Christmas is fast approaching and despite the fact that the country is going through some tough economic conditions, you cannot afford to disappoint someone this Christmas especially your dad. Yes, your dad will not really press you for any presents but it would be nice to surprise him with that fly fishing gear that he has always wanted. No, you do not have to buy those expensive gears; you can always get your dad one of those discount fly fishing gears. There are many discount fly fishing gears that are as good as those expensive ones. You just have to search in the right places to find what you need. Getting Started
Hunting for discount fly fishing gear is not difficult. With the use of the internet, you can find what you need in just a matter of minutes. Just launch a general search for discount fly fishing gear online and then follow the leads generated from your search. Narrow your search to a few respectable websites and then check out these websites one by one. If you are lucky, you may even find some discount fly fishing gears that are made by well know companies. If not, you can always find some cheap but good quality discount fly fishing gears online.
On the other hand, if you choose shop offline instead of online, you better start by checking out your favorite fishing supply store. Find out if your favorite store has some discount fly fishing gears that you can buy for your dad. Most stores nowadays are giving huge discounts on their regular items so there is a big possibility that your dad’s favorite fly fishing gears is cheaper than they used to be.
Aside from checking your favorite fishing supply store, you should also checkout some of the discount stores and used gear stores near you. The interesting about used gears is that they often look as new and they are sold at less than half their original price. If you can find a used fly fishing gears look as good as new, your dad will not really know the difference. Just don’t tell him where you got the fly fishing gear. How Much Money Should You Spend On A Discount Fly Fishing Gear?
The amount of money that you should spend on a discount fly fishing gear should depend on your capacity to pay. As a rule of thumb, you should never spend more than 30% of you savings every month. This means that you need to budget the 30% of your savings to pay for all your extraordinary expenses.
With all the fantastic advances in fishing tackle technology in recent years, is it really worth buying a fishing rod from a bygone era? This problem has perplexed many avid fishermen, especially those with a fondness for fly fishing or spinning. Is getting hold of a classic vintage fishing rod actually practical and beneficial?
The short answer is that it depends on the type of fishing you do. There is no doubt that cf (carbon fiber) has revolutionized the fishing rod industry, and is much, much better than fiberglass. An antique fiberglass fishing rod would thereby be a unwise purchase. Another factor to consider is that an antique rod may not have been treated with enough care and been damaged to an unrepairable state. So basically a damaged rod is useless for fishing.
Split cane fishing rods and other poles created from bamboo, on the other hand, are a different kettle of fish. There are many anglers that say that even with the latest progress in modern fishing rod manufacture, a state-of-the-art carbon fiber rod cannot match the action, flexibility and durability of a split cane fishing rod. They often point out that bamboo poles can cast better due to their action and flexibility. Another important consideration for many is the appearance of a quality vintage cane rod, which more closely resembles a piece of artwork than just another piece of fishing gear.
Can Vintage Rods Still Be Used For Fishing?
An antique cane pole would thereby appear to be very suitable for anyone who enjoys fly fishing or spinning, particularly on sheltered bodies of water free of strong winds, currents and tides. Of course, the same rule applies: a damaged rod is no good for fishing. So be quite paranoid about searching out any defects in the bamboo of a vintage cane rod. Check the entire rod closely for any sign that the cane has been compromised in any way, such as by holes, cracks or deep dings. The vintage rod could be a bargain buy if the cane is in good condition and the owner persuaded to sell at a reasonable price. Most of the other fittings on a cane fishing rod can be restored to their original condition for a modest sum, so do not panic if the whippings are frayed or the ferrules are a little loose. You will find that the vintage rod will be more than up to the task of playing and landing decent sized fish if it is sound condition.
Milwards is a name synomomous with quality bamboo fishing rods. Vintage Milwards split cane fishing rods are sort after due to their exquisite craftsmanship, superb action and quality fittings. The fittings were bronze, brass, silver, agate and silk, while the bamboo was usually Tonkin cane. Tailored to suit a variety of specialized fishing scenarios, Milwards spinning and fly rods were successfully used by some of the best anglers of the time in competition. For example, the FloatMaster was perfect for casting float rigs, while the SpinVersa was magnificent at casting extremely lightweight baits or lures Milwards split cane fishing rods are highly valued but occasionally come on the market. If you are lucky, putting the word out on Internet fishing forums, your local fishing club or even trying a classified in the local newspaper could lead to a sale.
So although a fiberglass rod is no subsitute for a modern cf one, a split cane fishing rod may well perform better in certain environments and for certain fish species. They also have considerable value as collector’s items and as pieces of art. It really is a no-brainer to purchase a quality antique bamboo pole if you come across one in the right condition at the right price!
Many fly fishing enthusiasts around the country spend a lot of money of their fly fishing gears that they end of eroding their bank account just to get the latest gear. This should not be the case. Although having the best fly fishing gear is good, one should never go broke on these things. If you are one of those people who have been spending a lot of money of their fly fishing gear, it is time for you to take another look at your spending habits. Even if you have some money stashed away in the bank, it is not a good idea to be extravagant especially in these times of economic crisis. To help you save some money on your fly fishing gears, here are some pointers for you.
Buy Only The Things That You Need
A lot of people waste money on things that they do not really need. If you are one of those impulsive shoppers who tend to buy things that catch their attention while shopping, you better curb you impulses. Buying things on impulse is not a good idea. Besides, you don’t want to end up kicking yourself for wasting your money on something that you cannot hope to use in the near future.
Since you cannot expect to use every available fly fishing gear in a single fishing trip, you might as well just buy what you need and save some money. List down all the things that you will use during your fishing trip and then find out which of these fly fishing gears are already in your possession. Buy only the things that you do not have yet and do away with those expendable things. If you must buy them, buy only what you need. A lot of your extra leaders, flies and lines will end up decorating your closet anyway so you might as well not buy them in bulk. This way, you get to save some money and at the same time prevent your closet from being cluttered with a lot of things that you do not even need.
Buy Rod And Reel Combination
If you are beginner, you should start by buying discount fly fishing gears like those rod and reel combination. Not only will you be able to save a lot of money on rod and reel combo, you also get to save yourself from all the trouble of trying to find matching rod and reel in different places.
Bass fishing is a well-known fishing event for many fishers and it can be seen all around the world today. Because of certain changes and developments in the game there have been several enhancements in the way to fish. Just as importantly, new sorts of striped bass fishing tackle have been used and many new species of Bass have been caught.
Striped bass fishing tackle is also used in other events such as largemouth bass fishing events. The gamers on different competitions will buy the maximum efficient striped bass fishing tackle; this can highlight the pleasure factor for these said events. By using the most inventive and effective striped bass fishing tackle available on the market today, the fishermen are said to have the optimum possibilities of winning.
Purchasing Striped Bass Fishing Tackle Online
It is most convenient to choose striped bass fishing tackle online, even though there are shops that will stock many types of tackle. The reason is because researching tackle online comes with an array of information about the tackle. This you will only find to a lesser extent in stores. Though shopping in shops may be positive for your own leisure, keep in mind that you will not get the extra purchasing knowledge that you are going to have online.
You will find that, online, many prospective buyers get an improved chance to grasp the product thru reviews and opinions written by prior customers. This happens on many internet sites offering striped bass fishing tackle and other products and hardware related to fishing games. Through the said striped bass fishing tackle reviews online, buyers of the product will become more well informed of whatever kind of striped bass fishing tackle they ought to use in the contest, or perhaps just in regular fun activities alone.
Let’s Learn from the Professionals
Apart from the striped bass fishing tackle reviews you can read thru the web, gurus are also in a position to give their own viewpoints with reference to the products. This makes the purchasers on the site more knowledgeable regarding the products that they buy. Not just that, the ease of utilising this striped bass fishing tackle also makes the whole fishing activity more pleasurable and recognizable. Through the usefulness of reviews and expert comments on striped bass fishing supplied for online, it makes purchasers more assured about their skills when using striped bass fishing tackle.
There are many different guides to fly fishing knots, whether in books, blogs, websites or even asking more experienced fly fishermen for explanation and tips. Fly fishing knot tying is an important part of the fly fishing process since it is what prepares the line so that the fly fisherman gets the cast and fly movement that he wants when in the water. If these fly fishing knots are not tied properly, then they can come loose while on the water or even cause the line to snap when a fish is on the line.
Types of Knots
Fly fishing knot tying requires the fly fishermen to know at least five types of knots, depending on their preference on the different sections of line and what type of fish they are going after that particular trip. Fly fishing knot tying also requires that some basic knot tying tips be followed so that the knots are as secure as possible, not matter what type they are.
One tip is that the fly fisherman always moistens the knot before tightening it, and that he pulls evenly on the line to tighten it rather than jerking it.
In addition, he should always test the line and older fly fishing knots so that he can determine if the line is frayed or the knots need to be retied. This will help to ensure that the line and knots will hold not matter how big the fish is. Fly fishing knot tying also requires the ends of the line be clipped close to the knot so that there are not any ends that could cause hang-ups or distractions.
There are five different types of knots that fly fishing knot tying requires the fishermen to know.
The one preferred to tie on the fly to the end of the tippet is usually the Improved Clinch Knot, although others could be used as well.
The Double Surgeon’s knot is usually used in fly fishing knot tying to tie the tippet to the leader, which affects the way the fly moves in the water.
The Nail knot is normally used to connect the leader to the fly line, although sometimes a loop to loop connection is needed if both lines already have a loop.
The Albright knot is used to attach the fly line to the backing and is important because the fly line is expensive to replace.
Finally, the Arbor knot is used in fly fishing knot tying to secure the backing to the spool.
For many sports fishermen, hooking up a prized catch like the bass can gain them a lot of respect from fellow game fishermen. Catching a bass is a very great honor for them. But it would also be a great challenge for them and if they don’t have the best idea for some bass fishing techniques, they will surely be left behind by their fellow bass fishermen. If you are one of these bass catchers, the first thing you need to do is to learn and master these techniques first and the best book guide to teach you how can be found right here on the World Wide Web. So, what are the things you can learn from this site?
As a bass fisherman, you are very much aware of the differences between smallmouth basses and largemouth basses, right? And each of them, although they are the same species, have different ways in “dealing” with them. So, this site can offer some Largemouth and Smallmouth bass fishing tips and not only that, you can even learn where to buy the best and sturdy aluminum bass fishing boats for you to use. You know how it is when it comes to fishing boats for bass fishing, right? You can’t just use any other kinds of fishing boats for most of the time you would spend fishing for basses, you do it on rough waters with many jagged little rocks that can scrape the bottom of an ordinary boat. What’s more, this site can recommend where to find some good quality yet affordable bass fishing boats.
There are lots and lots of things you can learn from this web site called “bass fishing master dot com”. Everything you wanted to know about tips for bass fishing, how to handle basses, what kinds of fishing implements to be used in many different environment and what baits to use for different types of basses. The wonderful thing is, you can learn all of these in your own pace and time. You can also avail of a book guide from this site which you can download and take it with you as a quick reference.
Once you have tried Night Fishing For catfish you will be hooked for life. Trust me If you do it correctly you will catch fish, not only will you catch fish but some will be lunkers! All species of catfish are very active at feeding and foraging. If you put yourself in the right place were the cats are feeding aggressively you will be in for a amazing night of fishing. Catfish have a very keen sense of smell and are attracted underwater fishing lighting. If you can put yourself in the catfish’s nightly habitat location there are some simple methods you can use to entice the cats to feed more aggressively. But first you must be setup and prepared for night fishing it is totally different at night then in the day. Things you take for granted during the day, don’t apply at night.
How To Set Your Boat Up For Night Fishing
Before you even think about going night fishing for catfish you need to have the following items:, lights for inside the boat ,either battery or Coleman fuel type lanterns with two mantles. Distribute your lanterns evenly through out your boat. I hang 3 halogen batter powered lights in my 20 foot pontoon. I hang two in the front, one on each side of the boat, and 1 one on my canopy on the back of my pontoon.(I have used my Coleman’s but they attract a huge amount of insects)
I also recommend you purchase a small light you clip on the visor of a ball cap. This light is used for re-rigging your fishing poles.You are probably asking why do i need these lights when I already have inside lights, Good question;These small lights have pin pointed light intensity that is great when you have to thread line through a hook or when putting bait and sinkers on. (you can limit this by using heavy tackle and making sure your line is fresh) I personally use a led light that clips to the visor on my ball cap.
You also will need a light to illuminate the water surface. I recommend 12v halogen light that can be directed outside the boat. Mount it on the side of your boat, in the center. I personally use and adjustable halogen that I can clip to the railing on my pontoon. Direct the light at a 60 degree angle from boat to water. This will illuminate the surface.
You will need a underwater fishing light source. You are probably asking your self right now why do I need submerged lighting?The underwater fishing lights will attract bait fish by the hundreds, and I am sure you already know the baitfish attract the cats. The reason the underwater fishing lights attract bait fish is because they generate what is called a plankton swirl, of which the baitfish feed from. You will be amazed how fast the big catfish will come and position themselves around the bait fish ball generated for the submerged fishing lights. Submerged lighting rigs come in a variety of sizes and shapes. I use a submerged fishing light that is 4″ in dia and 36″ long.Center the submerged fishing light in the illumination pattern of the surface water lighting you just set up. Anchor your submerged lighting about 12 ” off the bottom, (without an anchor they will float on top of the water).. make sure the light completely submerged under the water. I recommend you use a 5lb weight as an anchor. If possible, anchor the submerged light about 2 to 3 ft from the boat.
I haven’t mentioned much about the secondary 12v power source that you will need to have on board your boat to power your underwater fishing light,other secondary light sources, and your bait aerator. “do not use your boats power source” This will drain your battery.”you don’t want to get stuck on the lake at night right? If you take a well charged 12v marine battery as your second source it will last through the night.
I recommend you have minimum of three catfish poles pre-rigged and ready to cast out into the water.The reason I suggest this is because it’s real pain the “blank” To re-rig at night. You will end up doing it anyway , but if you have spare poles already set up, use them first before you have waist valuable time with poles out of the water.
Locating the cat’s nightly haunts
Pre-planning your night fishing trip is a must for a successful night. I would like to identify one key common observation I have made over the years of night fishing for catfish. It has been my experience the bigger cat’s roam the shore lines or back waters in search of food at night, but everybody of water is always slightly different. I highly recommend you do some research on the body of water you intend to night fish for catfish on. At Minimum Get a topographical map of the area before you attempt your trip. These can be attained at any of the local bait and tackle shops in the area. (I recommend you visit one of these shops to get the local scoop anyway, if you dig deep enough these guys can pin point on the map Where to start fishing. This will save you lots of time.)
Arousing The Catfish’s Senses For A Better Catch.
Once you have your water surface lights and your submerged lights set up and ready to go you don’t even need to do the next step, you are ready to start fishing. The submerged lighting will get the schools of bait fish coming , but I take it step one step further because if you play on the catfish’s extra sensitive sense of smell you can drive the Big cats into a feeding frenzy! Ok You say how?
Well the answer is by introducing “chumming”. Chumming releases a slick of dead fish smells and fish guts that the small bait fish and catfish feed on. I use a simple very in-expense and easy to setup method of chumming. You can also purchase commercial chumming systems that you can set up.Find yourself a nylon netted bag that you close tight with a string. If you can find a netted bag that holds golf balls they work very well. This is what I use, works perfect , very inexpensive.Get yourself some good size freezer bags, at least 3 for a one night fishing for catfish trip.
I always cut up small bluegill if I can get them, or I i purchase about 2 dozen chubs an cut them into 1″ to 2″ slices, and put the guts pieces and juices in a pan that won’t drain. Fill the freezer bags pieces and juice all together, and let them sit outside in the sun all day long. Yes it will stink to high heaven by the end of the day, but that is what you want! Once you you are out on your boat, and at the position you want to fish, Place the freezer bags inside the meshed netted bag,attach a line to the bag with a small weight to get it to the bottom, then take a ice pick or knife and puncture the freezer bag many times to let the juices flow.
Now its time to fish! But before we go there lets re-visit Your catfish rigs. There are many catfish rigs you can use, and they all work in situations they are designed for. Your rigs do not need to be setup for long casting, keep in mind you will be placing your line only a few feet away from the boat, at the edge of your underwater fishing light source.
Since you are going to be fishing only a few feet from the boat make sure your rigs have only enough weight to get your line to the bottom. Slip bobber set ups work well also.
my preference is a single hook tight line or slip bobber rig, both work fine , but single hook is just my preference. I do use the double hook rig when fishing for other types of fish.my fishing rigs for night fishing are all heavy duty. I have all open face spin cast reels spooled with 30lb test. I use a heavy test line because you never know when you will hook into a monster catfish when you are night fishing.You miss some smaller cats, but it’s well worth it when you catch your first 10lb plus catfish.
Baits To Use
Both Channel and Blue catfish will eat just about any small fish like Suckers, small shad, or bluegills both live or dead.When I am set up for a good night of catfish fishing I will use both live and dead cut bait. I will normally set one pole up with a small live gill no more that 3 inches in length. My other poles will be baited with cut bait , normally LARGE suckers 6″ or longer cut in 1″ to 2″ chunks.
Well I hope this article will help you on your next night fishing for catfish trip, Good Luck and good fishing!
Mark Fleagle Webmaster. 30+ Years Of Fishing Experience Expert Author At Ezinearticles.com. Click This Link To Find Out More About catfish at night Fishing Webmasters , Need 100% Free Automated Fishing Content Instantly? Click This Link: Free Fishing Content
Many beginners are confused with the different terms used in fly fishing. That is perfectly understandable. As a beginner, you cannot expect to learn all the names of those fly fishing gears sold in the market, so if the guy at the fly shop counter tells you to use a leader to hold that small fly on the fly line, don’t freak out. Even some old timers do not know what a leader is in fly fishing so do not be so distressed if you have no idea what the shop counter attendant is talking about. Instead of freaking out, just ask the attendant to explain to you what he or she is talking about. You may also ask him or her to show you what a leader is and to use it.
What Is A Fly Leader?
Before you concoct some funny definition of what a fly leader is, let us get this straight. In fly fishing, a fly leader is that part of the terminal tackle system which allows for an almost invisible transition between the fly line and the tippet. Now, if you do not know what a tippet is, let us define it for you. In fly fishing, a tippet is the last 24 or more inches of the leader. You get to tie the fly on this part of the leader. If you are not clear on this part, you better ask that guy on the shop counter to show what this is all about. Holding the fly fishing leader in your hands is the surest way to get to know it better.
What does a fly fishing leader do? The leader separates the fly from the fly line so that you your fly line will not create a lot of disturbance when it hits the water. Since the fly leader is invisible, it helps fool the fish into eating the bait. In other words, you will most likely catch more fish if you have a good fly leader.
What Kind Of Fly Leader Should You Buy?
There are many types of fly fishing leaders being sold in the market today. Fly leaders different in terms of length, strength, design and purpose. The most common types of fly leaders are around 7 1/2 to 9 feet long. However, if you prefer shorter or longer fly leaders, you can easily find fly leaders between 3 feet and 20 feet long. On the other hand, fly leaders vary in terms of design and purpose. Some leaders are designed to catch trout and some are designed to catch bass and the likes. To find something that suits your needs well, ask the attendant to help you choose your fly fishing leader. Most fly fishing shop attendants knows all about fly leaders so ask for their assistance if you are in doubt.
Good fly fishing gears do not have to be very expensive. If you want to buy fishing gears that are within in your budget, you may choose between discount fly fishing gear and used fly fishing gear. However, between a discount fly fishing gear and a used fly fishing gear, the later is better. Why? Most used fly fishing gears sold in the market today are made by well known manufacturers of fishing gears. Since most well known companies do not cut corners when it comes to producing good products, most of these used fly fishing gears are of top quality and craftsmanship.
Yes, most of those used fly fishing gears do not have the usual 1 year or more money back guarantee period but since these gears are made by the best manufacturers in the industry, you are still assured of good quality. Just think of how durable and reliable simms fly fishing gears are and how much you will enjoy using them. It doesn’t matter if these gears are already used, they still have the same good quality as those brand news simms products.
Hunting For Good Quality Used Fly Fishing Gears
The most convenient way to find good quality used fly fishing gear is to shop in one of those online fishing gears shops. You do not have to leave your house and waste a lot of money on gas if you shop online. The only catch here is that you do not get to touch or try to the used fly fishing gear first before you buy it. However, the good news is that most online shops that are selling fly fishing gears good description of their products so you will still get a good idea of what the product looks like in real life.
Online shops give you the option to return or exchange the items that you buy from them within a given period so you won’t be stuck with something that you do not want or need. What is the catch? If you return or exchange the items that you bought online, you will need to pay for the freight. Yes, you will pay the freight. Make no mistakes about it. Remember that when you order products online, the online store will charge you the postage fee on top of your purchases so if you want to return or exchange these items later on, you still get to pay for the postage fees.
For most amateur fishermen or women one of the toughest parts about salmon fishing is being able to obviously identify which particular type of salmon that they have caught. Since fishing regulations are based on species it is highly critical that you can tell each from the other to prevent being in violation of the license and probably facing fines or more serious outcomes. Learning about salmon fishing and assorted species isn’t too troublesome, and the general outlines provided below should be all that is needed to spot the salmon species.
The following tips about salmon fishing species identification will apply only to grown up salmon and may not apply to juveniles and smelts.
Chinook - it’s important to recollect when talking about salmon fishing that many species go by different names. The Chinook is also known as the King and blackmouth. It’s the largest of the Pacific salmon, and is simply identified by the distinct black coloration to the lower gums. They’re olive or brown in coloration on the back with darker black coloration on the sides. They have many small, dark spots on the back.
Coho - AKA Silver salmon, are smaller than the Chinook or King salmon. They’ve a bluish green color to the skin on the head and back. Depending on the time of year the sides of the Coho might be wine colored or even a very brilliant red. The cover of the gills will be extraordinarily reddish across the year.
Chum - one of the less common salmon it is important to understand about salmon fishing this species to achieve success. They will generally not move far inland and will stay close to salt water. Buddy is the second largest of the Pacific salmon species and are simply distinguished by their red to purplish blue color and horizontal bars. They also have a particularly distinctive and pronounced set of teeth.
Sockeye - this salmon is terribly red in color and may occasionally be mistaken for the Coho because of the coloration. Sockeye spend up to 2 years in a fresh water lake before moving out the sea, and are unique in this aspect. They have no distinct spots and the female is less brilliantly colored than the male. Male Sockeyes have a noticeable hump on their back just before the dorsal fin.
Kokanee - this is the actually land locked salmon, living its complete live cycle in a fresh water lake, never venturing to the salt water. In physical description they are almost identical the Sockeye, being red in color and males having the dorsal hump.
When learning about salmon fishing and fish identification it is a brilliant idea to bring a salmon identification book and don’t forget to practice conservation and return fish to the water whenever limits are reached.
For more information about food and useful cooking tips, check out cooking101.org and also have a look at canning smoked salmon.
Get the video now you couldn't get without three arms or at least a friend along.
It was even feasible a few short years ago but now the cameras are a fraction of the size, weight and cost so they work really well. Now I get those shots I never was able to get before.
Image by clocker via Flickr It can be a laborious task to clean a fishing reel and ensure that you maintain it after each trip. However, most fishing reel faults can be put down to the fact that it was not cleaned properly and now has corroded parts or instead under-performs. This is an anglers most [...] […]
Casey, Jamie and I had such a good time the day the three of us were fishing French Lake for chain pickerel that Casey tried to get us together for another day on the water. That didn’t pan out as Jamie, being a teacher and vice principle, started back to work and was unable to [...] […]
I imagine you find times when you wish you had a magic rod and reel that you could store in your briefcase or perhaps the glove box in your vehicle. I have thought about having something like that for decades and now I can have it. It’s the Mini Pen Fishing Rod with Deluxe Spinning [...] […]
Casey was heading to Salmon River, off Grand Lake New Brunswick this past weekend so I asked him to tell me about it. I also asked him to send me a picture of his 24 1/2 chain pickerel, that he landed in French Lake, as the three of us, Jamie, Casey and myself are always [...] […]
I like hearing stories from those who hooked into their first Atlantic salmon that they managed to land and photograph. Well even if they didn’t get to photograph it, like my first salmon, but that’s another story. A guy who has become a good friend, Jamie, who has also taken me on so many fishing trips [...] […]