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Bonefish fishing video

2009-12-20T06:48:00.000-08:00

My last post was dedicated to one of the most sort after sportsfish so I thought I would continue in that vein and post a great little angling video of one of my favorite fish - the bonefish.

These great fish are a top angling target because of the fight they offer anglers as well as the great exotic tropical locations they are caught in. They are most often targeted on fly gear, but they can be caught with most of the popular methods of fishing. Bonefish form large schools over the flats where they feed and are targeted by anglers trying to spot the fish (called flats fishing). They are not often taken for food and although they are edible they are quite bony (hence the name).

The bonefish can reach 10kg and over 100 cm and feed mainly on small crustaceans and worms living in the sand. Like tarpon, they are also known to be able to breathe air from the surface of the water.

Enjoy the video..

Best Bass Fishing Lures and Techniques

2009-10-28T18:43:00.001-07:00

In my last tips to you I said if I had only one fish bait I would pick the Zoom watermelon lizard. Today I am going to talk about the best bait to catch really big bass. A super trophy!!! Of course we all know that trophy size bass are caught on a wide variety of lures but are definitely harder to catch than smaller fish.

A lot of times when a fisherman catches a trophy fish it was just a matter of luck. That of course is not what I am talking about today. Today I am talking about starting out before launching the boat with a plan to only fish for trophy size bass. We are not after numbers of fish but rather we are fishing for ONE BIG BASS all day long. By today’s standards we are talking about a 9lb or 10lb bass or larger.

If you are fishing 60 degree water and warmer, I believe the best bait for trophies is a big topwater fished very slowly. My favorite bait is the solid black Chug Bug made by Storm Lure Company. I cast it out to a good looking spot and let it set in the water until all the ripples are gone before I move it. When all the ripples are gone I begin to move it ever so slowly and just let it sit still for maybe 5 seconds and then shake my rod just a little to create small ripples. Then let it sit still again for 5 or more seconds. Remember the really huge bass will not chase, they are very lazy, and they don’t like fast moving baits - not even medium moving baits.

To fish this slowly you must have the correct mind set. Remember you are fishing for only one fish all day long. You must also picture in your mind a 10lb bass just under your lure looking very closely at your bait and its every movement. You are trying to make that bass make just one little mistake. Most of the time (90%) the bass will strike your lure when it is sitting perfectly still with no ripples.

To be very honest there is maybe 1 fisherman out of 1000 that is willing to fish this way, and it definitely takes tons of patience and lots of will power.

I must also tell you another way and another set of lures that will catch trophy size bass. During extremes in weather when the water temps are very hot or water temps are very cold and the fish move to deep water (25 to 35ft.) then you must go deep to catch that bass of a lifetime. One thing remains the same. YOU MUST FISH VERY SLOW. I like 2 baits for this type of fishing. First I like AGAIN the Zoom watermelon lizard with a chartreuse tail. I will fish it Carolina style if not too much brush or Texas style in heavy cover. I will use a little more weight in deep water maybe a ½ oz sinker. The second bait I like is a swim-shad fished right on the bottom. I like this bait in the pearl color. I DON’T REEL this bait. I let it go down to the bottom and then just lift my rod up very slowly and then lower the rod down allowing the bait to fall back to the bottom. Take up the slack in the line and raise the rod again very slowly. JUST REMEMBER YOU MUST WORK THESE BAITS VERY SLOWLY AS IN ULTRA SLOW MOTION. It is impossible to work these baits too slowly.

In closing, let me tell you a story about my great friend Jimmy Olive of Port Arthur, Texas. Jimmy was going to Lake El Salto in Mexico and he wanted to catch a bass over 10lbs. He called me and asked me what I thought would be his best chance to be successful. I told him he would have to fish for one bass for the whole 3 days. He said no problem that he wasn’t after numbers. I told Jimmy that I would send him out with one of our big bass guides to an underwater hump in 35 ft. of water. I told him to fish the swim bait in pearl color on the hump for all 3 days and fish it very slowly. Don’t run around all over the lake trying different places. To stay with just this one hump and he would catch his bass of a lifetime. The first day he only had maybe 4 bites catching smaller bass. The second day was about the same but on his last day he and his guide Oscar boated a 14lb trophy of a lifetime. Jimmy only caught 3 fish that day but he got the fish he came to Mexico to catch. I sure was happy for him and overjoyed since Jimmy stayed with the program. Unfortunatey Jimmy lost his long battle with cancer about one year later, but his fish is still on the wall for all his family and friends to enjoy.

I wish you good luck with your fishing.

Getting the Most From Your International Fishing Trip

2009-10-28T18:41:00.000-07:00

This week’s fishing tip is aimed at the traveling fisherman but parts of it will certainly apply to people who fish close to home. My intention is to try and help traveling fishermen make sure they get their money’s worth out of their international fishing trip. As you might know, prices are going up on everything and all of us want to always get a dollar’s worth for a dollar spent.

Please remember that I have been a traveling fisherman for over 50 years and have learned a ton from guys who I have come in contact with on these trips. Sometime during the 1970s I started traveling with a good friend I had met during one of my guide trips on Cedar Creek Lake in Texas. His name is Chuck.. Chuck was a very well traveled and well educated man who was raised in the North. We became close friends and we started traveling together to Texas lakes and then to Canada, Costa Rica, Honduras and other countries. Even though Chuck offered to pay my way, I insisted on paying for my trips, which meant a lot of saving in hard times for me. Thank goodness I learned from Chuck and his world travels how to always get your money’s worth out of a trip.

On our first trip to Canada, Chuck and I went to Dogskin Lake. Fishing was good, but a little slow. We drew a room next to 5 car dealers from Dallas. The guys were pretty raunchy and raising a lot of hell. They kept all to themselves and had little to do with us. After our great shore lunch we lay down on the mattress of peat moss for a nap. When I woke up, Mr. Sophisticated Old Money Chuck was gathering up moose dung and putting it into a bag. I asked him “What in the devil are you going to do with all that sh–?” He simply said, “Wait and see.” We arrived in camp before the car dealers and Chuck went straight to their room. One of their group was a carbon copy of Junior Sample on HEE HAW. Well, Junior’s bed got the dung under the covers. Chuck just went on about his business at supper and then we went to bed. In about 30 minutes all hell broke loose in the next room. Junior was trying to fight with his buddies and mad as hell. I am scared to death and have all the covers over my head in case they think we did it. Oh my god how we did laugh about that for years, but please don’t go to that extreme to have fun.

In 1974 Chuck and I traveled to Canada to fish for trophy-size walleye. Virgil Ward and I had made a lot of TV shows together and Virgil told me that the Tree River in October had more trophy-size walleye than any place he had ever been. He said the fish began to migrate up river during this month and 9 & 10 LB walleyes were common. Chuck and I flew 3 different airlines to get to this lodge. Upon arrival we found an empty lodge that had not been cleaned in quite some time. The restaurant had trash on the floor and I was very upset. The owner finally showed up and I gave him a real piece of my mind. He explained that it was the end of the season and he had not had any clients in several weeks and when we left he was closing down. Man oh man was I upset. We had supper and got instructions about the next day’s fishing.

That night Chuck sat me down and gave me some very good advise that has stuck with me all these years. Chuck said that there is no such thing as a perfect trip of any kind, that you must turn negatives into positives if you are going to get your money’s worth from the trip. If you get upset then you just lost your money and will return home very unhappy and upset. He also said no matter how bad things get, keep smiling and don’t let the bast—- get you down. When you go to leave, smile and shake the owner’s hand and just don’t ever go back.

That advise was tested to the maximum when our guide showed up the next morning in a pickup and we were transported in the back to a big lake. We launched the boat and headed for a big cove. The guide drooped over the troller in the back of the boat and started running the boat backwards. Chuck and I just looked at one another but I kept my mouth shut so as to not embarrass Chuck. I watched the guy closely and he was fishing a huge daredevil spoon. He would throw the spoon in shallow water to dark images that were northern pike. He put the spoon over their back then he would jerk like hell and try to snag the fish in the back. Chuck and I were just throwing our walleye lures in every direction to no avail. After this knothead of a guide finally caught a snagged fish of about 15lb I asked the guide if we were going to fish big walleyes in the River and he said not today–that we would go early the next morning. He said he had entered a big fish tournament for Northerns and he had paid entry fee and he didn’t want to lose his money.

Man oh man did I want to unload on him but remembered what Chuck had told me the night before so I kept quite. I was determined to talk to the owner at lunch and get another guide for the afternoon. Just before lunch this guide caught a pretty nice northern in the back and got him in the boat. The first thing this __&&%%$$##@@ guide did was to start stuffing sinkers, small bait fish he had brought with him, and I don’t know what else. We fired up the engine and went about 2 miles to the weigh-in and his fish weighed 21 lbs — sinkers and all.

We went back to the camp where I asked the owner for another guide and he told me he didn’t have another guide for the afternoon but would have one for the morning. We went to our cabin to rest but I couldn’t as I was thinking about what I was going to do in the afternoon to get my money’s worth for that day. I remembered that our guide was jerking the spoon very hard and most of the time the spoon sailed up and over the fish back. Many times he would reel in the spoon and a fish scale would be hooked on to one of the hooks. That gave me a great idea. I had made up some pieces of lead with regular trebles for doodle socking bass in Guerrero Lake in Mexico. I looked in my tacklebox and found one huge treble hook that I was going to use as a gaff hook when I got back. I took off the regular hook and put on the huge hook on the lead that weighed about 2 oz. Heavy!!

We headed back to the lake and off we went looking for big northerns sunning in the shallow water. I couldn’t wait!!!! We pulled into a cove and here we go backwards, he is running the troller and pays no attention to me as I moved up behind him. We spotted a Huge fish laying on the bottom in about 3 ft of water. Before he could shut off the troller and get his rod I moved just a little to the right and pitched an underhanded cast right by him and the lead landed about 3 inches on the back side of the big fish. I lowered my rod and jerked like hell, the huge fish shot out to the right stripping line like a 22 bullet and the battle was on. The guide just sat with his mouth open not moving. He didn’t know what to think. It seemed like an hour but I finally boated the big fish. It weighed 24 lbs but the best part was now the guide took my place at being upset. Then he got the idea of weighing in my fish and saying he had caught it. Man oh man was he upset when I told him not in a million years would I let him cheat with my fish.

The rest of the afternoon I caught 2 more while the guide caught zero. After a while, he asked to go in early as he “wasn’t feeling well.” Sorry but I was feeling great, great, great! Six months later I got a patch from Canada declaring me a master angler on Northern Pike. I felt good but I did return the patch.

I hope you enjoyed the story but now let me get to the nuts and bolts of my whole point. When you take a travel fishing trip don’t let the fish determine whether you have a good time. You just can’t put all your hopes on those slimy green unpredictable creatures. The whole trip is an experience in meeting new people, traveling with friends and enjoying their company, interaction with the camp help, guides, etc. Ask a few questions about the local area and the history. Years ago I would tell our clients that if the transport has a flat then get outside and pitch pennies at a line to help pass the time. It’s better than getting all red-faced and blowing a gasket when you can’t speed up things at all by getting upset.

In closing, let me say this and I hope it helps you turn every fishing trip into a good time and you get your money’s worth every time. IF YOU LEAVE YOUR HOME TO GO FISHING DETERMINED TO HAVE A GOOD TIME YOU WILL HAVE A GOOD TIME. Remember what 4x bass classic champion Rick Clun says about his bass fishing. He said that I AM ONLY SUCCESSFUL 33% OF THE TIME BASS FISHING. That means that he only catches his limit or catches what he desires on one trip out of three trips.

I wish you all lots of luck with your fishing…and HAVE A GOOD TIME!

How This Fishing Guide Almost Swam With the Fishes

2009-10-28T18:37:00.000-07:00

Last week the story ended with the Austin fishermen racing wood-hauling carts with burros, drinking hot beer, and having a great time along with the fine people of the village. Suddenly a loud sharp train whistle sounded in the distance and everyone got very quite. Remember… some of the guys had persuaded the bus driver to park the bus across the train tracks to stop the train.

Everyone took off running toward the tracks and the bus. In about 2 or 3 minutes the short train came to a complete stop at the bus. Three or four of the largest men led the way on the train over the objections of the train personnel. I went along with them as I didn’t want to stay in this remote village with nothing to drink but HOT BEER. The train was already full with passengers so it just got even more full with 24 fishermen, 2 pilots, and Coach Phillips and myself. Everyone just found a place to sit or stand and we finally started moving again after all the objections of the train personnel.

I managed to find out that the train was headed for Chihuahua City and it would arrive in about 3 hours. I also found out that the next day a train left Chihuahua City at 7 am and crossed the Sierra Madre Mountains arriving at El Fuerte Mexico in 10 hours. Remember, El Fuerte was our original destination when we lost the airplane engine. I asked every one of my fishermen if they wanted to continue this adventure and still go fishing or fly back to Austin from Chihuahua. Everyone decided to go on with the fishing trip on the condition that Bill Hodge, the pilot, would go back to Ft. Worth and get another plane and come back and get them in 5 days in El Fuerte. What an amazing group of real tough men!

Upon arrival in Chihuahua City I went to the ticket office and bought 26 train tickets from Chihuahua through Copper Canyon to El Fuerte for the next day. We then hired cabs to take us downtown where we rented hotel rooms for the night.

The next morning before daylight we were all loading in cabs to go to the train station to catch our 7 am train when one fisherman came up to me and said he had talked to his family the night before and they wanted him to come back home. I gave him a big hug and told him how sorry I was things didn’t turn out like we planned. I wished him good luck and good bye.

We got to the train station in plenty of time and at 7 am we were back on track for a fishing adventure. The ride across the mountains was simply fantastic and unbelievably spectacular. In one word, breathtaking! I called this train ride the survival trip as everyone was so happy and having such a great time. The entire crew went to the back of the train to the restaurant and bar and ordered drinks by 8 am. Many games of chance broke out and the standing order for the waiters was to bring a tray full of drinks, take the empty glasses and bottles away and bring another full tray of drinks. This went on all day long and I can tell you for a fact that several thousand dollars changed hands that day. “Not to worry,” one fisherman said… “IT’S ONLY MONEY. I have my life and I am going to live what’s left in high style.”

We arrived in El Fuerte sometime around 5 or 6 PM that afternoon. FINALLY, WE HAD ARRIVED! Charlie Wright, the camp owner, was there waiting with his crew and vans to take us to the house where we would be staying.

The fishing was good and everyone had a good time. But I want to fast forward this story, as there is some great stuff still ahead. Bill Hodge, the pilot, came back in 5 days as he promised and picked up Bob Landis and the great guys he brought with him. When Bill came in to Mexico he brought my next group of fishermen which was 24 guys from Dallas and Arlington. Most, if not all were car dealers and salesmen ready to go fishing. The Austin group flew out, bound for Austin with one stop in Laredo Texas.

Guess what… They didn’t make it as they lost another engine just as they got into the mountains. Bill Hodge turned the plane around and flew to Los Mochis to have the engine fixed. Two days later they finally took off from Los Mochis and this time they made it across the mountains and landed in Laredo Texas. There they all were greeted by about 10 to 15 federal agents. Each man was questioned thoroughly and was told he would have to appear in court in the future as a witness. The plane was locked down and confiscated by the agents. I really don’t know what happened to Bill Hodge and his co-pilot here in Laredo. Everyone got commercial flights back to Austin.

Coach Phillips and I were not aware of any of the problems as we were still at the lake working the group that came in. When that group left, Coach and I left real early the next morning for a 3-hour drive to Obregon to catch a commercial flight to Phoenix, connecting to Dallas. About 20 miles out of Obregon the brand new Volkswagen combi transmission went out and it would only run about 10 miles an hour. Finally, it just stopped and I jumped out and hailed down a yellow Chevy II. Tommy and I threw our gear in and we asked the driver to take us to the airport ASAP. I told him we only had 20 minutes to catch a plane. He said “can’t do!” By now, I had the routine down and said, “if you make it we’ll give you a nice sum of money for your trouble.” As we left a city street to get on the main highway the driver made a gesture with his hand to his forehead and then across his chest. God save us! Tommy gave me a silent glance, took the stopper out of the whiskey bottle and threw it out of the window. He wouldn’t be needing that stopper any more!

We were passing cars on the wrong side and driving wild and crazy. The driver had his yellow Chevy II going as fast as it would go, probably 80 mph. The car had really bad shocks and it was rolling from one side of the highway to the other. With no stopper in the whiskey bottle to slow us down, we drank about half the 5th in 5 minutes. Finally, I moved up behind the driver and hollered calf rope! I told him to slow down as I just couldn’t take any more excitement, even with the whiskey. I told the driver I was going to pay him a nice amount even if we missed the flight as we were certain to do.

THIS IS THE END OF PART 3—- NEXT WEEK WILL BRING THIS EXCITING STORY TO A CLOSE WITH SOME BIGGER SURPRISES YET.

Good luck with your fishing and wear that lifejacket.

Catching Bass in the Summer

2009-10-28T18:36:00.001-07:00

This week let’s talk about summer patterns for bass. Today is the 18th of June and most bass have moved from the shallows and creek channels into deeper water. This is one of my favorite times to fish as the bass school up and when you find them you can usually catch several in one place.

I recommend that you find underwater structures which can be tank dams, old bridges, islands, etc. If there is a creek or river channel close, you may have found the mother lode. Even if there may not be a creek or river it is important that deep water is close.

To find these underwater structures you will need a good topo map of the lake that shows contours and underwater structures. I recommend that you take only your boat while mapping out the summer patterns of a lake. When you have found all the summer structures then you are ready to check these places out. Remember, bass spend most of the time in the summer suspended in deep water, so check your solunar tables for the major and minor feeding times for that day.

The bass will move up on these structures and feed until full, then move back to deep water and suspend. Don’t waste your time on these suspended fish as THEY WILL NOT BITE. You will have to catch them as they move up on structure. It’s a timing thing this time of the year.

The bait I like to use on summer bass is a Carolina rigged lizard with a 2ft leader. Of course you already know my favorite lizard is a zoom in the watermelon color with a dyed chartreuse tail. Really, my favorite lure for this is a Little George in the black & pearl. I love this bait but if there is brush you really have to know how to fish the little George to keep from hanging up. If the island or bridge is deeper than 20 ft then I like the storm swim bait in shad colors. The first 3 times I fished this bait in Lake El Salto in Mexico, I caught a 10lb bass each time in 25 ft of water right on the bottom. Oscar, one of our guides, turned me on to the swimbait and it is great for deep water bass.

Have fun this summer with your fishing and wear that lifejacket.

Where and Go Fishing

2009-09-30T10:33:00.000-07:00

A clear understanding of factors that trigger crappie spawning is essential for successful spring fishing.This article will tell you something about fishing knowledge.

Step1
Water temperature is one primary key. Most experts quote a figure of 56 degrees as the temperature at which nesting activity begins. But spawning's peak may not occur until the temperature climbs to 58 or 60 degrees.

Step2
The exact time when the water reaches this temperature varies from year to year, latitude to latitude, and one body of water to another. It is important, therefore, that crappie anglers determine when ideal spawning temperatures are most likely to occur and do some on-the-water investigation that will lead to a visit during peak nesting time.

Step3
Looking at sunrise-sunset tables can be helpful. I learned this from Steve Wunderle who wrote the excellent guide, New Techniques That Catch More Crappie.

Step4
The first [crappie] nests to appear had an average of 13.2 daylight hours, and the last nesting sites occurred when the daylight averaged 14.6 hours. In other words, you can determine when spawning will begin and end, and therefore postulate when it might peak, by calculating the number of hours between sunrise and sunset on a given day.

Step5
Finding areas with these characteristics is the key to finding crappie beds. Nests often are near a log or other large object over a bottom of sand, fine gravel or interwoven plant roots. The depth where nests are found can vary considerably, from less than 1 foot to as much as 20 feet. But most will be in 1 to 5 feet of water.

Author : Daker Carter
Source : EzineArticles.com

Bass Fishing Lures

2009-09-30T10:30:00.000-07:00

What are the different types?

Bass fishing lures are probably the most highly purchased of all fishing lures today. Bass fishing today has become one the hottest sports among anglers. Like golf, Bass fishing tournaments are common and becoming popular as tournament stakes are high. There are many manufacturers of bass fishing lures, companies such as Heddon, Rapala, and Bass Pro Shops offer anglers sponsorship into tournaments for the serious angler that can prove his or her level of professionalism.

These aggressive fish can be found in nearly any body of water throughout the United States. Both large and small-mouth bass are habitually warm water fish, and are likely to hide in cover in hopes of attacking their prey. Bass fishing lures come in many shapes, sizes and colors to help the angler mimic this prey.

Spinnerbaits are one of the most popular and adaptable bass fishing lures ever invented. These effective fishing lures can be fished fast or slow, in clear or murky water, at variety of depths.

Crankbaits are another commonly used bass fishing lure that come in all shapes and sizes covering a full spectrum of colors. Crankbaits are comparatively simple to fish and can be very efficient when used in the right situations. Diving depth is determined by the size of the lip or bill the longer the lip the deeper this bass fishing lure will dive.

Buzzbaits produce a splashing, sputtering, and gurgling commotion which bass find hard to resist. This deafening line of bass fishing lures when fished on the surface will often persuade bass to come out of deep cover.

Artificial worms and minnows are also common bass fishing lures and will produce great results when others may fail.

Trolling for bass another excellent technique that works best in large rivers or lakes that have long stretches of deep water with slow to moderate current. While trolling, bass fishing lures should remain in the water at all times. Try varying depths until desired results are achieved. Trolling is a relatively easier technique as compared to casting, and enables the amateur angler to cover more water thoroughly. Any of the bass fishing lures mentioned in this article can be trolled effectively.

Choosing the right bass fishing lure depends on many conditions. Color plays an important role of duplicating the baitfish in the particular body of water you are fishing. The size of the lure number of blades etc, are just many things to consider when choosing your lure. With spring just around the corner, bass fishing is sure to be a sport enjoyed by many.

Author : Dennis Driscoll creator and a contributing author of Fishing Lures and Imformation and RC Cars Information
Source : EzineArticles.com

Tips on Fishing

2009-09-30T10:25:00.000-07:00

Some anglers prefer a long jigging pole or cane pole to swing a jig or minnow to prime fishing spots in shallows. Others prefer a spinning or spincast outfit to present the bait from a greater distance. Both work great.

Step1 One of my favorite set-ups is a Charlie Brewer Weedless Crappie Slider fished with ultralight tackle. Because it's weedless, I can cast and retrieve this lure without worry of hangups. I cast the Slider just beyond the spot where I see a fish then bring it back past the fish.

Step2 If the water is clear but nests are in brushy areas or weedbeds, I use a jigging pole and try to place a minnow or jig on top of fish I see. I look into every cranny in cover for crappie hovering over their nests, then work the bait back to the fish and lower it into the water. No movement of the bait is necessary. If the crappie are feeding or guarding nests, strikes come quickly.

Step3 In many lakes where standing timber has rotted away, shallow man-made attractors of cedars, bamboo or old Christmas trees often draw spawning crappie. A top rig here is one used by crappie guides Jerry Blake and Darryl Morris on Arkansas' lakes Greeson and DeGray. A Thill 1/2-inch, pencil-style slip float is rigged beneath a bobber stop and above a No. 6 Eagle Claw Aberdeen hook. A split shot is added between hook and float, and the hook is baited with a live minnow. Several rigged poles are placed in holders, the bobber stops are positioned at the depth where crappie are likely to be, then using a trolling motor, the guides slowly circle each attractor. Crappie often pull several floats down simultaneously, a testament to this tactic's effectiveness.

Step4 Many spawning crappie move into extreme shallows in flooded timber that can't be reached with a boat. To catch these fish, slip into some waders and move slowly through brushy backwaters, using a long pole to place minnows or jigs near cover or casting a Crappie Slider to swirls in the water that reveal fish. Don't rush, or you could trip on a stump or log. Carry a basket or stringer for your catch, and use a staff to provide support and probe the water ahead.

Author : Daker Carter
Source : EzineArticles.com

Tarpon Fishing - The Secret of Tarpon Fishing in Florida

2009-09-30T10:24:00.000-07:00

This interesting article addresses some of the key issues regarding tarpon fishing. A careful reading of this material could make a big difference in how you think about tarpon fishing.

I trust that what you've read so far has been informative. The following section should go a long way toward clearing up any uncertainty that may remain.

If you're looking for a great saltwater fishing adventure, consider a Florida Tarpon fishing trip. The coastline offers some of the very best Tarpon fishing in the world, with fish reaching a length of eight feet or more and weighing over one hundred pounds.

Talk about an exciting catch! Florida tarpon pack a punch and a fight when they nail your hook. Without a doubt, this type of fishing is fun. And surprisingly, tarpn are quite easy to catch. That's right! Hooking into these giants is not where the challenge lies. Bringing them to the boat is where the real battle begins. Once hooked, they violently leap high in the air, thrashing their huge royal silvery body in an attempt to dislodge the hook and free themselves back to the brackish depths of the Gulf coast waters. The winner of this battle is almost always the Tarpon, which is why so many sport fisherman are lured by the challenge.

If you travel to the southern Gulf coast, you will find yourself right smack dab in the middle of giant fishing waters, where they can weigh over 150 pounds. The best time to catch them there is May, as they prepare to navigate toward the Gulf for spawning season.

Tarpon fishing has the honor of boasting world record catches, from Tampa Bay all they way South to the Florida Keys.

It doesn't matter where you fish the Florida coast, you will be pleased with a wonderful Tarpon fishing adventure which you will certainly never forget, and for which you'll always yearn to return.

Those who only know one or two facts about tarpon fishing can be confused by misleading information. The best way to help those who are misled is to gently correct them with the truths you're learning here.

Original Author:Suzi Phillips is an avid fisherman and outdoor sports enthusiast. For Florida Tarpon Fishing secrets, download the free ebook, Florida Saltwater Fishing at:http://guided-fishing-trips.com/ebooks/index.html

Bonefish fishing video

2009-09-30T10:14:00.001-07:00

Peacock Bass Fishing in Miami can also provide Big Tarpon

2009-09-30T09:20:00.000-07:00

September 11, 2009 had the pleasure of taking out Gil Phillippi. He was a referral from one of our many repeat customers, we like to thank everyone who sends us new customers. Customer giving referrals are highly appreciated and means a lot to us that we are doing a good job and putting the right effort in to them all.

Gil was after the exotic hard fighting Peacock Bass that are only in South Florida area for the United States. Gil wanted to throw artificial baits all day, we started off with topwater plugs. His first catch was a nice snook that just “exploded” on his bait. Gil caught a nice two pound peacock off topwater and as day went on we went to throwing sub surface lures.

The mid afternoon was slow, but things picked up near the end of day. He caught about twelve peacocks and a nice tarpon on light tackle, 10lb test!.

The thing about Miami you just never know what your going to catch! Its an awesome urban fishery locate close to everything.

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Staff Writer Capt Brett Isackson (bretti@bassonline.com)
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

Fish of the Week - Snook

2009-09-01T19:26:00.001-07:00

If you check the results, for the poll on the right, you will see your overwhelming choice was information about specific fish. Since Snook season opened this week it is fitting to start a new series about "Old Linesides."

There are several snook species in Florida but the only one that matters is the Common Snook, Average Size: 3 to 15 pounds, with 16- to 30-pounders common. Usual maximum is 30 to 40 pounds. State Record: 44 pounds, 3 ounces. World Record: 53 pounds, 10 ounces. Range: A tropical species found on the larger islands of the Caribbean, including Cuba, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. In Florida, their largest numbers are found in the southern half of the state, but individuals may range as far as Jacksonville on the Atlantic side, and the Panhandle on the Gulf side. Angling Methods: Casting with artificial lures or flies, trolling artificials or live bait and drifting or still fishing with live or dead natural baits.

Anglers are limited to two snook per person per day, with a 27-inch (this is up from the previous 26 inch minimum) to 34-inch slot limit. All fish above or below the slot limit must be released unharmed. Snook season is closed Dec. 15 to Jan. 31, and June, July and August. A $2 snook permit is required when a saltwater fishing license is required.

Miami Beach Wreck Fishing and Deep Dropping

2009-08-09T16:08:00.000-07:00

Wreck fishing has many variations. I will cover a few basics but all aspects of this type of fishing can be covered here. By wreck fishing, I refer to fishing areas of rough bottom, artificial reefs and shipwrecks. My descriptions relate to fishing along the Miami Beach coast. Some of this material relates to structure fishing overall and some are common to the local area.

Finding structure to fish is the most difficult and time consuming part of this type of fishing. The first step is to research potential areas to fish. This can take years or decades in many cases. A little history review will explain this concept better. Most of the local wrecks here in Miami beach are either the result of marine disaster, the W.W.II submarine attacks or intentional sinkings by the various artificial reef authorities.

Many of the near forgotten wrecks along the coast of Miami were located by commercial fishermen who usually found them by tangling their gear in the wrecks. This was very costly and most commercial fishermen, kept records of their "snags" so as to avoid them. These lists got passed on, sold or stolen and ended up in the hands of commercial hook and liners, divers, charter boat captains and eventually the recreational fishermen. The raw list was only a starting point. Perhaps 10% of the numbers were useable, and of these, each good number still required extensive searching to relocate a wreck and actually produce fish.

Years ago, there were no GPS receivers. Large commercial boats employed a vary primitive tool called Loran-A. Later the technology evolved and Loran-C became available. In the late eighties, the price of Loran-C equipment plummeted. Shortly thereafter, GPS receivers came on the market and soon they were cheap as well. The quality and features of the Loran's, GPS units and fish finders mushroomed overnight. These events influenced the rapid influx of anglers into the wreck fishing culture.

Prior to becoming a sportfishing captain, I worked as a mate on many commercial fishing vessels. In my many years of experience I have accumulated a great number of undocumented bottom structures of the coast of Miami Beach. We are constantly using this local knowledge to put you on quality fish.

Miami Beach Offshore Fishing

2009-08-09T16:05:00.000-07:00

Close to the top in the ocean's food chain are dolphin (mahi-mahi) and wahoo which frequent Miami Beach’s offshore Fishing . These predators are great fun to catch with opportunities all year long. Miami's mahi-mahi season is in full swing from spring to fall, with big bulls and cows showing up in March. But this gamesters are available all year long with multiple hookups a common occurrence on any given day. Offshore fishing off Miami Beach is about pure adrenaline pumping action!

Offshore fishing techniques include trolling or live baiting. When trolling we use fresh dead baits or artificial lures. We look for schools of bait busting on the surface, offshore birds and floating debris such as weed lines, pallets or anything else that can hold fish. If live baiting is the method of choice, we will spend the first few minutes of your charter catching a variety of live baits to use while fishing offshore.

But don't think your here for a boat ride either. So if it's not happening offshore, we will change tactics and switch to reef fishing, wreck fishing or deep dropping for other game fish such as sailfish, snapper, grouper, cobia, kingfish or sharks.

Miami Beach Deep Sea Fishing

2009-08-09T15:58:00.000-07:00

Pelagic game fish, such as swordfish, blue Marlin, wahoo, dolphin (mahi-mahi), yellowfin tuna and skip jack tuna tend to prefer deep blue water ranging from the surface to about 1,000 fathoms. The rule of thumb in blue water deep sea fishing is the deeper the water the bigger the fish. Yet, monster fish have been caught just out side our docks, so its just a rule of thumb. You never know when or where a big fish will strike. Here in Miami, our waters get deep just two and 1/2 miles off shore with a 1000 ft just under four miles offshore. So you arrive at the fishing grounds fast and ready to put that spread out! Here at miamibeachfishingcharters.com our sport fishing team is prepared to hook up and boat that fish of a lifetime at all times.

fishing Sneak Preview

2009-08-09T15:49:00.000-07:00

In the September 1 issue, we will be sharing some absolutely amazing photos from Daniel Goez of Germany. Somewhere, he and a friend, have found a big tarpon "secret spot". They fish, fight and release monster tarpon from Outcast Fat Cat float tubes. Daniel is, in my opinion, one of the most interesting people in the fly fishing photography community. He is an open ocean free diver, also. His tarpon essay will blow your mind.
In the September 1 issue, we will be sharing some absolutely amazing photos from Daniel Goez of Germany. Somewhere, he and a friend, have found a big tarpon "secret spot". They fish, fight and release monster tarpon from Outcast Fat Cat float tubes. Daniel is, in my opinion, one of the most interesting people in the fly fishing photography community. He is an open ocean free diver, also. His tarpon essay will blow your mind.

Fishing with Mick Brown

2009-08-09T15:47:00.000-07:00

Just a few days ago I was fortunate enough to spend the day fishing with piking legend Mick Brown. I'm sure those of you with satalite TV will have seen him alongside Matt Hayes in 'the Great Rod Race' and 'Record Breaking Fish' TV series.
He has authored the highly regarded book 'Pike Fishing - the Practise and the Passion' and has regular articles in the angling press.
It was a great day and we fished a couple of fantastic venues taking around 12 pike in all, my friend Martin caught the biggest at 17lb 10oz. A fantastic day to be remembered - Mick is a top bloke :o)
Check out Mick's website.

Panama Big Game Fishing Club

2009-08-06T07:26:00.000-07:00

We started off with a group coming to us from Germany: blue marlin, black marlin, sailfish, yellow fin tuna, 1 over 250 lbs., cuberra snapper, rock snapper, yellow snapper, mullet snapper, wahoo, amber jack and dorado - was about as good as it can get. The next group only had 1 full day off shore and got 2 large yellow fin tunas, 1 over 100 lbs. and 1 over 200 lbs. The last week was a little slow - in shore okay but finished up with double digit both in numbers and weight of dorado - very rare for March and a black marlin around 700 lbs. The water temp and quality has been good all Month and is looking good heading into April - which is always one of the best months to fish here. Otze and Troy both caught their first Black Marlin here this month - for Otze it was the last bill fish he needed-around 400 lbs.- to have them all - Congratulations!!! Troy it was one of the bigger Marlins he has caught - around 700lbs.- and after 47 blues lifetime he was due for a black -Congratulations!!

Hello Lee, Jorge, Totschy, Otze and I are back in Germany after a 32 hour-trip. At last we had a problem with the suitcase of Totschy, because it got lost. Very annoying is that his camera was in the suitcase with a lot of nice photos. We hope that the suitcase will be located and send back to Totschys home address. We all thank you for the first class service we enjoyed, the very-very-very good food and the excellent drinks and the great fishing. It was wonderful ! I never caught so many big-game fishes before and the 250 pound yellow fin tuna on last Friday was a fantastic closing. Enclosed for today now some photos of the yellow fin tuna I caught. The other photos of our fishing trip - the blue and the black marlin and especially of the "nice hair" in the fighting chair I'll send you with my next mail. Hope you are fit as a fiddle and wish you much Petri Heil !!! Best wishes to all !!! Your friend Yogi .

Big Game Fishing

2009-08-06T07:23:00.000-07:00

We had very good inshore fishing all month, rooster fish, cubera snapper, mullet snapper, amber jack, broom tail grouper, blue jack and wahoo. The off shore was a little slow the first of the month but yellow fin tuna and marlin came on strong. Allot of yellow fin tuna over 200 lb. with 5 yellow fin between 125lb. and 250lb. caught on surface poppers with spinning tackle. Black Marlin -1 at 800lb. and Blue Marlin - with 4 in one day - came on strong the last half of the month. We have blue marlin, black marlin and yellow fin tuna over 200lb. - caught on spinning tackle including the strike-on film. Trevor Gowdy was filming here the last week - targeting large yellow fin on spinning tackle and marlin - and also had a pretty good day fishing the river just a short distance from our Resort with the highlight a 45 lb. Corvina. As usual April was one of the best fishing months - start of wahoo, strong Black and Blue Marlin with yellow fin tuna being the highlight - always the best month for yellow fin over 200lb.

I want to thank both you and your staff for a wonderful fishing trip. You operate a first class lodge. Everything was great from the time I stepped off the plane in Panama City and met by your representative, to the time I stepped back on the plane at the end of the week. The food was excellent, even though there was too much to eat. The open bar was a pleasant treat. It was all the little details that you and your staff pay attention too that made the trip so enjoyable. I would also like to compliment you on your selective harvest program that you encourage to your guests as well as your staff. I've always been in favor of keeping a couple of fish to bring home to eat, and releasing the rest so that they can be caught again in the future either by me or a guest. Enclosed are some pictures of only some of the fish I caught. I look forward to coming down and fishing again next year. I hope that my brother will be able to join me. Thanks again, Larry Little

Panama Big Game Fishing Club

2009-08-06T07:16:00.000-07:00

Tuna fishing with surface poppers was all you wanted but smaller fish running from 10 to 80 lb. The first week in May we got some tuna over 100 lbs. and a few over 200 lbs. Black Marlin still good with 4 out of 5 groups catching a black. Fair wahoo action but they will pick up with August being the first real strong month for them. Had a few sails and some smaller dorado (dolphin) also. Inshore action was very good with snapper, rooster fish, sierra mackerel, blue jack and amber jack in good numbers.

There is something about tracking fish by sight that activates the adrenalin flow like nothing else. We had hot and cold moments on the trip but the image of two and three hundred pound yellow fin tuna hurling themselves airborne, intent on murder or adultery upon anything in their path…baby it’s just too much. Man and boy I’ve fished those things on both the Atlantic and Pacific but the supreme numbers of big fish right in front of your beak made this a very special opportunity, what most would call a “once in a life time.” Standing on the bow of the boat and throwing them top water plugs was really sweet, as well as productive. We jumped on a red hot marlin bite one morning with a double hook up and hooked a third immediately afterwards. It’s fair to say we had some slow times but even the inshore fish were real trophies. This included a seventy-pound amber jack, eighty-pound roosterfish and a wondrous blue trevalle. These fish get big down in Panama, bigger than in Costa Rica, bigger than in Guatemala. The Panama Big Game Club lives up to its reputation.
Riley Love .

Google maps fishing reports

2009-08-04T11:18:00.000-07:00

Went yesterday for a few hours to Sommarösund found on the south west of the island. A stunning bay that I had been itching to get out with waders on and chuck some fluff at Mike. Unfortunately it was a belter of a day weather wise, well over 25'c and probably got there to late & in doing so I hit my 1st blank of the season. I did have 2 Snotrockets on, but lost both withing seconds of them hitting the fly.
Click the images to go to PikeFFarticles fishing report map or go to the sidebar on the right and click on the yellow markers where the dots in the middle are.

World Record Mako Shark

2009-08-04T11:16:00.000-07:00

The mako shark is one of my all time favorite sharks. It looks mean, its super fast, and it has been known to jump 20 feet into the air when hooked. They aren’t the biggest shark, but they sure act like there are. Many people call them the bully of the ocean!

The current IGFA world record mako is 1221 pounds, but a 1324 pound and 1530 pound mako have also been caught that do not qualify as world records according the the IGFA rules.

Caught off Chatham Massachusetts, USA on July 21, 2001 by Luke Sweeney.

More giant makos at New England Sharks

Check out these amazing jumps!

NEW World Record Muskie

2009-08-04T11:12:00.000-07:00

Thats right, a new world record musky. You’re probably wondering how the hell did somebody beat that 57 inch monster that was posted earlier this week, well they didn’t. This world record is special for another reason, it was caught on a fly rod!

Brad Bohen’s 51.25 inch musky was caught on Oct. 16, 2008 and is officially recognized as a world fly rod record for a released muskie on a 36-pound tippet

via Moldychum

The boys at "FISHING FURY" have done it again and published an article about the biggest fly caught pike this time. Click on the link to read the full story. "Fishing fury" has to be if not one of the best all round fishing blogs on the web. So pop in and give it a visit you wont be dissapointed.

The Largest Muskie Ever Caught

2009-08-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

St. Lawrence River in Ottawa Ontario is not only the countries capital city, but its the big musky capital of the world. Some may argue that point, but they’d be wrong. There are few bodies of water that can yield 50+ inch musky regularly. For years I’ve heard people saying the St. Lawrence would produce the next world record musky, and in November 2008, it did just that.

Dale MacNair, was on the St. Lawrence River in late November when he hooked on to the fish of a lifetime. A biggest muskellunge ever recorded. His incredible catch was 57″ long, more than 33″ around and weighed a earth shattering 77 pounds (35kg)!

Some fishermen spend they entire lives chasing a 50 inch musky, but after only one year in search of muskie, MacNair caught one that was almost 60 inches!

It’s a special occasion when such a massive fish is caught, but what makes it even more special is that this behemoth was released and swam away strong.

via The Tribune

Monster Snook "Thrill Of A Lifetime"

2009-07-30T11:47:00.000-07:00

Boy oh Boy, what a beautiful Snook. This was a very exciting fishing trip for Harold Fox his wife Marcy and their son Jeramie. This family has never caught Snook or Tarpon before. They fished
with me last year and we caught a lot of Redfish, Trout and a big Shark. Well, they can't say that anymore. They actually jumped 9 Tarpon and landing 1 nice Tarpon. We also landed 2 Snook out of 6 (one nice size Snook and one 43" Monster Snook). Caught a Goliath Grouper and Jacks.

We went out to the flats to check on the trout, but the water was still murky. When we got back to the dock, Harold said that this fishing trip was a "thrill of a lifetime" He was still shaking from being so excited with catching that Monster Snook. We also saw manatees, dolphins, spoonbills, and lots of wading birds. Fishing in the Everglades National Park is one true experience of a lifetime
Posted by Captain Becky Campbell at 2:47 PM

Fishing report for first week of June

2009-07-19T11:39:00.000-07:00

Our last two trips out have been quite good. We have added a few new species to the capture list and the weather has been holding steady.
We did a bit of trolling on the first day. After all it is Wahoo season and they do taste good.
Now, with a Wahoo on board it was time to try for something else. Out come the skirts and here comes the Mahimahi.
As always when fishing around reefs you can expect sharks. Usually Black tip and White tip sharks are the first to turn up. Here is a nice Black tip caught on a popper.
That is followed closely by a Red Sea Bass. Normally considered a by-catch when fishing for GT's, but they do put up a good fight on lighter gear.
From XstreemFishingComFor those of you who have never caught a Mahimahi before let me tell you. They give a good fight, especially on light tackle but the kicker is when you bring them in the boat, they go mad. They are actually very dangerous, especially with hooks in their mouths. The best thing to do is put a wet towel over their eyes and they will calm down enough for you to hog tie them. If you miss with the towel look out, they are going to go ballistic. The upside to all of this is they taste great.

The next trip out saw us poppering the reef with 30lb and 50lb spinning gear. This time my good friend Captain Charles Wakeham took the wheel so I could also fish.

First up is a nice little Queen fish.

Last Minute Roosterfish

2009-07-19T11:35:00.000-07:00

There's a story behind this Roosterfish. It was the last day of the trip, late morning and we had to go back to the mother vessel to pack and leave in the early afternoon. We were in Panama, Pacific side, Gulf of Chiriquí. My friend Oriol has been chasing a Roosterfish the whole week to no avail but he's stubborn, determinate and never gets tired. Ivan, the other fishing buddy was repeating "Hasta el rabo todo es toro" that means more or or that until the end everything can happen.
The boat was already in the river, heading up toward the harbour, and Carlos, the skipper, decided to stop near a sandbar to try the last casts. This is when the miracle happened, the fish rose to the surface and inhaled the large popper, a feisty fight took place. This has been one of the most spectacular Roosta I ever seen, jumping out of the water like crazy. Great stuff. Oriol, as you can see, finally landed the fish and after few shots and a safe release, we could head back to the harbour with a grin in the face. Ivan repeated:"Hasta el rabo todo es toro". No Rooster for him, a good excuse to come back to Panama once again. A wonderful place

Is two flashes better than one?

2009-07-19T11:32:00.000-07:00

I admit it, I have become a fanatic follower of http://www.strobist.com/, their Blog and Flickr community. What these guys can do with the strobes is quite fantastic and the information you can get through their archives is nothing short of amazing. I have no special desire in becoming a studio photographer, neither load my room with Soft boxes, Umbrellas and alike. I'm a darn outdoor photographer, most of the time floating on a small boat with a bunch of dangerous guys fully rigged with the strongest rods and reels chasing monster fish. This is where I belong and this is where I want to improve my photo skills. Narrow, small, uncomfortable, wet and rocky environment. Not a place for a stand with a honeycomb grid, no way. To work here I will have to take advantage of small portable flash units, in my case two Nikon SB600. Actually, until yesterday I owned one and I was trying to make an old Metz 28 work as a slave unit but the thing is crap with the digital camera and won't work properly. So I decided to go for a second proper strobe, more reliable, that allows me for an accurate control and that can be managed directly from the camera Menu.

Without the off camera flash the best I could get is photos like this one above: light is quite harsh, obviously too direct and yet it worked more or less OK for the mags, is still a decent backlit image. I wonder what 2 speed lights attached left and right of the camera, or in any other different manner could work on portrait like these, an to be honest with you, I can't wait to try it. In less than one week I'll reach my friends for few days of fishing in the Mediterranean sea. I might skip some tackle here and there but you can be sure that all my new toys will be with me. I hope I will be able to post some new pictures all taken with my floating lightning set up, it will take some trial and error, sure, but this will make it even more fun. Just hope my friends (and the fish) are patient enough.

A Jig & a Wahoo, a recipe for disaster

2009-07-19T11:28:00.000-07:00

Yes, I have caught this Wahoo on a jig but I wasn't jigging it, I casted it to a fish which boiled after a sardine

I have never caught a Wahoo on a jig. Never. Not a single one and I have hooked quite few many, probably more than I can count with all of my limb's fingers.

I can be fishing elbow to elbow with two or three fishing buddies, none of them using wire, neither myself. We land on top a pack of hungry 'Hoos, jigs dropping, reels reeling, rods wiggling. One strike, the friend on my left starts fighting a fish, I feel a nibble, maybe not even that and my jig is gone. My friend lands a fish, the hook is on the chin, away from the jaws, damn luck!

Situation nº 2. Me and my friend Mario in El Hierro island, Canary Archipelago. Our skipper finds a pack of hungry Wahoos. I am fishing with a 30 and a 50lb jigging rods, first without wire, then with a small piece. I hook 5 Wahoos in a row while Mario is looking at me in disbelief. I manage to loose each one of them because either they cut me off, snap the line or break the wire, due to a bad haywire twist.

The story doesn't end here.

Ascension island. Wahoo are not a pest but they are there and show up every once in a while. I'm fishing with 4 other guys. 3 of them hook and land a Wahoo without using wire, and when I decide that is my time for a try I put a lighter jig near a school of Bonitos where I saw some Wahoo sniffing around and drop it a bit up current. The small iron hit the water, line start coming off the reel at the usual pace and all of a sudden it is dead. Nothing comes out of the spool anymore. The jig is done, a Wahoo took it probably 5 meters below the surface on my very first specific "Wahoo cast" and cut the mono leader like butter.

I have similar stories at the Maldives, Panama, Costa Rica etc etc. In about one month I will be probably fishing Bermuda, a pretty new spot for jigging, quite an exciting experience. Is full of these toothed critters, and I know that my friends will sure land some. I don't know whether to bring a lot of wire, or a rabbit's leg, is a hard call. Doomed? Maybe, I'll let you know when I come back

Bassss.

2008-09-17T10:48:00.006-07:00

One of my carpin' buddies and I scoped out a potential carp flat yesterday. Unfortuantely it wasn't much of a flat and there weren't many carp.
There were however some smallmouth bass and they saved the day. The trick was to find these dark spots on the bottom. Sometimes you would be able to see a bass hovering over one of these dark spots and sometimes you wouldn't see a bass. The idea is to cast a clouser minnow to one of these dark spots on the bottom of the lake in hopes that a bass, seen or unseen, would eat it.
It worked out pretty good as my buddy and I hooked well over a dozen of these basss and landing 10-12 between us. They went from 1.5 to 3lbs, 12-18 inches a piece most of them were right around 15 inches and 2lbs.
So when you're out basssin' look for dark spots on the lake bottom. Bass like to hang out there.

It's never too late.

2008-09-17T10:48:00.005-07:00

The pink salmon finally showed up in their usual north Sound spots, with large catches now in the Mukilteo-Edmonds area and good catches being reported along the beaches on the west side of Whidbey Island. They're also still thick off Sekiu in the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and scattered from there inside all the way to the mouth of the Puyallup River

Native Trout Files: Westslope Cutthroat

2008-09-17T10:48:00.004-07:00

Discovered near the Great Falls by Silas Goodrich and named by his superior officers, Oncorhynchus clarkii lewisi was once the widest ranging of all the cutthroats. Since the Corps of Discovery Westslope cutthroat populations have retreated back to the tributaires and headwaters of its ancestral watersheds; the Columbia and the missouri.

Olive Biot Parachute

2008-09-17T10:48:00.003-07:00

hook: TMC 100 #14
post: white turkey flats
tail: light dun micro-fibetts
body: olive turkey biot quill (long side)
parachute: brown saddle hackle
thorax: olive antron dubbing

Summer is over and the PMDs and PED's are still emerging while mahogany duns and various baetis species are just getting started. This time of year I'll fish this pattern all day. If the blue winged olives start to hatch I'll tie a tiny BWO pattern on the dropper.

Bull

2008-09-17T10:48:00.002-07:00

Sauk River: two bull trout, zero steelhead.

A man should tie his own flies.

2008-09-17T10:48:00.001-07:00

The other day a relative says to me something like, "There's a fly fishing store by my office and I thought of buying a Christmas present for you there. But what the hell am I gonna get for you; the angler that has everything?"
Two words for you Cousin Earl, two simple words. Bass Bugs.
Most times I do tie my own flies. Even if it means driving to three or four different fly shops to get the right materials for a particular pattern, gas prices be damned. In the long run it's cheaper though sometimes it seems like I'll have to tie flies for a long time yet to realize the cost benefit.
When it comes to bass flies, the big poppers, sliders and divers, I opt for the store bought variety. Too much work; spinning, stacking then shaping all that deer hair. A professionally tied deer hair bass bug goes for something like four or five dollars a piece. It would take me at least an hour to turn out a Dahlberg Diver or Messinger's Frog that looked half as good as the original. Hell even my boss thinks my time is worth five bucks an hour.
So....thanks Mom, I finally used that Bass Pro Shops Gift card you got me last year. Pass the word around, maybe Cousin Earl will catch on.

Sunfish

2008-09-17T10:48:00.000-07:00

The 'gills crowded the shallow coves and took small poppers with abandon.
I fished for bass too, catching most of them on a bunny worm and - late in the day - two more on a deer hair bug.

Alaska Salmon Fishing (Part 1)

2008-08-09T12:49:00.000-07:00

You need to think about two things when planning your Alaska Salmon fishing trip. You have to decide which one of the game fishes you want to go after, and when exactly you are going to take the trip.

Now you have to make a decision on which month you want to wonder out on your trip. When you decide that you have to do some research on which of the Alaska Salmon have their spawning run at that time and presto you know which species you will be fishing for.

Most anglers make their decision based on the sort of game fish they want to go after. The second one is when you are using the trip more as a holiday and you will be bringing family with you and fishing wont be the number one reason for being there.

If you are doubling up your Alaska Salmon fishing trip as a holiday then the best time to check into is in June and July. This time of the year will give you the best cooperative weather.

Now for the ultimate fishing experience that isn't doubling as a holiday is something you will probably want to do at the end of July or the beginning of August. This gives you a great chance to catch multiple species all at once including pinks, chums, cohos and sockeyes.

Now, crowds can be a big nuisance in the summertime but hold on because there is a remedy for this. By going in mid to late September the tourist season is over thus thinning out the crowds but still allowing you to enjoy your Alaska Fishing trip.

Its important to get to know Alaska's most popular sport fish. In future articles we will discus the five main salmon in Alaska's waters. On top of that we will also discuss some of the other popular game fish that you may catch on your Alaska Salmon fishing trip.

Keep coming back because we will discuss many different facts about these fish in hopes you can decide which fish you desire on your Alaska Salmon fishing trip.

Welcome to a-fishingseason.blogspot.com

2008-08-06T11:20:00.000-07:00

Here you will find the most complete directory for regional fly fishing available on the internet with rich content and easy navigation. Please put us in your favorites you never know you may want to visit these great fly fishing destinations.

Our mission is to provide you a source of fly fishing information a step beyond what you would find on any search engine, website or print publications. USAOnTheFly.com is proud to support organizations and programs dedicated to improving our fisheries, and wildlife resources. Our forum provides a platform for those who have events for fundraising purposes and conservation.
Let's us know how it's going in your neck of the woods.

Bringing the fly fishing community together!

Located on the Little Red River at Heber Springs

Your Favorite Play

2008-07-25T01:34:00.000-07:00

Michele J flyfishing her favorite fly!

I'm going to say this another time as I had people tell me that they see me tie on my lucky fly; they will shake their head in disbelief. Yes, I realize that my lucky fly looks a little worse for wear but it's my favorite and has landed me some pretty nice trout and yes, it may now not represent a precise imitation of anything natural out there in the aquatic world anymore but you know, the majority of the time, a fish cannot have that luxury to be that selective.
If he's hiding behind a huge boulder or a log, and there's a insect floating by, do you think he has time to make a quick decision on whether he's going to grab it or not?

They say 9 out of 10 times, that fish will take any fly that is the same in shape and size or in color to the natural thing.

So those flytiers that spend hours on making sure that the fly is perfect in every detail of the natural one are more of doing for the sake of art, I think, than doing it specifically to catch fish because I know my little lucky fly works perfectly, regardless of how scraggly it looks because I have landed many trout on this baby and will continue to do so!
Have a good weekend fishing everyone!

SHARK WEEK IS COMING TO DISCOVERY CHANNEL

2008-07-21T19:16:00.001-07:00

So what!!!!

It's shark week on Capt. Dave's "BIG METAL" boat, and there's no bag of potato chips or lazy boy recliner here. It's YOU and the beast.

I know I've been out there mingling with the BlackTip's a lot, because it's so dang fun. And guess what?? The Ocean water is WARM again! It was a solid 80-82 degrees, where last week before the storm and passing of Bertha, the ocean water was 74-78 degrees. Just in time for the 100 boat, Greater Jax Kingfish tourney...UHG. But no matter rain, nor wind , nor choppy seas, can keep me from making my appointed rounds with these "String Stretchers", for my 1/2 day clients. And I have two more days of it coming up before the tournament.

And YES, they're just off the beach. And sometimes so close we can bikini watch, while fishing. Just an F.Y.I. for ya'll.

Man, I'm so glad to see the warmer water come back close-in, again. It's not summer without 80 plus degree water. TARPON? Maybe. I have my nose on the trail.

Had Bruno B. friend Whitney and daughter Brittney aboard today for a 1/2 day.

As usual we took off at 7am and they were wore slap out by 11am.

Only thing that changed was the fact the "shrimpers" changed locales. But the first boat we ran into was loaded up.

And the Blacktips were all good sizers. We even had one snap 65 pound Super Braid line at boat side that went 7 foot or better......that's the man I'm always looking for. And my customers would be happy with the 40 pounders. Bruno was on the rod when the big one horse shoe'd the rod, and the line popped with a crack! Ahhhh, I love the studs.

ACTION, NON-STOP IS THE NAME OF THE GAME

We caught at least 6 or more and had another 4 lost due to break off's or eaten leaders. These dudes are tough on tackle. So I wouldn't attempt going after them on too light of tackle, or you maybe in for a very long fight.

I'm tired and I never fought a single shark.

Don't forget to check the report with the photo of the very well built angler, for my garage sale items. Or visit link on the top of the side bar of this blog. Let's DEAL.

More pics from last Friday...7/18/08

More photos sent to me from Paul P. of last Friday's (7/18) 1/2 day trip. We might get some video of this day, just emailing it is a pain. But Paul's justy donw the street from me. Maybe a disc, instead?

It was a cloudy windy Friday during the

"tropical" low pressure system that

passed over us, last week.

But JAWS didn't care,

and either did we.

We had some serious

F-U-N, and Eathan at

11 years old had a ball.

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Great Summer days!

Made Ya' LOOK!

....it's Garage Sale Time, again!

If you've been a visitor for awhile, you know I accumulate a lot of STUFF.

And every once in awhile, I do my best to turn-over all the STUFF, I'll never use. While if you need it, you can really save big $$.

None of this STUFF is beat to hell. It's all either new, or very well cared for and hardly used at all. And I'm ready to make a deal........

Here's a short list:

2- 8' Shakespeare 8' VHF radio antenna's

(possible S.S. Ratchet mount for VHF antenna, too)

1- Brand spanking new in box, Shimano Corvalus 400 bait casting reel

2 - used once maybe twice, NEW Okuma "Guide Select" IM8 Graphite bait casting rods, Heavy action, alconite guides for braided line, 7'6".

2- Brand new Daiwa "strike force" Spinning rods, 7' medium action 1/8-3/8ths oz.

2- matching Daiwa Capicorn 2000, spinning reels, with spare spools.

Bulk lot: of Lindy Lil' Joe pole floats, for 1 oz & 1-1/2 oz. float-rig fishing

Bulk lot: of SeaStriker GOTCHA plugs, all kinds of sizes and shapes. approx. 25+

Bulk lot: of Lead head Jigs, from fine wire plain lead 1/4 oz. to Buck-tails of all sizes (I MEAN BULK!!!!!)

1- 10' , Bait-Buster Cast Net brand new, green mesh, Pogie/Mullet net.

2- Trailer tongue hitch receivers , various drops, with assorted balls.

2- 8'2" G. Loomis "greenwater" bait casting rods, medium light action, but can handle over sized Reds with ease. Great Float-rig rods.

Or bid on the WHOLE shebang, and go to the flea market, I don't care.

- I'm sure I'm still missing some STUFF. But either way, if you're interested in any of these items, please email me: Charter@captdaves.com or call 904-642-9546 8am-8pm only. Prices are Garage Sale style.....we'll barter, if you are serious. Catch me on a good day, and save.

The glorious 16th

2008-07-19T12:52:00.000-07:00

An idea I had a couple of weeks ago to take the day off on the opening day of the coarse fishing on rivers had gained momentum and 4 of us headed for the Ribble today.

Tony had set off early while me,Mike and fellow MD'er Neil(Miggy)arrived a little later.

On arriving at the river the levels where very low and I headed for my favourite peg where Tony was by now well settled in.We spread out along the river and I chose a shallow gravel run where some fish were topping some 30 yards away.I plugged away for some time getting a few bites but no fish when my mobile went.It was Tony imploring me to come to his swim.The barbel were now feeding confidently on his loose fed maggots and stepping into Tony's shoes I was soon into my first barbel of the day which I lost unfortunately.Twice more I had a Barbel on and lost them and I was left wondering at my own abilities as an angler.

I persisted however and I managed to land the next barbel with help from Neil.He went the extra mile by wading in fully clothed to net the fish.This fish was very important to me as a confidence booster and I was very grateful for his help.

It was Mike's turn next and after his fish I had another at 5lb.

Superb

2008-07-19T12:50:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Phil-K, the 4.8lb sea-trout above was the highlight of an extemely enjoyable evening on the river.

I am still unable to shake off my dose of the yips, as i lost two good fish this evening the first with a hook snap off the second to an 8lb hooklength parting.

Whilst i could wallow in self pity - i am instead thinking about how to refine my technique and hope for a change of luck. The loss of these fish certainly didnt spoil a great evening, as Phil caught yet another cracking Barbel from the "hot" swim.

Towards the end of the evening i used Tonys rod and was able to experience for the first time the Rolls Royce performance of his centre pin reel. The smooth peel of line that is the essence of the pin, makes an immeasurable improvement over the jerky movements of a float that is being controlled by a fixed spool reel. This improvement in presentation of the bait became immediately apparent on the first run through the swim using Tonys gear. I had a bite first cast, a fish hooked (but lost) on second cast and another hooked and lost within 2 or 3 casts after tying on a new hook.

Fishing with Phil and Tony is always good fun, and tonight proved no exception. As the light was fading at about 10pm, Phil had returned to his car expecting us to follow shortly. However, Tony was insistant the we fished on despite the fact that the light had gone and i could no longer see the float when it had travelled more than 10yds down the swim. To counter this lack of light, Tony walked half way down the swim so that he could see the float when i couldnt. The shouts of faster, hold back, strike, re-cast echoed through the darkness. I could hardly hold the rod through laughing as i wanted to pack up but could hear Tony through the murky dark shouting "come on 2 more casts" about 5 times. I didnt hook any more fish, which is a good job really as i was crying with laughter. Tonys enthusiasm is infectious.

Again congratulations to Phil, he has taken some cracking fish this summer, i hope he catches many more.

Fresh Run

2008-07-19T12:33:00.000-07:00

I spent my usual Tuesday evening fishing with Tony on the river. Things started well with Tony catching the small sea trout in the photo above from Phils favourite swim. It was so fresh that it still had sea lice on, something i have never seen before its amazing how big these lice are.

Tony then took a lovely Barbel from 30yds further upstream whilst i ran my float through what has now become the swim we all want to fish. I quickly hooked into a smallish trout from the tail end of the swim, where i couldnt even see the float, only being able to detect the bite by watching the bend in my rod tip as the line peeled off the reel. The fish shed the hook 3/4 of the way back up the swim, which was a shame as this was the only bite i had from the swim all evening. I swapped swims for the last hour, and moved downstream and immediately hooked into a decent sized fish that i played for 5 minutes before it got its head into the faster water where it snapped me despite using 10lb line!!! Please dont think that i am bullying these fish until the hook pulls, as the rod i use has a very forgiving through action. I am finding that the power the larger fish can generate when using the strong current to their advantage is pretty awesome, a 5lb barbel in strong flow is a far more daunting prospect to land than a 20lb carp or pike on a still water.

I didnt get a sniff other than these two hookups and my dreadful run of hooking and then loosing fish seems to be continuing. However, on the bright side i have been introduced to a great stretch of river that contains a wide variety of swims and fish, its really good fun learning to fish these runs and glides using a stick and pin, a form of fishing that until this summer has been alien to me.

Fishing Season is Open

2008-07-18T11:03:00.000-07:00

World Record Yellowtail Kingfish
ig game fishing boat the Skipper Bruce Smith is a 30 year veteran and one of New Zealand's renowned and respected skippers.

A little while ago Smithy helped his son Mat gain a World Record 37.8kg (84lb) Yellowtail Kingfish on 6kg (12lb) line. A great father and son team effort! Fishing in the recent 38th International Yellowtail Tournament in the Bay of Islands against some of the best 6kg yellowtail kingfish fishers you'll find anywhere, the combination of Smithy on the helm of Striker, and his son Mat on the rod, lead to the new World Record.

This brings to 6 the number of light tackle yellowtail kingfish caught on Striker.

Anyone who has tangled with a kingfish knows how hard they are to land on any gear let alone 6kg (12lb) line. In New Zealand yellowtail kingfish grow to prodigious size. You can read the full story of the capture here.

Bass Fishing Techniques-Winter Opition

2008-07-17T11:10:00.001-07:00

Bass fishing techniques in the salt water in winter can be a tough business, but there ara a lot of bream, salmon and drummer some toys warm.The first onsetof winter chill sees many rock anglers simply hanging up the standards in a bid to stay warm d glamour of the season.The slow warm-water species, decrease with the hot currents, and slower residantel Rock specics pelagic wet and cool on the reign of rust along the cold ocean rock.Bass Fishing techniques Much excuess now come into play for the average angler, with most over the nippy tempreatures and slicing forzen winds whip from the icy inland.

Bass Fishing Techniques It is easy option to take an interest when a mate seems more than a simple fish remain in the comfortable lounge with a warm welcome Doona, and sipping on a hot cuppa with your ugg boots while reading one of your favorute edition of salt water. With a little foresight and careful planning, but bass techniques during the snow season can be so pleasant and exciting as you it.Most winter forage species quite happy thought, the day begins early and during the coolest part of the dawn can avoid confidence in a few Fisheries still occur.

In the early afternoon are much warmer than the morning sessions with the sun during the day temps notches a few degrees, and in this sense, afren stories could be a better bass techniques techniques choice than the cool, crack of dawn missions.Before planning a conference, please note that if you dressed to the elements, the chances are you much more fired up to stay longer and keep your mind on the job in hand, rather than miserably complain about how cold you are and how much dough would go home. It only takes a certain amount of time before a fishing mate complain, and get pictures of heat, the better for you, and you type in the head and back to winter hibernations in the safety of the Lounge attracts.

Rock Bass fishermen bebefit bass fishing techniques, the most a good pair of strong non-slip shoes, wet weather trousers and a quality spray jacket, if the conditions are in their worst.On the other hand, can be found in the odd warmer days, when the Executive Board and Shorts at - T-shirt is suffice.Whatever the prevalling situations that prepard to see you enjoy your session on the stones much more.With each session on the rocks dishing many different situasions as the day progress, worth an assortment of hooks, lures and floats, along with a few different sizes only Guide
in one case, the target species prefferd play hard ball.

Often cast by simply in a pack of hooks groper, a few pea-size boards, black fish swim with small hooks, split shott, drummer and bream hooks and boards, a few lures matel and small handful of plastics, just about every Fang scenario for bass techniques shouls a change in the nature or location.

What’s Hot with Bass Fishing Techniques?

2008-07-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

For years businesses have rode on the vast interest Bass fishing techniques has generated. Many people are hooked, pardon the pun, on this hobby and have elevated it to a sport and a passion. Resorts, sports gears and lines have been built and many more aspects have benefited from these interest.

Today, there are more and more people trying to learn and find out what the buzz is all about. Bass fishing techniques is more than just catching a fish. Its now about getting those prized big bass and having the opportunity to show it off. For beginners there are lots more to bass fishing techniques that meets the eye.

First, try to know the lures that you must have to enjoy bass fishing techniques.

And do you know what the top 3 lures for catching Bass are? Although there was no particular gauge that was presented by the researchers, a survey was performed among the pro bass fishermen and it was found that plastic worms was the most patronized and ranking on the second and third place were the spinner bait and then the crank bait.

However, picking one of these 3 is not enough. Some factors are still needed to be considered. Primarily, you must consider if it is better to cover a smaller segment of water thoroughly or skim across a larger area as quickly as possible to find fish. Using a worm is slower, but absolutely effective and is very seductive to Bass. They do best when the fish are schooled over a particular structure.

The problem that usually arise with fishing with a worm is the inability to sense strikes. Usually the inability to sense them is due to a sinker that is too heavy and a line that is too thick.

To help you to overcome this predicament you are advised to use a variable buoyancy worm using lead strip sinkers. Here are some of its advantages:

• No moving lead on the line to dampen the feel of a gentle pickup
• You can apply the precise amount of lead to deliver the worm action needed
• It makes it easier for a bass to inhale the worm
• It aids in hook setting
• It’s easier to shake loose from snags
• You can cause the worm to hang virtually suspended over the bottom when fishing shallow water.

To tell how much lead strip is needed, wrap one strip around the hook and bury the barb in the worm. Ease it into the water and watch it sink, it should barely settle toward the bottom. If it sinks to fast, take some off, etc. Make sure to use no heavier than 8-pound mono line - preferably 6 pound.

On the other hand, a Spinner bait can be moved more quickly across the surface and can be bounced on the bottom, sent against a tree limb and moved in many different ways in order to stimulate strikes. It is a great probing lure for the shoreline because of its tangle-free construction.

Lastly, Crank baits cover a lot of water in a hurry. Using them, you can check out a spot without wasting too much time. You can use them for locating fish that may be scattered.

The most important thing is, no matter what lure you select for the particular lake that you are fishing on, you need to make it as easy for the Bass to get at it as possible. Drop that lure right in front of them. Scientists have proven that Bass calculate the amount of energy it will take them to go after the prey.

Discover and learn to use one of those lures that you preferred to use for you to really find enjoyment in bass fishing!

Aside from considering the lures, it is also important to determine the accurate time in going for bass fishing.

Dawn and dusk are definitely when the biggest bass can be brought in. First, remember that bass love ambush spots offering lots of cover from the baitfish. They like to hid, and pounce on their prey.

These bait fish are most active in the early morning or evening. When they feed, bass follow because the baitfish is less aware of threats when they feed. Go out fishing during these times for the best success.

When retrieving an underwater lure in poor light, keep it coming at a steady pace once it is set in motion. This will make it easier for bass to locate and grab it.

The last thing is, don’t bother going out in the dawn/dusk when water is below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature wipes out certain aquatics and terrestrials, which nullifies the food chain feeding.

Lures and proper time of going on bass fishing are ample factors only that must be taken into account because other aspects such as water quality considerations and weather conditions are also necessary for you to win the game on bass fishing techniques.

BASS FISHING TECHNIQUES-Locating the Best Bass Fishing Areas

2008-07-17T11:06:00.000-07:00

What is it in bass fishing techniques that everybody are driven on to engage on such activity? People get fond of bass fishing that is why every trend that they hear about it really catches their interests and as much as possible get into it.

“Where are the what…? Where are the bass fishing techniques!” How many of the anglers (tournament and recreational) go to a body of water you’ve never fished before, drop the boat in the water, then, ask this question to yourself? This is probably one of the biggest topics in bass fishing techniques that an angler should learn more about.

Here you will be getting information on how to locate areas best for bass fishing.
Locating bass and understanding the water would be the number one question among bass anglers today. The next most asked question would be is which baits they should use to catch a “big” bass.

Now when you think about it, there are really only two (2) main topics that go hand-in-hand when it comes to bass fishing. If you understood more about these two, you would definitely become a much better angler, and they are:

1. Knowing how to locate bass.

2. Knowing how to catch bass using all the different techniques, presentations, and baits.

Learning how to locate bass can be somewhat of a challenge to most anglers because there are so many different factors that need to be determined such as:

1. Knowing how to read a map - this is the fundamental skill that you should try to learn because through a map it is easier for you to take on the appropriate location good for bass fishing.

2. Knowing the most practical places to look for Active Bass just after cold fronts and during early spring and late fall periods - weather condition must be especially considered as well.

3. Understanding water depth- this is an important element because the depth or the hollowness of the water will serve as a factor for you to know if it is a good location.

4. Water clarity- it could be easier for you to now have your bass fishing if you are well-oriented about the water clarity of your location.

5. Water temperatures

6. Seasonal patterns- this is in relation with the trend whether bass fishing is seasonal or not.

7. Locating structure areas

8. Finding vegetation areas

But there is more! Being a consistent bass angler is so much more than just getting in your boat, hitting the water, and casting your baits. That’s why bass tournaments are so competitive and exciting, because the more you learn about locating bass the quicker you can start catching them right? And hey, isn’t that half the battle?

Let’s start by looking at a lake map. There are two general types of lake maps that most anglers will use which are referred to as the; “Hot Spot” and “Topographical” maps. The differences between the two is that a “Topo” map shows more detail, and the “Hot Spots” map shows more fishing spots (well, at least they’re supposed to).

The secret (or key) in learning how to use a lake map would be to sector the map. What I mean by this is that I will take the map and study it for a moment (looking for areas where the fish would most likely be.) Next, I will (using a highlighter) divide the map in sections based on how much time I have to pre-fish for a tournament or how many days I have to just fish the body of water for fun.

The size of the sections will vary depending on contours, structure, and how many places I may want to check out during the course of the day based on what the map shows me. I am certainly not one to just cast bait into the water and work it for five minutes and leave; I will try an assortment of baits if I see signs of fish in any given area to try to establish a working pattern.

Here are some key elements that you can usually look for when it comes to locating bass on any given body of water:

1. Vegetation areas

2. Irregular contours

3. Shallow water close to deep water areas

4. Points and point drops

5. Various types of structure

BASS FISHING TECHNIQUES and having a big catch

2008-07-17T11:04:00.000-07:00

Want to learn more about bass fishing techniques? Are you catching less bass because of using the wrong lure? You can finally learn how to do it the right way. There are many ebooks as well as web sites on the internet which can help you can information in bass fishing techniques and how to be successful at it.

The promise of this bass fishing techniques ebooks is that it will surely aid you in getting better bass. Moreover, you just have to follow the tips, techniques and you will surely catch more and larger bass than you ever think of.

There are bass secrets that are contained in many ebooks. Many are amazed to see the results on their very next bass fishing techniques getaway. Some may be very disappointed spending the day bass fishing and never had a good catch.

Maybe because you have used the wrong bait or if you had spent a little more time in a different location of the lake before the wind suddenly came. Well, if you have been thinking about those, these secret bass fishing techniques and ebooks will easily solve your problem. How? With these, you will know the best baits to use in every case or situation. Moreover, you will be able to know where the best part of the lake for catching fish is.

It is affected by so many factors like wind and weather at that particular time so it is really advised that one should know about it. The next time you try, you are close to being a bass professional.

These guides will let you learn the bass fishing techniques and tips on how to catch a bigger bass. If you have never tried fishing before, then you will be an enthusiast once you have read information and ebooks about bass fishing techniques.

It is not that hard at all. Many people are often disbelievers and have a common notion of bass fishing techniques, they say it is complicated. But this is not true. Once you have got an ebook or you have apt information on bass fishing techniques, you will no longer have a hard time getting improved bass. So what are some of the few big bass fishing techniques secrets?

First and foremost, you must start off by thinking like a bass fish. It may sound crazy but it could help you in finding where the big one is. It is also advised that you find the right and appropriate tackle to use in any situation or case. You must have a lot of information on crank baits, spinner baits, plastic worms, buzz baits and many other types of it.

This would be one of the things that you might be sure of. A good lure is one of the bass fishing techniques you have to learn and be knowledgeable about. In addition, you must know what part of the lake or stream is best to bass fish on different weather conditions. It will be different on a rainy day or a windy day, early in the morning or late in the evening. Other factors also affect like on a crowded lake or a steady lake and many others. It is up to you to research further on it.

Another thing is that you must know the most common bass fishing mistakes that almost every fisherman makes and executes. After knowing them and knowing the reason why will instill in your mind that these common practices end up in error so you must not practice it.

Another grateful thing is that you must choose the right bass fishing rod. You must learn the techniques and secrets on how to choose and where to find the most appropriate bass fishing rods there are.

Furthermore, you must know how to develop a successful bass fishing pattern. This will really help you in your fishing trip and having a larger bass. Some may go bass fishing at night so it is good that you learn professional night bass fishing techniques. Moreover, others may also be benefited by learning the professional winter bass fishing techniques for those who experience four seasons.

These are only some of the many bass fishing techniques and tips on how to improve your bass fishing strategy. If you do not have any strategy at all, you may really get disappointed from time to time. But, it is suggested that you first learn and read sufficient information and guides on bass fishing techniques

BASS FISHING TECHNIQUES and Facts You Need to Know

2008-07-17T11:00:00.000-07:00

Some people may not be aware of what bass fishing is. Bass fishing techniques has an interesting story. It begun in the late 18th century and it still continues to develop until today. More and more people have been hooked up with bass fishing techniques.

It is in fact one of the most popular hobbies of many people and in most countries. More and more countries have been adopting bass fishing.

It had probably in the beginning practiced in search for food from among the people in the south of the United States. From that day onwards, it has started getting numerous audiences of all ages and nations. Today, several countries such as Australia, Cuba, South Africa, United States and most citizens from Europe participate in this kind of event.

The year 1768 or 1770 was the birth of bass fishing sports. Onesimus Ustonson was the one who introduced his first multiplying reels to the fishing gurus and lovers of bass fishing. From then on, it was developed into bait caster.

William Shakespeare Jr. have materialized the construction of a level wind device and secured its patent on 1897.

Then after, the William J. Jamison Co introduced the excessively ornamented Shannon Twin Spinner in 1915 and was enhanced to create today’s spinner baits.

In the year 1932, President Franklin D. Roosevelt has instituted the formation of Tennessee Valley Authority and has encouraged the construction and building of several dams. These dams were later used for culturing different varieties of bass fishes. If these dams were not built, the people would not have the place to go for bass fishing.

Five years later, the famous DuPont Company filed copyright for nylon fishing net, and this was later urbanized into nylon monofilament fishing line.

The year 1992 is one of the most glorious events in the history of bass fishing. Larry Nixon, the famous fisherman in the history of bass fishing won $1 M total earnings for this sport on this year.

A lot of fish species that are being caught in the bass fishing events include the following:

Micropterus punctatus - Kentucky Bass

Micropterus dolomieui - Smallmouth bass

Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede) - Largemouth Bass

The other known classes of Micropterus are also wedged but in those times, one that remains most accepted is the Largemouth bass. On the other hand, it should be emphasized that some of the Australian Bass are different from the above North American Bass variants even though most share comparable features.

Possibly, the most vigorous success of Bass Fishing techniques was in the 1950s. The popularity of the game during this age is the springboard to the development of modern fishing equipments from bass boats, rods, lines, lures and various fishing gears.

The contribution of bass fishing industry to the US economy records $50 to $70 Billion and the number continues to grow. Statistics show that the audience base of this sport is increasing and that more and more people are getting interested in it compared to tennis and golf.

Electronic gears during that time were also integrated and incorporated among the host of equipments bass fishers which were used at that same time. Reels of different types, which function in carrying and hoisting, were also created.

Now that you have a little understanding about bass fishing techniques, you can already start your own bass fishing in your place. It is important to know the certain facts about bass fishing techniques so that you will fully understand how it started.

In addition, you must know how to build up a victorious bass fishing pattern. Having a larger bass will really help you in your fishing trip.

Some may also go bass fishing at night if they want to so it is good that you be taught professional night bass fishing techniques.

Besides, the others may also be benefited by learning the professional winter bass fishing techniques for those who have experienced the four seasons.

These are only some of the many styles and tips on how to progress and enhance your bass fishing strategy. But if you do not have any plan at all, you may really get dissatisfied from time to time. But, it is optional that you first learn and read adequate information and guides about bass fishing techniques

Learn some Basic on Bass Fishing Techniques

2008-07-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

As you spend more and more hours and days on bass fishing techniques, you will acquire lots of knowledge about the right lure and technique for the proper way to do this sport. The best advice most experienced and seasoned bass fishermen, is to examine the fishing conditions, ask for tips from anglers familiar with the waters you are fishing in, and finally, try many different lures and bass fishing techniques until you discover what works most effectively to the situation, and which one you are most comfortable with.

Here are some Guides to Bass Fishing techniques to become a better Bass Fisher.

The Techniques:

The bait must fall to the preferred depth, then you have to shake the rod tip. By this, you’ll be getting the fishes attention. Do this for at least 30 seconds, then shaking again for about 2 or 3 seconds intervals, stop and pull slowly about six inches. Then dropping again, slowly back and down and repeating the process. The first thing to remember if they’re not biting is to slow down.

Tips:

• During Springtime, fish uphill (position the boat in shallow water and cast to deep water) and use a 1/8 ounce weight.

• Fish downhill in Fall.

• Try to use a Texas rigged worm to prevent hang-ups.

• Fish out the worm and keep suspended 90% of the time.

• Always try to sharpen the hooks to make sure you have maximized your hookup percentage.

• When doodling, it is critical to keep your presentation natural by downsizing your hooks to 1/0 or lower, and paying delicate, attention to how straight your bait is in order to maintain a natural presentation.

• Crystal clear waters can be tough. The secret to fishing weenie worms is to keep slack on your line and “shake” the bait instead of dragging. The shaking of the rod and your light line gives your worm, grub or reaper an amazing action.

When to Go:

When the bass quit hitting during the daytime and when it becomes uncomfortably hot on the lake are good signals that it’s time to start night fishing. Night fishing is usually practiced when the water is in the mid-60s or warmer.

Places to Fish:

Where to fish at night is a question commonly asked by bass fishermen. Bass don’t move great distances in most situations. Smallmouth bass, especially, are proven stay-at-homes. As the summer wears on, the bass tend to move deeper and won’t come up shallow, even at night in many lakes. Night fishing is productive when the bass are within the 20-foot zone

Tips and Guides

• Position yourself only as far away as water clarity dictates; stay close enough for consistent accuracy.

• Try to make the lure land on the water with as little noise as possible. Cast past the target when possible.

• In windy weather, put tension on the line just before the lure touches down. This will straighten out the line and prevent it from blowing across obstructions.

• Learn casting techniques that permit a low trajectory, such as flipping, pitching, sidearm casting and underhand casting.

• Use a quality rod and reel matched to the weight of the lure. Rods with a stiff blank but relatively fast (limber) tip are easier to cast than extremely stiff or uniformly limber rods.

• Cast with the wrist, not the arm and shoulder.

• Lower the lure a few inches below the rod tip before casting; this gives extra momentum for the cast.

• Be sure to “load” the rod tip, causing it to bend backward, on the back-cast, then whip the rod forward smoothly.

• Fill the spool of any type reel to within 1/8 inch of the lip of the spool. DO NOT OVERFILL!

The Flip-Cast; use your wrist, NOT your arm.

• Concentrate on the spot you want to hit, not on what you want to miss.
• Use plenty of scent when trying to penetrate thick cover - it acts as a lubricant.
• Stick to basic jig colors (black/blue, brown/brown, black/chartreuse).
• Use a plastic worm with a glass bead between the worm and the weight for inactive fish.
• If you think it’s a strike, reel down until your rod is in a hookset position before you check.
• A strike is anything different (something you wouldn’t feel in a bathtub!).
• Tighten your drag all the way down for better hooksets.
• Use 17 to 25 pound test line for bait casting gear, 10 to 14 pound test on spinning (for flipping finesse baits).

In order to establish a pattern it is essential you understand how a bass lives in its environment. Knowing where the bass can be found at any given time or place is something you must develop. Always go fishing with a plan in mind.

Remember that every fish you catch can reveal clues on how to catch another. After establishing a pattern, realize that when the action slows down in the area you were fishing, you can then search for more areas that would fill the same criteria

Pro fisherman Charlie Campbell has a name for himself at the national level, while fisheries Ozarks

2008-07-17T10:54:00.000-07:00

Kimberling CITY, Mo. - At the age of 75, Charlie Campbell is still his dream to live in the Ozarks.

In many ways, his life has come full circle.

He remembers growing up with a pole of fishing in his hands, holding in the pockets of his father’s overalls, so that it is not lost, just fishing for fun.

This passion led to a career that thrust him into the national spotlight - a career on everything that the design of bass boats for fishing lures Fang, in the national competition in the BASS Tour, and help in building the Bass Pro Shops empire. A career, which to him will be inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame this winter.

But now he’s back on the fishing just for fun, starts his boat in Ozark reservoirs he fished for most of his life and go after what the biting.

“If you like fish, you can not choose a much better place to live than the Ozarks,” said Campbell, lives in Forsyth, Mo. “We have great bass fishing, large walleyes, float streams, good trout fishing, white - Bass, crappies, you name it.

“I guess this is the reason why I did not have been able to help. I am still fish four days a week, and I enjoy it as much now as ever.

“Fishing is in my blood.”

On a warm spring day, Campbell became a casting Bank, he has fished for years in Table Rock Lake.

And it was not long before his usual results.

As he crept a plastic lizard in the bottom, he had the feeling that tap water. As he hooks that tap water in the heavy train a large bass.

“Big smallmouth,” he said, when he saw the flash bronze fish in clear water.

Seconds later he landed the 2 (-pound fish and admired him for a moment before plunking back into the water.

“I have never tired of fishing for this great Ozarks Bass,” he said. “I have all over the country, some of the most popular fishing lakes there. But places like Table Rock and compare with each of them.

“This lake is really coming back when it comes to big fish.”

Campbell can speak from experience. He has caught largemouth bass up to 10 pounds, 4 ounces in the Ozarks.

“I caught that fish on a Zara Spook (topwater bait),” said Campbell. “That same day, I caught a 7-Pounder.

“It was a day I’ll never forget.”

A journey from the distant past? No, just two years ago.

“The bass fishing is not everything as it was years ago when these dams were only come,” said Campbell. “But there are still big bass in here.

“If the conditions are just right, you can still catch some big fish.”

For as far back as Campbell can remember, he had a fishing rod in his hands.

He remembers when he was 4, tagging along with his father, fishing some of the bays near Ava, Mo., where he grew up.

“We would be on fish in the night, and my father had a rule. I had to keep in the pockets of his overalls, I would not stray from,” Campbell said with a laugh. “My father would fish with a Jitterbug or a crazy crawler and he would catch a lot of fish.

“But he had. At that time we were fishing for food.”

When Campbell was in high school, he and his brother a johnboat and immediately were two of the most popular boys in the city.

“We had a lot of people wanted to go fishing,” said Campbell.

Fishing remains an important part of Campbell’s life when he graduated from Drury College and received his first teaching job. He went to Forsyth High School and began coaching basketball and teaching physical education and driver’s ed. But if he does not teaching …

“Some of us teachers would beat the children after school each day, when we went fishing,” said Campbell. “We would go on Bull Shoals and only fish from the bank.

“I will never forget the day that I caught three walleyes weighing more than 14 pounds (per piece). Commons, just does not happen.”

Campbell started in leadership Bull Shoals in 1958 and led to large customers bass. He also found success with his teaching and coaching. In 1973 he led the high Forsyth to the state basketball championship.

“I went from the court and said:” That’s it, “he said.” I decided it was time to go fishing. ”

This proved to be a wise decision.

Campbell was in the middle of the fishing industry, guiding in Ozarks reservoirs and even with his own marine dealership contract for three years in Branson.

But it was not hooked until he deals with John L. Morris, that his career really high. He went to work for Bass Pro Shops, assists in the design of the original Bass Tracker boat, field-testing all Bass Pro Products and works in public relations.

Until the mid-1970s, he decided to test the professional bass fishing waters and went on the bass tour.

“I remember my first tournament,” he said. “I stayed in an army pup tent and cooked.

“I was just getting started, and I did not have much money for motels and restaurants.”

But Campbell quickly found success in the national tour. He won the National Federation BASS tournament in 1974 and went to qualify for five Bass Master Classic, the association, the national championship.

Participated his farewell from the pro game eight years ago, when he had a heart attack. But he still appearances for Bass Pro Shops, especially when a new shop opened.

“I can not believe that the recognition of Fisheries has given me,” he said. “It is very humbling.”

The ravages of time and health problems, a toll on Campbell.

His hands shake when he goes to tie on a lure, and he can no longer spend the hours that he once was in a fishing boat, without getting tired.

But the passion - the true love of fishing - remains intact.

“I do not think I ever tired of fishing,” he said. “It has always been part of my life, and I think it will until the day I die

Have Your Best Shot in Bass Fishing Game Online

2008-07-17T10:52:00.000-07:00

Bass fishing has become one of the most popular sports around. The publicity around bass fishing is part of why it has become very popular. Most people also have lots of fun and excitement fishing them. And the number one bass fishing aficionados are the Americans.

Even some TV shows around United States concentrate their topics on bass fishing. Learning about bass fishing is enjoyable, and you can hire a guide to help you catch fish. They can as well teach you about catching them. You will even develop your own ideas about bass behavior, based on your own observation.

Bass are no longer treated as a food fish by the majority of anglers. When they catch basses, they released it as soon as it is caught. In contests and competitions, anglers are penalized seriously for dead fish, in most cases dead fish are not weighed. Fish turned in for weighing are immediately released or placed in tanks and treated for stress and injury to their slime coats, then released back into the water.

And since they do not already treat bass as a food fish; they make an enjoying sport out of it. Others had created a bass fishing game online which can be bought or downloaded for free.

Here are two tough bass fishing games that can be bought via the internet:

1. Bass Masters Classic: Tournament Edition – this online internet game is available for person whose age is from 6 and above. This features 3-D creation of 4 U.S. lakes and a practice lake of most anglers, multiple play modes, selectable difficulty levels, and a tutorial. The price of this online game ranges from $7.95-8.00.

2. SEGA Bass Fishing - this is also available for those who are from ages 6 and above. This is suitable for Window 95 and 98.

Now, if you want a free downloadable bass fishing games online, listed below are the games that you need.

• Pro Bass Fishing

Engross yourself in a fishing quest alive with splashing fish, jumping frogs, dancing water bugs, rippling water, bouncing rod tips and the largest, toughest fighting bass ever created on a computer. The fishing expeditions are endless when you choose the lake, the hot spot, the species, and even the weather.

• Super Bass Fishing Screensaver 2.1

This game displays 40 lanker remarkable photos of bass fishing at its best! You will view a heart throbbing strikes by lanker bass, scenic settings, extreme close ups and more! The images of this game contain high color order and are best seen using a graphics card capable of millions of colors.

• Moving Images Bass Fishing #1

The game features outstanding images of lanker bass-awesome strikes and other bass fishing related topics! Some images move around your screen at the same time. You can also arrange the number of images moving.

• Bass Fishing Scenes 2.0

Bass Fishing Scenes features images of lanker bass, remarkable strikes and scenic fishing locations. This also has exciting images for the freshwater fisherman.

• Fishing Calendar 1.42

This shows the calendar format of the best fishing days of month and best time of day based on columnar tables. This can be helpful for you players so you will know when the time to fish which basses is.

• Ugly Bass Utilities

This is a game that allows sportsman/players to view topographic or other user maps and use them to specific Latitude and Longitude. This also allows marking landmarks and locations with symbols and storing information on each point.

Some of these programs are shareware, which meaning is that you only get limited use or there is a time limit on the usage to play for these games online. So, when you are already online, play the bass fishing and play it like there is no tomorrow.

Bass fishing game online is amusing, a challenge that can be shared in a tournaments. There is lots of plugging about it but people fish for bass for a wide variety of reasons. And people play for bass fishing game for great experience. If you have never play the bass fishing game online, what’s the wait! Release those urges for Bass fishing with a bass fishing game online.

Make a Christmas card Inspired from Bass Fishing

2008-07-17T10:43:00.000-07:00

For the majority people, Christmas time means shopping for gifts, cards and presents for their friends, family, co-workers and many others. Unfortunately, shopping for Christmas often times creates a lot of stress and burden for people due to the fact that they have to go out, fight the crowds and pay retail prices for the Christmas gifts they buy.

Now, you can get all of your Christmas gifts and supplies including ornaments, trees, cards, crafts and cookies at discount prices online and at the same time, same lots of time! Like the bass fishing Christmas card, they are also available online.

We all know that almost everybody in Florida is fascinated with bass fishing. They even consider bass fishing as their number one freshwater sport.

Most of these anglers have built bass fishing services because of them; bass fishing is already a hard habit to break.

Not only that, some of them would even make Christmas cards inspired from bass fishing. They do this as an effective business product especially on the holiday seasons or any other special occasions.

For children, Christmas cards are colorful and are usually printed with jokes, stickers, or games. There are also special Christmas cards that hold money or gift cards. For adults, Christmas cards are often either traditional or humorous. And most of the adults get their Christmas cards on the Internet.

Like Bass Fishing Christmas Cards which can be redeemed for online purchases, catalog orders, and purchases.

Most Bass Fishing Gift Cards are mailed separately to the shipping address of your choice. Such as:

• Bass Fishing Christmas Cards delivered in 3-6 business days.

• Catalog(s) or the gift cards are shipped separately.

• Free standard shipping to US zip codes

• Gift Card amounts are in US funds

Not only that, here’s your second choice…

Most Bass Fishing Greeting Cards businesses provide a great way to send a gift almost instantly to your favorite outdoor enthusiast. Simply provide them with the dollar amount and they will email a Gift Card that can be used immediately.

These are important reminders on how you can get the card that you order:

• Most Bass Fishing Christmas Gift Cards are delivered within four hours if ordered during normal business hours. Otherwise they may take 4 to 24 hours to be delivered.

• These gift cards are usually delivered without any problems. However, a full inbox, invalid email address, or a spam filter can prevent the greeting card from reaching the recipient’s inbox. In order to be certain that a Gift Card has been received, please check with the recipient.

• Gift Cards are available for U.S. orders only and are in US funds.

• Catalogs will not be mailed, but current catalogs can be viewed online.

And here is your third choice, if you want your bass fishing Christmas card to be more memorable do it yourself. It’s the thought that counts, not the amount anyway!

An ordinary hand-made Christmas card is very special, how much more if it was motivated by bass fishing? Very peculiar is it not? And yet too easy!

Here’s what you will need:

a piece of card 17cm x 25cm

a piece of crepe paper or tissue paper slightly smaller than the card

several pieces of colored paper, recycled or interesting texture

metallic braid or cord, or colored ribbon inspire

ruler

glue

scissors

pinking shears

and of course do not forget your pictures with the bass fishes (have it scanned please)

And here’s the easy way to do it:

1. Carefully fold the piece of card in half.

2. Use a very small amount of glue to fix the tissue paper inside the card as a lining.

3. Trim a piece of colored paper with pinking shears, so that it measures 13cm x 8cm. Glue it to the front of the card, leaving an equal margin on each side.

4. Cut a simple shape - a Christmas tree, a star, bells etc. - from an interesting paper of a toning or contrasting color. Glue the shape to the front of the card.

5. When you are done with that, edit the picture that you have just scanned. You can use Paint Shop Pro for it.

There you have it, just use your creativity and you’ll have a Bass fishing Christmas card to give to a bass fishing enthusiast.

Welcome to AlaskaOnTheFly.info

2008-07-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

USAOnTheFly.com is pleased to offer to you AlaskaOnTheFly.info, an Alaska Fly Fishing directory. No where will you find a more complete directory with rich content and easy navigation. Participation is encouraged and will always be appreciated and acknowledged. The unique sport of fly fishing is a "State of Mind". Our hope is to provide the information needed to reach your own "State of Mind". So go north to Alaska and visit our sponsors. Thanks for stopping by.

AlaskaOnTheFly.info is brought to you by these fine Sponsors

Buggs Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir)

2008-07-14T14:22:00.000-07:00

Buggs Island Lake is about 48,900 acres at full pool and has one of the best largemouth bass fisheries in the country. Surveys on largemouth bass indicate high rates of reproduction and growth. Largemouth bass in the 2-4 pound range are typical, however, trophy bass greater than eight pounds are rare. The best fishing is on the upper end of the lake and the lower end creek arms. Structure is important, and water levels affect how much structure is available. When water levels rise into the willow and sweet gum trees in spring, anglers should be sure to fish the backs of coves and the points. Channel catfish have traditionally been the most sought after catfish at Buggs Island; however, flathead and blue catfish have become popular as well.

The striped bass population is in fair condition and should be similar to the last couple of years. During spring, striped bass may be found in the upper end of the lake and in the river above the lake as fish travel upstream to spawn. During summer, habitat (combination of temperature and dissolved oxygen) forces striped bass to be found in the lower end of the lake (the dam to about Buoy 9 and in the mouth of Nutbush Creek). Fishing during the fall and winter is typically best from Goat Island to the Clarksville Bridge, although fish may be found throughout the lake. Striped bass caught during the summer suffer high mortality rates when released (approximately 75 percent). Therefore, we ask that anglers fishing during the summer retain their legal-size fish (20 inches or over) until they are done fishing for the day, or reach their limit (four/day) rather than continue to catch fish and cull smaller individuals. During the cooler months (October-May), striped bass are less stressed and do not suffer high catch-and-release mortality.

Buggs Island Lake is also one of Virginia's best places to catch crappie. Fishing for crappie is typically best from February through April (pre-spawn and spawn); however, many anglers enjoy high catch rates year-round. Buffalo, Grassy, Bluestone, and Butcher Creeks are very productive for crappie. White bass used to be a real favorite at Buggs Island Lake. However, white bass populations are down in many Virginia reservoirs. White perch have recently become established in the lake and may have contributed to the decline of white bass. White perch are quickly becoming popular with anglers because they are abundant and can reach weights of nearly two pounds.

Bryan Park

2008-07-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

Bryan Park, which contains two adjacent lakes of approximately six acres each, is owned and operated by the City of Richmond. It is located just north of the intersection of I-64 and I-95. The main entrance is on Hermitage Road, but it can also be accessed at times from Bryan Park Avenue. Bryan Park is very picturesque, particularly during the spring when its gardens of flowers are in bloom. It has a large picnic shelter and handicap facilities. The lakes contain channel catfish, which are stocked annually, as well as reproducing populations of largemouth bass, bluegill, and pumpkinseed sunfish.

Brunswick Lake

2008-07-14T14:04:00.001-07:00

Lake Brunswick in Brunswick County is an excellent panfish lake with abundant bluegill and redear in "keeper" sizes. Crappie populations are abundant, and they average about 10 inches. It is also a good largemouth bass lake with good numbers of bass over 15 inches and a few fish over 20 inches. The lake also has some healthy-sized yellow perch. Brunswick Lake is being drawn down during the winter of 2001-2002 to make some repairs to the dam and also to put in a new boat ramp, parking lot, and fishing pier. There are a few homes around the lake, but VDGIF owns a 20-foot strip of land around the entire shoreline, which is open to the public.

Lake Brittle

2008-07-14T13:44:00.000-07:00

Lake Brittle is a 77-acre impoundment located in Fauquier County. It was constructed in 1953 as a public fishing lake. It is one of the oldest Department-owned lakes and among the first to be built in Virginia with Dingell-Johnson funds. Dingell-Johnson funds are provided by a federal excise tax on fishing tackle. Lake Brittle is located just east of Warrenton and only thirty miles from the Beltway. It offers a peaceful setting, good fishing, picnicking for the family, and abundant nature for the wildlife enthusiast. The lake's average depth is about seven feet, and it has a maximum depth of 25 feet near the spillway tower.

Lake Brittle supports a warmwater fish community including largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, black crappie and channel catfish. The lake has been stocked annually with walleye since 1979. Flathead catfish were stocked in 1990 and 1994 to control the abundant sunfish population and undesirable species such as brown bullhead and gizzard shad, which managed to proliferate to produce large populations.

The management objective of Lake Brittle is to increase panfish population structure and average weight while maintaining the largemouth bass fishery. The balance of the fishery is based on the predation of stunted sunfish and gizzard shad by catfish, largemouth bass and walleye. It will be necessary to maintain high predator numbers to sufficiently control overpopulation of the lake with stunted, slow growing sunfish.

Lake Brittle is located just to the southeast of New Baltimore off of Route 29/Route 15. Signs for Lake Brittle will be seen as you reach the Route 600 intersection. Take Route 600 east to Route 793. Route 793 will take you to the lake.

Briery Creek Lake

2008-07-14T13:42:00.000-07:00

Briery Creek Lake is an 845-acre lake that is owned by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and is within the Briery Creek Wildlife Management Area in Prince Edward County. The dam was completed in 1986 and the lake was open to fishing in 1989. In 1986 and 1987 the lake was stocked with Florida strain largemouth bass, northern strain largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish (also known as shellcrackers), channel catfish, and crappie. Timber in the floodplain was left standing or felled and drumchopped resulting in an abundance of fish habitat. Biologists hoped that the presence of Florida-strain bass and the complex habitat would produce a high quality largemouth bass fishery.

Initially, the largemouth bass regulation was an 18-inch minimum length and two fish per day creel limit. Early production of largemouth bass was excellent and in 1991, this regulation was changed to a 12-15 inch protected slot limit (5 per day) to allow anglers to harvest the abundant smaller bass. Briery Creek Lake quickly began producing trophy largemouth bass and recognized as one of the state's premier bass fisheries. To help protect this fishery, the regulation was changed to a 14, 24 inch protected slot limit on January 1, 2001. The daily bag limit is still five bass per day, but only one may be longer than 24 inches.

Lake Biggins

2008-07-14T13:40:00.000-07:00

Lake Biggins is located within one of the oldest public parks in Newport News. The pond is located on approximately three acres of the 60 acre park. Lake Biggins provides a scenic area for anglers to try their luck while being so close to urban areas of Newport News and Hampton. Shoreline access has been improved with the clearing of excessive brush that lined the banks. Fishing hours are daily from sunrise to sunset and vary according to the season.

For anglers interested in fishing some big water, the boat ramp to the James River is open 24 hours throughout the year. The James River Fishing Pier is a leased concession and is operated 24 hours a day from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Beaverdam Swamp Reservoir

2008-07-14T13:38:00.000-07:00

This 635-acre reservoir is located just outside of the Gloucester Courthouse. The reservoir and park provide a variety of opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast. There are trails for hikers, bikers and horse riders. You may see deer, turkey, and bald eagles, as well as a variety of waterfowl. In 2001, you may have caught a glimpse of Stephen Spielberg who was using the park as a set for the film Minority Report starring Tom Cruise.

The reservoir was constructed in 1989 and reached full pool level during the winter of 1989-1990. Bluegill, channel catfish, redear sunfish and black crappie are the only fish to have been stocked in this reservoir. The largemouth bass population became established on its own from bass that lived in the streams and several surrounding farm ponds that were encompassed by the impoundment.

Sampling in 1990 showed largemouth bass had become overabundant as a consequence of the high reproductive success of the remnants of the resident pre-impoundment population. A nine-day special largemouth bass-only season was introduced in September 1991 to reduce the number of bass. The reservoir was opened to fishing for all species in September 1992.

Beaverdam Swamp Reservoir contains abundant populations of largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, bluegill, and redear sunfish. The reservoir has been a popular spot for bass anglers and the park conducts several bass tournaments throughout the year.

Beaver Creek Reservoir

2008-07-14T13:34:00.001-07:00

Beaver Creek Reservoir
Beaver Creek Reservoir is a 104-acre water supply reservoir that was built in 1964 for the Town of Crozet. Historically, it has provided very good angling for a variety of species including largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish. In addition to the good quality fishing, what draws anglers to the lake are its outstanding seasonal views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the forested shoreline, and the rolling terrain of the piedmont. It's a great place to take the family because the fish are abundant, the fishing pressure is relatively low, and the views are spectacular.

Bark Camp Lake

2008-07-14T13:24:00.000-07:00

Bark Camp Lake

Bark Camp Lake is a 61-acre lake located in Scott County. It is the oldest Department-owned lake in Southwest Virginia. When construction of the lake was completed in the mid 1950's, a beautiful lake completely surrounded by forested land was born. Some of the trees surrounding the lake have found their way into the lake and are providing good habitat for fish and good fishing spots for anglers. Clear water and fairly dense stands of aquatic vegetation offer anglers and other "fish watchers" a unique scenario. A variety of fish species are available for anglers, including largemouth bass, black crappie, several sunfish species, channel catfish, and trout. Most of these fish populations are self-sustaining, meaning that they reproduce in the lake and maintain fishable populations without the need for stocking. Catchable-sized trout are stocked seasonally to provide a bit of angling diversity. Grass carp are also stocked as needed to control aquatic vegetatio

Back Bay

With more than 25,000 acres, Back Bay is the largest body of water in the district. It produces good white perch and channel catfish at times, some flounder, and other saltwater and brackish water species. Many citation channel catfish are caught in the tributary creeks in the spring, as fish move into fresher water to spawn. The freshwater creeks feeding into the bay have largemouth bass, crappie, and bluegill. Bank fishing is limited and available only in some of the tributary creeks.

Some fishing is available at the state-owned boat ramps on Mill Landing Road, Back Bay Landing Road, and some private ramps. Several private launch ramps are available on the bay and feeder creeks off Princess Anne and Muddy Creek Roads.

Arrowhead Lake

2008-07-14T13:12:00.000-07:00

Arrowhead Lake
Lake Arrowhead is a 39 acre impoundment located in Page County near Luray, Virginia. The lake was constructed in 1971 by the USDA Soil Conservation Service as a flood control impoundment. The lake is owned by the Town of Luray and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland fisheries manages the fishery. Lake Arrowhead sits at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains offering a magnificent view of the Page Valley. Gradual sloping banks, relatively clear water, and a maximum depth of forty-three feet best describes the physical make up of the lake. The lake basin was cleared of all structure during construction making underwater structure sparse.

A local angling club, Page Valley Bass Anglers, has been active in adding brush fish attractors to the lake. In recent years overabundant aquatic vegetation (elodea) had become a problem in the shallow areas of the lake. The Town of Luray has gone to great effort by using herbicides and triploid grass carp to control the vegetation. Anglers have the opportunity to fish for largemouth bass, walleye, northern pike, bluegill, crappie, redear sunfish, and channel catfish at Lake Arrowhead.

Lake Anna

2008-07-14T13:11:00.001-07:00

Lake Anna

Lake Anna is a 9,600-acre impoundment located in Louisa, Orange, and Spotsylvania counties, owned by the Dominion Power Company. The impoundment was completed in 1972 and serves as cooling water for the North Anna Nuclear Power Station. Initial stockings began in 1972, with introductions of largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and channel catfish. Subsequent stockings of channel catfish, largemouth bass (northern and southern strains), redear, striped bass, and walleye were made to improve and diversify the fishery. Blueback herring and threadfin shad were successfully introduced in the 1980's to provide additional forage for pelagic (open-water) predators. Annual stockings of striped bass and walleye continue in order to maintain these fisheries (other species are self sustaining).

Prior to 1985, largemouth bass were managed with a 12-inch size limit (five per day). That minimum was changed to a 12 to 15 inch protected slot in 1985 in an effort to help restructure the largemouth bass population. In recent years, as the popularity of catch-and-release bass fishing became prevalent, creel data indicated over 99% of bass caught at Anna were released. Thus, the need for any type of restrictive harvest restriction is moot, and the slot was dropped on July 1, 2006. Striped bass are currently managed under a 20-inch minimum size limit and a creel limit of four per day.

Lake Anna is a reasonable drive from both Northern Virginia and the Richmond area. Outdoorsmen can access Lake Anna at many private marinas, several campgrounds, and at Lake Anna State Park. Reservoir accessibility creates heavy use by both anglers and boaters, especially during summer months. A 2000 creel survey indicated that fishing pressure was around 24 hours/acre. The most popular species fished for included largemouth bass (69%), striped bass (15%), and crappie (12%). Crappie (70%) were harvested at the highest rate, followed by striped bass (29%) and largemouth bass (1%). A creel survey was conducted in 2005, but data have not been analyzed yet.

Hydrilla vertricillata, an exotic aquatic weed, became established into Lake Anna during the late 1980's. Abundance increased from 96 acres in 1990 to 832 acres in 1994. Triploid (sterile) grass carp were stocked into Virginia Power's Waste Heat Treatment Facility in 1994 to control Hydrilla, and Hydrilla abundance is now quite low in both impoundments (some escapement to the main lake side occurred). Grass carp are still alive from that stocking, but their numbers are declining. Most grass carp remaining are now over three feet long.

Lake Airfield

2008-07-14T13:08:00.000-07:00

Lake Airfield

Lake Airfield is located in Sussex and Southampton Counties, about eight miles south of Wakefield on Route 628. It is partially owned by VDGIF. It is surrounded by mixed pine and hardwood forest, with numerous cypress and tupelo trees along the shoreline. Water lilies are abundant in the shallow water and add some beauty to the lake. Those who discover its secrets know they'll be rewarded with some nice fish.

Amelia Lake

Amelia Lake is a 100-acre impoundment located entirely within Amelia Wildlife Management Area in Amelia County, Virginia. The lake is owned and managed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The impoundment is located close enough to Richmond for convenient access to boating and fishing or other recreational activities on the management area.

Amelia Lake is managed to provide a warmwater fishery comprised of largemouth bass, channel catfish, black crappie, bluegill, and redear sunfish. The lake has an over-abundance of largemouth bass, which results in high catch rates of small fish for anglers. This impoundment is well suited for beginning anglers who are interested in catching fish that aren't necessarily trophies.

Amelia Lake can be reached by travelling on 360 to State Route 604 North. Once on 604, simply follow the signs to the lake.

Albemarle Lake

2008-07-14T13:06:00.000-07:00

Albemarle Lake

Lake Albemarle is a 35-acre impoundment owned by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. Built in 1938 by the Civilian Conservation Corp, this lake shows little sign of aging. The shoreline is virtually undeveloped and due to its location in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lake Albemarle provides a quality aesthetic outing.The lake supports a variety of sport fish including self-sustaining populations of largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and black crappie. Channel catfish are stocked annually by the Department to diversify the fishery.

Freshwater Fishing

2008-07-14T13:03:00.000-07:00

Where to Fish.

Abel Reservoir

This 185-acre reservoir is long and riverine; it is almost too long for a single battery electric motor if you plan on traveling its length. There is residential development along the shoreline, although development is slow and sparse. Abel is a water supply for Stafford County.

Links

2008-06-17T10:06:00.000-07:00

http://games4x.blogspot.com/2008/01/links_28.html
http://freegameshot.blogspot.com/2008/05/links.html
http://a-fishingseason.blogspot.com/2008/06/links.html

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2008-06-14T10:49:00.000-07:00

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