Free Tips for Bass Fishing
April 30, 2010 by Lyle Holmes · Leave a Comment
Fishing is a hobby that many Americans spend their free time doing. Besides investing valuable time and energy, money is also a factor with this beloved past time. Despite the constraints associated with fishing, lots of people are drawn to it because of the pleasure they get.
As a general rule, it is important to study about the type of fish you are interested in catching. Knowing the spots to find the particular fish and the temperature of water they usually hang out on is an advantage. Fishing requires a great amount of time before successfully catching one. Being familiar with fishes’ behavior cuts the time spent waiting and doubling the chances of having a good catch.
Besides knowing the behavior of the fish, it is important to have the right equipment for the water condition the fish prefers. Equipment used for salt fishing is different from what is being used in river fishing. Having the right equipment for a specific water condition determines the success of fishing per se. Listed below are tips for bass fishing.
When fishing for bass, the perfect location to spot several of these creatures is to the sites where water is cool. They usually hang out in areas where old trees are located. They shelter among the barks that have fallen to which they nurture smaller fishes. Ponds, lakes, and reservoir where water is slow to sluggish are the type of water that bass prefer.
Bass eats anything that fits into its mouth so any bait will do. However, bass can see well in clear water so it is important to have different kinds of baits. Determine which lures them and change one immediately if it does not attract any fishes.
Basic Carp Fishing Pointers
April 27, 2010 by Lyle Holmes · Leave a Comment
Frustrating as it is, carp fishing is awesome. Carp are really good at sucking in and blowing out suspicious baits. It’s such an excitement to see the whole action in a fraction of a second as you hang on for dear life while the reel is trembling with a loud noise.
Carp happily devour on the surface as long as you keep the pellets, biscuits, chic peas, bread, and re-hydrated corn coming in, and these are inexpensive baits as well. Just attach them to the hooks, most preferably the bread. Have the biscuits softened by dipping it in the water for about 2 minutes, then, place them in a sealed sandwich bag for about an hour. Since different brands have different textures, just experiment to know which is firm enough to cast. Another way to hook baits is super gluing the pellet into the shank.
Once they get into feeding, let them feel comfortable around the bait. This gives more opportunity for the fisherman since they begin to not feel picky. This tactic can be useful for zig rigs.
As soon as they’re feeding, cast the bait but make sure not to drop the bait directly onto the feeding carp. Cast away from the feeding area then slowly draw it in position. While the bait is till hanging, keep the food coming in so as to keep the carp from going away.
How to Set-Up?
• Use a hair rig to increase your chance of catching. As carp taste food first, if they don’t like the taste, they won’t come near it.
• You may also use a Spider Line, 50 lbs test, then use a leader material that fits the situation.
• Thread the bait on the baiting needle and hook the hair loop. You may also use foam dipped in a flavor as this enhances the attractiveness of the bait.
• Also make a baiting needle by just straightening a long shank hook. Slide the bait on the shank, then slide the bait from the needle onto the hair.
• Using a float is also an advantage because it adds weight for further distancing and the location is easily identified.
• Don’t forget the controller float rig. A leader can be used which is attached to the swivel to its mainline of at least 3 feet length with a 10lbs Drennan double strength. A low diameter mono will do just as long as it floats well enough for visibility.
As experts say, it is not the bait that catches the carp but the method in which the bait is introduced. Pre-bait everyday, in one spot for a few days. This makes the carp think that there is a regular source of food for them and by “word of mouth” there’ll soon be a school of fish around. Just be patient and it will all work.
Catch Big Fish With Bait Casting Reels
April 22, 2010 by Lyle Holmes · Leave a Comment
Bait casting reels are often used by advanced fishermen who enjoy catching big fish such as pike, salmon, and bass. While these reels are great for catching big fish, it does take time to learn to cast the line properly. Some of the advantages of using a bait caster, as opposed to a spin caster, are farther casting, more precise lure placement, and better leverage.
Bait casting reels usually sit on top of the rod. The reason it can be difficult to master is because it requires the use of your thumb to control the casting speed and placement. Most beginners who try to use this type of reel usually have problems with backlash. This is when the line gets tangled in the spool. It is sometimes referred to as a ‘bird’s nest’.
Bait casters are great for catching bigger fish because they are made for fishing with heavier lures and heavier lines. The heavier lures enable the angler to fish at higher speeds. You can take full advantage of baits such as spinner baits and crank baits. The heavier lines are great for fighting with the bigger fish such as bass. You are able to put more pressure on the line without the fear of it snapping.
Another advantage of this reel is more control and better lure placement. Often times, bass fishing requires you to place the lure in a precise spot. This precise placement can be difficult with spin cast reels due to lack of control. Once you get that big fish on the hook, you have a better chance of landing it due to the increase leverage since the reel sits closer to the rod.
The disadvantage of bait casting reels is the tougher learning curve. Most fishermen have used spin cast reels since they were kids. The spin cast reel controls the line. With the bait caster, your thumb is in touch with the line on the spool. This puts you in complete control while fishing. In order to get the benefits of the bait caster, you will need to practice casting or you will spend most of your fishing trip untangling bird’s nests.
There are many great spin cast reels that will get the job done. Many fishermen have been catching fish for years using the spin cast reels. These won’t become obsolete anytime soon. However, one of the biggest advantages of the bait caster is your accuracy. You’ll be able to place the lure in its precise spot. Bait casting reels are the way to go if you don’t want to risk losing your trophy fish on the line. With its advantages, it will be worth the time it takes to learn the bait caster.
Bait casting reels have many advantages over spin cast reels. Many fishermen are hesitant to use the bait caster because it can be frustrating to master. Once you learn the proper technique, you can enjoy its many benefits. You can visit this article about Bait Casting Reels to get more information.
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Fly Fishing Basics – Everything You Need to Know
April 19, 2010 by Lyle Holmes · Leave a Comment
Fly fishing is gaining its popularity as a sport more than merely a hobby. The effort required to perform the task is extensive that being able to acquire the biggest catch became the goal of every fly fishing enthusiasts. Knowing the fly fishing basics is having an in depth knowledge with fly flying, rods, reeds, flies and fish. It is learning the correct way of doing fly fishing.
The first factor that should be taken into consideration is the location to which you are interested in catching a fish. The location determines the type of fish you can catch and the equipment to invest on. If you live near the sea, you may want to try out sea fishing. This type of fly fishing is extensive and there are several fishes available for the sport. If you would want to remain low key, river fishing is the recommended fly fishing technique for you as it is mostly done inlands.
As these leads us to techniques, fly fishing styles will be greatly influenced by the location you prefer. Whatever location you choose, the techniques will eventually follow through. Practice definitely puts an edge in catching quality fish. Take time to master the correct techniques.
There are three basic techniques usually applied in fly flying. These are: (1) playing and landing, (2) pumping, and (3) netting. The first technique has a lot to do with reading the water and knowing how to present the bait properly. Pumping is a kind of reeling a fish when it tires from running away and Netting is done as the fish is exhausted from escaping.
How To Catch Your First Catfish
April 4, 2010 by Lyle Holmes · Leave a Comment
Every year more and more waters are being stocked with catfish as anglers appear to be going crazy for moggies. Many predict that they will eventually take over from carp as the anglers’ most popular quarry. I doubt this but only time will tell.
However one fact we can’t ignore is that they’re out there within the grasp of most anglers. Even the River Thames has got catfish, as was demonstrated at the start of a match at Canberry Gardens at Kingston where the match was delayed as the competitors stood round to see a pleasure angler land a twenty pound plus moggy.
My first catfish came out of RMC Angling’s Split Lake at Yateley when their assistant angling manager and close friend, Adrian Ellis, took us to fish for catfish. Although a good all rounder, Adrian does like his predator fishing and was at the time well into his moggy fishing.
The rod had to be powerful so I opted for two 12ft 31b test curve Masterline Ecusima carp rods. These would have the power to handle cats and to push the heavy casting weights out.
I used two Ryobi Techno 4000ZF fixed spool reels. These are very large spooled reels that hold plenty of the heavy line required. I was going to fish with an open bail arm so there was no need for bait runners. The main line was 15lb bs Big Game which is a tough and reliable line.
The trace is most important as cats have pads of rather abrasive mini teeth that cut through most braids on the market. The universally accepted line according to most catfish anglers is one of 45lb bs. Yes, no mistake, 45lb breaking strain Kryston Quick-Silver. I was surprised but after catching my first cat I soon realised this was essential.
The hooks were Cox and Rawle uptide extra strong.
We arrived a couple of hours before dark when Adrian produced a wheelbarrow from his estate car and loaded it with all his tackle and camping gear. I followed him to the lake with my rods and some of my tackle. When we arrived at the swim Adrian pointed out the swim to fish.
We left some of our gear in the swim and borrowed Adrian’s wheelbarrow to transport our bivvy and remaining gear from our car to the swim. Naturally Virginia had to have a go with the wheelbarrow and had some interesting offers from some of the long stay carpers that we passed. For the record, Virginia is not a haulage contractor nor has a younger sister good with a wheelbarrow!
We then erected our bivvy for the first time in years and soon had everything set up for a comfortable night. I then proceeded to set up my rod pod with two optonic heads. The rods were then set up in the rod pod waiting for Adrian to come along to tie the terminal rigs. Adrian then arrived to help me set up the livebait rigs for the cats.
First I had to put two plastic line stops on the line and thread them up so they were together. This made the stop more effective. This was followed by a 3oz, free running sliding bomb. I then put on a free running bead and a strong swivel followed by a Quick-Silver trace. A largish polystyrene ball was secured on the trace by plastic line stops placed either side of the ball. This was about 14 inches from the swivel. The ball was about 1/2 inch diameter. About four inches from the polystyrene ball was the 0/1 uptide extra strong hook. This completed the rather complex rig designed to allow you to fish the livebait at any depth. All you had to do was to adjust the back stops to alter how far the ball floated up in the water.
The next step was to set up our 9m whips with pole rigs already attached. We fed with pinkies to fish two pinkies on a size 20 hook. It did not take long before we were catching a mixture of small roach, rudd and a few little tench. This took just over an hour and we were then ready to start fishing for moggies as it started to get dark.
By the time I had cast out it was approaching 9.30pm. Time to cook my tea, a lovely large beefburger from my local butcher. Virginia was halfway through cooking it when I saw the first flash of lightning. As it was cooked, the first spots of rain began to fall. I retired to the bivvy listening to the thunder and watching the lightning. It was the worst storm for years. At one stage the noise of the thunder was so loud I was thinking of putting in ear plugs. I’d never have heard the alarms go off if I’d got a run! The rain was terrific – as I looked out from the bivvy and the whole lake was illuminated by flashes of lightning. Certainly a storm not to be forgotten but I was perfectly dry in my bivvy.
At 2 am the rain ceased, leaving me cursing my luck as I was convinced the rain had cooled the water down so much the cats wouldn’t feed. They are very much warm water feeders. Then, at just gone 3am the bite alarm went off. It was the fastest run I’d ever seen. I slammed the bail arm over and lent into the fish to hear my clutch scream. By this time Adrian was standing beside me.
“You’re in” he said.
“Yes, certainly a cat” I replied
First mistake! Off went Luther, Adrian’s dog, searching the banks for a cat.
“Never use the word C.A.T. when Luther is around as he responds immediately” Adrian explained.
The catfish fought exceptionally well and appeared to go equally as fast in reverse as forward. It changed direction with remarkable ease and speed. It was a long hard fight but after a good ten minutes I saw it’s shape. Adrian then got hold of the very large landing net and waited until I brought the fish over it. He netted it first attempt to take it over to the very large unhooking mat we had placed out before fishing. As he shone his small light to unhook it for me, I saw it clearly for the first time. It was much smaller than I expected but I was happy – a catfish on my first attempt!
I noticed Adrian kept well away from the gills. He then showed me why, as there are very nasty teeth nearby so I quickly learnt that you can not treat moggies like pike. You must keep well away from the gills.
The fish was then placed in a catfish tube. One end was closed, the fish placed in head first from the other end and the far end then secured. The fish in the tube was then pegged out lengthways in the swim. Adrian explained that sacks were banned as cats can panic in them and die.
The fish was left in the tube until daylight when we could photograph it. When there was sufficient light Adrian took the fish, still in the tube to the unhooking mat. The end nearest the fish’s head was released and the catfish removed. He showed me the pads of small teeth in front of the fish’s mouth, explaining the reason for the Kryston 45lb bs Quick-Silver trace. It is in his opinion essential for catfish fishing.
He then showed we how to hold and control the fish for the trophy shot before weighing it at 12lb 8oz. The fish was then returned quickly having been out of the water only a few minutes.
Two weeks later, we returned to the venue to try for another catfish and some tench. This time we were going to use swan mussels that we were going to catch from the lake. Adrian cut a small twig from a tree and sharpened one end with a pair of scissors. He then looked around close in at the bottom of the lake where he saw some swan mussels with their shells open. Adrian told me they were a typical clam and as such would close on any foreign object. He put his stick into the gap between the two halves of the complete shell and the swan mussel immediately clamped on to the stick. He pulled the stick up with the mussel. As we were only going to use swan mussel on one rod, we took only eight swan mussels. On the other rod we were going to use frozen Richworth 6mm Tutti Fruiti boilies – two, hair rigged on a size 10 hook. The swan mussels were kept in a bucket of water and only one prepared at a time. This was legered on a running rig but with a 451b Kryston trace.
As it got dark we had plenty of activity on the boilie rod, regularly catching tench between 4 1/21b and 61b. The swan mussel rod was slower but yielding fewer tench with a slightly higher average size. In the early hours I had a terrific run on my swan mussel rod that again ripped off yards of line. I knew it was a cat and after a long fight landed my second catfish. This was heavier than the first weighing a fraction over 15lb.
Since then we have noticed that the catfish have grown every year, often by as much as 6lb. No doubt, given time and plenty of food, Split Lake will see its first forty pounder.
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Sunny Afternoons And Patrolling Carp For Fishing
April 4, 2010 by Lyle Holmes · Leave a Comment
Looking for some exciting fishing in the next few weeks? Haven’t got a lot of time? Then why not try stalking a few a carp? Your chances of finding the fish right in the margins are high right around now.
Whilst the weather is still pretty changeable, most parts of the country have had a few days of warm temperatures and light Westerly winds – ideal conditions to get the carp moving. Whilst you can stalk carp on some waters most of the time, these conditions really make life a lot easier. Firstly, the air temperature will be warmer than the water, so the carp will tend to be found along the bank facing the wind. They will also tend to be in the surface layers, making them very visible if you wear polarised glasses.
In the summer carp can be incredibly frustrating, whilst they are visible, when the water is too warm they become lethargic and uninterested in bait. At the moment though they can still be tempted right through the day. Try to creep up on the fish and watch their reaction. If the carp are moving around, interacting with other fish and generally looking pretty alert then they are catchable. What you don’t want to see are fish that are just sitting there motionless.
You might think that surface baits would be the easiest way of catching these carp. This is true – sometimes, but I find that you need a decent breeze to catch during the day. The wave action breaks up the silhouette of the line, giving the fish a little more confidence. Alternatively, look to make use of any surface weed to hide the line from the fish.
As the fish are right in the edge there is no need for complex rigs. Normally a couple of mixers can be free-lined to the fish, once you have got them feeding confidently. Whatever you do don’t try and catch one until they are actually looking for more bait. One of my favourite methods at this time of the year is to drape the line over an overhanging branch and then to gently lower the bait onto the water surface so that no line is touching the surface. When you get a take, don’t strike too hard, wait for the carp to run away from you, lifting the line off the branch and then tighten up.
Surface fishing is very exciting, but there is a more effective method of catching carp at this time of year. Generally, the carp will be the only fish right in the margins, so you can fish for them with baits that might otherwise pick up nuisance fish. Maggots are the bait par-excellence for pulling carp down for a feed. Even when the fish are swimming around in mid-water they will easily locate a few maggots and come to investigate.
My plan is normally to watch the carp for an hour or more. Make a note of any spots where the fish linger, or where they turn, next look for spots where you can present a bait on the lake bed, free from too much weed or snags. When the fish melt away, introduce a handful of maggots and the same amount of hemp on to the clear patch. Once again, don’t cast out. Sit back, chill out and watch the reaction of the fish. Each time the carp leave the swim add another pinch of maggots to replace any that become buried. It can often take a few hours before the carp decide to feed, but eventually they will and slowly their confidence will build up.
When the carp are feeding on the maggots, colouring the water, it is time to introduce the hook bait. Wait for the carp to leave the swim and then swing the rig into place. I normally use six maggots on a size eight hook balanced with a small piece of rig foam. A six inch nylon hook length of 10-15lb strain depending on the size of the fish is used. Leads need only be light, 1.5oz is normally enough to set the small hook. Now sink the line so that it is out of the way of fish entering the swim, top up with a few more maggots – and make sure you put the baitrunner on! Takes when you are almost eyeball to eyeball are pretty explosive!
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