camp, never try and retrieve it.

If you spot a Mountain Lion: It is not likely that mountain lions will ever provoke any kind of confrontation, yet if they are hungry enough, with their young, or if they consider you a threat to their territory, it is a possibility. If you happen to notice a mountain lion nearby it is important that you give the animal enough room in order to walk away from you and your group. Never run from a mountain lion as this can trigger their instinct to attack. Stay as calm as possible and slowly back away while facing the animal. Use your jacket to make you appear larger by opening it and holding out the sides. If there are smaller children with you, pick them up and hold them. If the lion starts to approach you, act similar to how you would with a bear while also throwing objects such as any large fishing gear or anything within reach. You want to prove to the animal that you are not prey and that you will fight.

Bass Fishing for Everyone

Each and every day it appears that more and more Americans are taking more of an interest in bass fishing than one might expect. Nearly any river, lake, pond or stream you can imagine has seen its fair share of anglers in search of some good bass fishing. It’s no wonder so many of the avid fishermen have handed down their love for this sport.

Right now, bass fishing happens to be the top freshwater sport in all of America. As a matter of fact, the entire industry has grown so much in the last ten years that it is seventy percent higher than all other forms of freshwater fishing.

So what is all the hype about fishing for bass? First of all, this is one outdoor sport that nearly anybody who sets their mind to it can have a chance at being able to compete professionally at it. This is not the case for everyone when it comes to other sports such as baseball, football or basketball. Yet as long as an individual decides to dedicate enough time and patience into practicing the necessary techniques of bass fishing, it is possible for them to become rather successful regardless of their age, body type or whether or not they are male or female.

There are also many opportunities for fishing careers if the angler decides to dedicate their life to fishing. A successful fisherman can choose to become a fishing guide on chartered boats, a retail fishing gear salesman, participate in professional tournaments and competitions, and many more different kinds of careers that focus on fishing.

In fact, more and more females every year that are beginning to take more of an interest are also beginning to take more of an interest in fishing as a full time career. Whether they have started out by taking a class in order to learn how to fish so that they can teach their children or be able to participate with friends who fish, many fishermen are actually fisherwomen now. In an industry that has long been thought of as a man’s activity, women are slowly beginning to understand what all the fuss is about and happily accompany their male friends on their fishing trips.

Children love to fish as well, sometimes seeming more enthusiastic about it than even the most seasoned angler. As soon as they catch their first fish they are immediately hooked on the thrill of the rush of accomplishment and being able to participate in what might often be considered a sport only for the adults. So the next time someone asks you to go bass fishing with them, see for yourself what all the excitement is about.

Safety Precautions While Boating

Safety while fishing and boating is possibly the most important knowledge one can have when embarking on a boating adventure. Aside from abiding by the appropriate laws, there are always other precautions that must be taken any time you find yourself out on the water.

• Whether you believe you need one or not, all people on board the fishing vessel must always have on their life jackets or personal flotation vests. Before setting out, make sure that every vest is appropriately and correctly secured.

• In the instance that a stork hits, immediately seek out shelter. If you find yourself caught in the middle of a thunder and lightning storm, keep as low as possible while staying in the very middle of the boat.

• If you find that you have made it into a fog cloud, this is the time to sound your fog horn in order to warn other possible approaching boats of your presence.

• Aim the bow of your boat at the oncoming waves at an angle of 45 degrees and reduce your speed.

• Make sure that any passengers that are on the boat during a storm are seated as close to the center of the boat as possible on the floor of the vessel.

• If there are any items that are loose on the boat, immediately secure them while also making sure that you have easy access to any emergency gear.

• While it may be difficult, do whatever is possible in order to keep the bilge as free of water as possible. If the boats engine happens to stop, head to the bow for the anchor and drop it. If you are in a boat that is without any kind of anchor, turn to anything with weight such as fishing gear or a bucket. This will serve to create a drag which will keep the bow of the boat facing into the wind.

• In order to prevent any passengers from going overboard amongst all of the chaos, instruct them to stay away from the bow, gunwale, or any other object that is not specifically intended to be sat upon. Instruct passengers to refrain from standing or leaning out of the boat especially when the boat is traveling at any speed faster than idle. Passengers should also refrain from moving about the boat when it is in motion as well.

• In the instance that someone does fall overboard, immediately reduce the speed of the boat and throw the individual a floatation device. Turn around the boat slowly until you can pull up alongside them downwind. Now, stop the boat’s engine and carefully pull the passenger back on board at the stern. This will keep the weight of the boat balanced.

On days when you are unable to make it out to the water, try out some great online fishing games to keep yourself entertained and your skills sharp.

Selecting a Fishing Rod

Fishermen have been at their beloved hobby for both recreation as well as food and work for thousands of years. Having the proper fishing gear however can prove to be a confusing and frustrating task with all of the choices that are out on the market these days. The technological advances have served to provide the angler with more improved products than the fishing industry has ever seen, especially when it comes to fishing reels and rods. So many competing companies all have a product to offer. How are you to know which one is the best for you?

The first step is deciding which kind of fish you are going to be fishing for since this gives you an idea of how large or small they will be, therefore determining what is required of your rod. The best thing about purchasing new fishing equipment is the unlimited amount of options that you have to select from. From the internet to large department stores to good old fashioned bait and tackle shops, you have the opportunity to easily compare notes when it comes to the pieces that you are interested in.

It is important to be able to try out a piece of equipment in a store first, prior to buying anything online. Some of the most trusted brands and manufacturers to look out for are Abu Garcia, Shimano, and Mitchell. All of these names have products that provide today’s anglers with the latest technology when it comes to fishing equipment. As long as you can find locations carrying these brands where you can see and feel them for yourself, you are off to the right start when choosing out your fishing rod.

Since there are so many different kinds of rods for you to choose from, you have the ability to acquire every element that you may need in one, single fishing rod. Be sure to test out many different makes and models so that you are sure to get a good feel for what you could potentially be fishing with. Does the rod fit comfortably in your hands? Is it too heavy? Awkward? Too light? Is the action of its casting smooth or does it seem too difficult? Does the rod seem strong, durable and sturdy or does it have too much bend to it? These are all critical details that you need to take into account, particularly if you will be casting repeatedly. After all, you can’t catch many fish if your arm is tiring too quickly. Test out as many products as you can and make your purchase only after you have taken all of these elements into consideration.

Crappie by Temperature

There are plenty of experienced anglers that consider the best crappie fishing tips to be the where you can find these fish once the temperature of the water begins to fluctuate. Here is how you can get the most out of your day on the water:

Degrees

35: Be looking for crappie to be holding anywhere between 50 feet and 30 feet deep. With a vertical presentation, begin fishing vertically using live bait such as minnows.

40: You can find schools of crappie beginning at depths of 20 feet and down another 10 feet or so. This is when they will band together and begin their journey towards their spawning locations.

45: Migration is officially underway and you will now be able to catch crappie off of channels in the deeper banks or near structures such as sunken logs or trees. They are a little closer to the surface now at depths between 20 to 10 feet.

50: The crappie are now preparing for the spawn as they now head for the tributary arms. This is when you will need to set your sites on their migration paths which will be in the creeks and channels.

55: The bites you are getting now start to get rather aggressive. Now is when the crappies are storing up fuel for the upcoming spawn. You will be able to locate many crappie as shallow as one foot at this time.

60: Males are now nesting as the females wait for the water to continue to warm before they spawn. Shallower areas will already have some fish spawning early.

65: Spawning is underway now. If you find that you are suddenly not having any success catching any crappie, back off a little and search for remaining pre-spawn crappie.

70: By now, some fish have completed spawning while others are still in the midst of it. Still, you may need to look to slightly deeper areas at this time in order to catch the larger of the species.

75: You can now rather easily locate the post-spawning fish near their bedding all the way up until the water reaches around 80 degrees. Look to find them near any cover.

80: As soon as their spawning season is complete, many fishermen decide to pack their fishing gear up and call it a season. However, it is still possible to locate plenty of crappie in between six feet and 18 feet deep near any flats that you may encounter.

Deep Sea Fishing For The Loner

If you are contemplating setting out by yourself on your very own deep sea fishing adventure instead of opting to go with a chartering company, you have your work cut out for you. Obtaining the appropriate license for the proper areas you intend to fish is, of course, the first step. But what else do you need to know in order to ensure a safe and successful deep sea fishing excursion?

• Before setting out, you must always be monitoring not only the schedule of the tide but the forecasted weather as well. Setting out into the ocean and being caught off guard with massive waves and rough weather is not something that is recommended, particularly for an amateur angler attempting deep sea fishing on his own.

• Be sure that you understand some basic behavioral information pertaining to the species of fish that you are going to be going after on your trip. This can help you to better determine which kind of fishing tackle you will need to have on hand in addition to which kind of bait will be the option.

• Know where your fish prefer to take shelter or travel to. Knowing this can also help when it comes to lure or bait selection as well. If you happen to be fishing in the vicinity of a reef, trolling the outer edges of this structure is likely where you will come across some rather large fish as they feed on the smaller fish that call the reef their home.

• It is always a good idea to dedicate time to learning how and practicing tying your knots. This is imperative as a poorly tied knot can easily result in the loss of your fish.

In addition to being exposed to the sun, you may also run the risk of becoming sick die to sea sickness. Even if you suspect neither of these will be a problem for you, being prepared with both sunblock, over the counter pain killers, and some motion sickness medication. However, if you find that you are nauseous, one of the best deep sea fishing tips is to focus out as far as you can at the horizon while keeping away from and exhaust fumes or strong odors. This will likely help you to regain your composure. Many times, anglers will actually take their motion sickness medication before even setting foot onto the boat. This way, buy the time you are on the water, it has had time to take effect.