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Today was a little more windy that I care for when I am fly fishing but here in New Brunswick is seems like it’s windy every day now. Some times I just have to give up the fly fishing for the day or maybe until just before sunset when the wind tends to die down a bit. I don’t do too well fly fishing in the wind.

I also have a couple of places that are well protected by the wind and I can catch a lot of smallmouth bass on the fly rod which is always fun.

I have a little spot about an hour away that I fish for pickerel, fly fishing for pickerel is a blast, especially from my float tube. But what I was talking about was a spot to fly fish for smallies that go up to about 14″. I use light gear for them but they are so much fun and they really go for top water flies, mostly deer hair bugs I tie, because the water is usually so calm.

I have a couple of spots I can get out of the wind when fly fishing for brook trout as well. Those are few and far between so I wouldn’t even tell my best friend about these spots. They can get fished out pretty quick and take time to come back.

Fly Fishing in New Brunswick Wind

I’ve had a few experiences fly fishing in the wind and most were not good ones, maybe funny but not good.

Example: I was at Quarryville, New Brunswick fly fishing for Atlantic salmon on a windy day. We were all lined up taking turns at the salmon jumping and making a fuss along the far bank. I was a bit nervous as I didn’t usually fly fish were there were too many people as I am not the best at it. Any ways it was windy and I was trying to get my fly in the exact right spot.

While the wind was blowing I switched the rod from my right hand to my left hand as it was easier to cast in the wind. The wind died down and I quickly switched back to my right hand, just as a gust of wind blew across me and the line wrapped around my neck and put the hook right through my earlobe. It was raining just a little, just enough to make the blood run down my neck and look much worse than it was.

The hook went through my ear so fast it didn’t even hurt but every one around me thought I was bleeding to death.

I didn’t want to lose my spot in line so I  quickly cut the line, leaving the hook in my earlobe and tied on a new fly and kept right on fly fishing.

BTW: I didn’t get the salmon I was hoping for but I did get a lot of looks and laughs.

Another time I was fly fishing brookies from my canoe with a fishing buddy. He wasn’t that confident or good with the fly rod at that time and hooked me right in the neck. The fly, barb and all went through the skin on my neck and I couldn’t get it out so I cut the line and kept on fishing. My buddy couldn’t look at me for the rest of the day.

Once I returned to the car where I could use the mirror I took the hook out in about 30 seconds. My buddy was no help at all.

Even though fly fishing in New Brunswick gets a bit windy I still try. I just don’t get very good casts. Always fun.

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I have to say for a fishing fanatic without a car I am having a great summer, thanks to two guys, Casey and Jamie. Both are great fun to go fishing with.

The fact that I met both of these guys through my fishing blog makes it all the better. So thanks guys, you both rock.

Just over a week ago Casey called me up and asked if I wanted to fish New Horton Lake. We had a great time and the day was perfect. That was my first time ever fishing that lake.

Yesterday Jamie took me to a little spot on the Cannan river, again another spot I have never fished and we had a lot of fun and the day couldn’t have been better weather wise.

The Cannan River

It was extremely hot, way hotter than I personally care for but once we started fishing the wind picked up and helped to cool us down a bit.

Jamie told me that he has caught some nice smallmouth bass in this section of the river, well actually he had fished a little further down from where we launched.

Strange Looking Smallmouth Bass Jamie!!

I thought it was kind of funny that we were bass fishing and taking a little break from pickerel fishing but what was the very first thing I caught, before we even stepped in the river, a pickerel. How funny is that, eh?

It wasn’t long before I actually hooked into my first bass of the day. I am sure my expression shows how pleased I was with myself.

OH MANN This is a lot of fun.

It didn’t take us long to realize this section of the river was better for walking than canoe as we were out of the canoe far more than we were in it. Although it was great to be able to bring all the food and gear without the need to carry it.

It wasn’t very hard to pull the canoe along with us and Jamie even managed to catch a bass while pulling the canoe behind him our way back to the car.

Jamie fishing while pulling the canoe along

Jamie Multi-Tasking

I was impressed at just how well Jamie was multi tasking. What a talented guy he is.

NOTE: You may see that Jamie caught this little bass using the same 6″ pink worm we use for pickerel fishing. Does it get any better, when you can catch both species in the same spot using the same offerings?

Jamie caught and landed the big bass of the day but if you want to see it you need to visit Jamie’s Fishing Fun in New Brunswick blog.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010 was a very special day for me. I finally got to fish New Horton Lake. It only took me 30 years to get to it.

I moved to New Brunswick some 30 years ago. My brother-in-law told about a brook that flowed from the lake and I fished it for years but never actually fished the lake it’s self.

I actually had my best opening day one year. There was still plenty of snow around and the lake was completely frozen over.

I was standing at the beaver damn and ready to fish the brook when it started snowing. It snowed so hard I could hardly see across the little brook but at that exact moment the trout went nuts and I caught my limit of brookies in just a few minutes.

I never had to move my feet.

My friend Casey lives close to the lake and has told me about it before so I was excited to fish it some day.

Well I got home Tuesday morning after my daily walk. I headed into my office to check the email and of course log onto a few fishing sites and forums to check out what’s being talked about.

Casey saw that I was online and PMed me with one question. “Do you want to go fishing?”

I didn’t even respond before I had the phone in my hand to call him. An hour later we were on our way to New Horton Lake.

I remember Casey telling me that New Horton Lake didn’t take much to get really choppy as it’s a fairly large body of water. This day however there was no breeze or wind at all, yet.

When we arrived I was amazed at how much bigger the lake was that I had thought it was from looking at it only from the brook mouth.

Here’s a picture of what the lake looked like when we arrived. I was so excited to get started I am sure I was pacing.

I have to say that Casey could not have chosen a better day to take me fishing.

How Our Day On The Water Went

We started by trolling and caught a few white perch to start with.

It was a hot day, very hot and the water temperature started rising quickly. In no time the bass started become more active, just what we were waiting for.

I had never seen a white perch, I think they should call them silver perch, what a cute little fish.

The picture above shows a small perch but I guess they get to be 14 inches and bigger. Plus they fight just as hard as a bass. I will have to get back there again and try for a few of them as well.

I had the best time and we both caught fish so the day was a definite success in my books.

I had the largest bass of the day right up until about 5 minutes before we left when Casey hooked into a 17″ jumper and won the day.

Casey’s really dark bass fought hard and jumped high out of the water a few times, just to make it more exciting. The strike looked like he hooked into a log on the bottom but then the log jumped clear out of the water.

I told Casey I was going to modify the picture using Photoshop but he worked to hard for me to do that to him, this time around.

Does Casey look happy or what? Congrats and thanks for the awesome day.

Bass fishing is great fun with just about any type of fishing gear but over the years I have really preferred to use my fly rod and fly fish for smallmouth bass. It just doesn’t get any better. I don’t fly fish for bass all the time but on those really calm and hot days I love getting in my float tube and trying a few big ole hairy flies.

A Little Bass History

Bass fishing has a fascinating history. It started in the late 18th century and continues to progress until today.

It probably was originally practised in search for food among the people in the south of the United States. Since then, it has started gaining numerous audiences of all ages and nations. Today, countries such as Australia, Cuba, South Africa, United States and most of Europe participate in this kind of event.

Time-lines

• The year 1768 or 1770 represents the birth of bass fishing sports. Onesimus Ustonson introduced his first multiplying reels to the fishing gurus and lovers. It was later developed into bait caster.
• William Shakespeare Jr. materializes the production of a level wind device and secured its patent on 1897.
• The William J. Jamison Co introduced the overly ornamented Shannon Twin Spinner in 1915 and was improved to create today’s spinner baits.
• In 1932, President Franklin D. Roosevelt instituted the creation of Tennessee Valley Authority and encouraged the creation and building of numerous dams. These dams were later used for culturing different varieties of bass fishes.
• Five years later, DuPont Company filed patent for nylon fishing net, this was later developed 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.

Bass Fish

Several fish species that are being caught in the bass fishing events are the following:

• Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede) – Largemouth Bass
• Micropterus dolomieui – Smallmouth bass
• Micropterus punctatus – Kentucky Bass

Other species of Micropterus are also caught but one that remains popular is the Largemouth bass. However, it should be emphasized that Australian Bass are different from the above North American Bass variants although most share similar features.

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

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

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.

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I work from home in New Brunswick Canada and right now it’s bitter cold. Every day that I work I look out my office window, in the warm part of the year I enjoy the view and love watching things growing but in the winter all I want to do is head south and go fly fishing in Florida.

Florida fishing trips normally satisfy the desire of hobbyists to spend more time with their families while still enjoying their favourite pastime. Most Florida fishing attractions are organized along the coasts but they can get you out in the ocean too, it all depends on whether you own a private boat or you turn to a rental company for boat and crew alike.

Different businesses as well as rental companies assist customers wishing to put together the details for Florida fishing trips. You can contract one of these service suppliers from the Yellow Pages or by checking the contact category on their web page. Whichever be the case, this is just the beginning of the trip plan as such.

The most common type of info available on Florida fishing web pages covers the best fishing areas as well as the natural features of the fish varieties in the peninsula. The salty water varieties greatly influence deep sea fishing in Florida, although the ocean is the the main attraction.

Backwater fishing works great within the southwest portion of the state, yet plenty of fresh water areas tend to be appealing enough to attract great numbers of tourists interested in Florida fishing all year round. The thing is that the natural surroundings in this part of the United States are favorable for such outdoor activities.

Huge parts of Florida cover complex estuarine regions that are part of special government reserves programs. These waters make a better life support environment for lots of species due to the very strict regulations that protect fauna and their habitat.

Therefore, there are different regions where you cannot fish or hunt in Florida, but plenty of space remains available for fishing skills and lots of fun. Here are some locations where no legal restrictions apply to Florida fishing: the Gulf of Mexico, the coast of the Atlantic, Lake George, Lake Okeechobee or Lake Kissimmee.

Ads for hotels, fishing routes and transportation pop up every day on the Internet, so basically, these expedition details would be the easiest to take care of. Florida fishing trips represent great opportunities for holiday makers, and even when you have to rent a boat, you don’t break the bank if you share costs with some other dedicated fishermen.

Before going for one service or another, make some research and find out the quotes for the various Florida fishing trips during several periods of the year, and only then start thinking about details.

Right from the start I have to say that I never really get tired of fishing. I get very tired from fishing but that’s cool, a night’s sleep and I’m ready to get right back at. But for others it’s not that simple, some people just get tired of fishing. I guess they haven’t tried fly fishing also known as fishing on the fly.

I spent the first 25 years of my life fishing whenever I could and never tired of it but once I was introduced to fly fishing I put the spinning gear away for a few years. Yes, fly fishing is that much fun.

My grandfather was an avid fly fisherman for many years before I was ever born but I didn’t get to meet him until I was in my 20s and he was no longer able to get out fishing. He learned it from his father back in the early 1900s, who came over here from England.

Fly fishing just seems to put the fisher in closer contact with the fish being hunted. Not quite the same with a spinning rod. There’s just something about tying some feathers and fur on a hook and throwing it out to a fish using only your fly-rod and fly-line, not heavy lures or weights required.

Match The Hatch

I remember the first time I heard the phrase ‘match the hatch’, it just sounded so cool and made so much sense.

I learned to fly fish in about 10 minutes and was immediately able to catch fish, yet I have been working on my fly fishing technique for the past 25 years and it never gets old. If I hadn’t been shown how easy it is to learn I would likely have gone another 20 years without ever giving it a try.

Fishing changed my life as a depressed 8 year old foster kid with little hope in life. That’ why I tell people all the time that they need to take a kid fishing.

Well I would say that fly fishing changed my life as well. Heck it may have even saved my life. It’s a long story but to make it short, the joy of fly fishing drew me away from drug abuse and into a life free of that. I ended up moving from where I was living to where my roots were in New Brunswick Canada.

When people interested in the topic fly fishing start looking at prices they sometimes need to sit down. Yes things can be that expensive but I have never paid those prices for any fishing gear, fly fishing or otherwise.

My first fly fishing setup was all of $30.00 for both the rod and reel. I did have to spend another $25.00 on fly line but that setup is still working just fine today,  about 25 years later. Costs may have gone up but you can still find great deals and remember what you buy for a rod and reel can last you for years to come making it a worthy investment.

I have never bought a fly rod or fly reel on ebay but that’s because I already have my gear. I buy a lot of other things from ebay, including everything else to do with fly fishing. I think that if you are on a budget you should check out ebay and see what’s there. But first be sure you do some research before buying.

When I look at things on ebay, fly fishing or other hobbies and interests I like to look at an item and then go and find the web site for the company that makes the products so I can see about the quality and features.

Try Tying Your Own Artificial Flies

I’m telling you that I was blown away with how easy it was to get started with my new fly fishing hobby all those years ago but even better than that was learning about the flies I was using to catch brook trout, Atlantic salmon and even bass and chain pickerel.

Before long, probably less than a month after I started fly fishing I just had to try my hand at tying my own flies. I was fortunate enough to have a brother-in-law that showed me how to fly fish and he showed how to tie my first fly.

Well like I said it’s 20 some years later and I still can’t get enough fly fishing. Heck I even have my fly tying bench setup in my office where I work at home. It’s great, and I personally recommend giving fly fishing a try, you may just find a renewed love for fishing.

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If you are looking for a fish finder then it should have at least three basic features. It should tell you the temperature of the water, the depth of the water and give you a map of the bottom terrain for where you are fishing at provided it is not beyond its depth locator. These are three basic features just about every fish finder on the market now has and it is to be expected. Sometimes that is enough and sometimes you need something more advanced to help you hook that trophy fish. The Eagle Cuda 300 Fishfinder delivers some of those advanced features.

To be quite honest, the Eagle Cuda 300 Fishfinder is not the best fish finder on the market. It does have a limited depth and range for its sonar. But considering its price you do get the basics plus a little bit more. It is those extras that are fueling sales of this fish finder over comparative models.

Among the extras you get with the Eagle Cuda 300 is the power to see the distance downward of the fish. That is valuable because, when casting out your line and utilizing weights, you want to come to the most appropriate deepness for the specific fish you’re looking for. The topography the Eagle Cuda 300 reveals is pretty comprehensive taking into account it’s a cheaper product. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to see that brush pile at the base of the lake that you might possibly get snagged on, but it does give you a view of a widespread topography.

The Eagle Cuda 300 also includes another rather helpful feature. It permits you to view the screen even in bright daylight. A good number of LCD screens are tough to read if sunlight is shining on them so this is something you ought to be aware of.

The Eagle Cuda 300 Fishfinder is very reasonably priced. You can find it online at various websites for around 0, which puts it into the economical category. Though it is not going to give you the intricate details of the size of the fish or the type, it still does the job quite well. As a beginning fisherman, this is a good purchase because it gives you the basics plus a little bit extra. If you are a competitive sportsman or woman, you may want to go with a more advanced model.

If you want to increase your odds of catching fish, you should consider investing in a fish finder. But how do you know if the Furuno FCV 295 10.4″ fish finder is better than the Garmin 140, for example? You need to read some fish finder reviews to help you decide on the right model for your needs.

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Choosing a fly rod is a very mulled-over process. There are so many factors to think about that arriving at a choice can be pretty discouraging. Here are some guidelines and advice to help you make the right verdict when trying to buy a fly rod.

Fly Fishing Tackle – Consider Both Fly Size and Line Weight

The weight of the line you have must match the fly size—this is imperative.Furthermore, you should take into account the weight and also the numbers of the flies you’re planning to cast. For example, to fish for trout on little rivers and streams, you’re going to need a very different rod from what you’d use to fish for other species, such as pike. Providentially, there is a basis known as AFTM that matches the weight of fly line to the accurate rod. If you wish to fish streams and small lakes, choose an AFTM line weight of 5 to 6 to match with rods 8 feet to 8 feet 6 inches lengthwise. Anglers should take into consideration that the AFTM correlations are estimates in light of the fact that there’s substantial overlap amongst the kinds.

Fly Fishing Tackle -Other Factors That Influence Rod Decisions

An Angler ought to match his/her rod size to the kind and size of fish they’re seeking. Once you’ve settled on a fly size and line weight, you need to select your rod length. A short line can make your cast more precise but they are weaker. Long rods give more power and can be handled easier. In practical utilization, a medium-length rod rated for a 4 weight line has very little power and should only be implemented when casting for small fish. On the other hand, a longer length rod that’s also rated for the same weight line will have enough power and rigidity to catch fish that are really large. The weight of the rod will be vital considering that when you are fly fishing the angler’s rod is hand held and not placed in a rod rest. The length of a rod is yet another aspect to take into consideration. If a rod is too lengthy it will seem slow-acting, unresponsive and also weighty. A rod that is very short abbreviates casting distance and makes it harder to manage line drift.

All About Rod Action and Performance Level

The action of a rod refers to how bendable it is. A fast action rod will flex primarily at the tip but will be firm butt end. A slow action rod will be bendable at the butt end and will usually not flex at the tip. A moderate action rod is neither excessively flexible nor excessively stiff. Furthermore, it is significant for the action in a rod to be totally progressive, which means that the rod will bend along the entire length with the load capacity. Ultimately there’s an elusive facet of a rod that is connected to its “feel.” A rod which has the correct feel communicates clearly to the angler, permitting the proper amount of time for casting his line and giving him a chance to extend the proper force needed. Lesser rods have an indecisive or vague feel that can hamper correct casting.

Fly Fishing Tackle -Your fly rod is an vital constituent of your fishing equipment. Choose it with care and deliberation.

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My granddad worked for the railroad here and had a great edge on most fly fishers. He could just jump on a train and they would stop anywhere along their route to let him off for a day of fishing. All he had to do was stand by the tracks again when he wanted to be picked up to go home. Pretty cool fly fishing.

Formerly anglers and rod makers could draw fine distinctions between male and female Calcutta and Tonkin ” canes,” but under present conditions good Calcutta is very rare and the word ” Calcutta ” is becoming merely a trade term. Good bamboo of all kinds is more difficult to obtain and a good piece of Tonkin is better than an indifferent one of Calcutta. Male Calcutta, however, is supposed to be superior to either the female or Tonkin. The cheapest split cane is known as steel vine or African cane. It is light colored and makes up into good, inexpensive bamboo fly fishing rods.

Six Strip and 8 Strip Bamboo Fly Fishing Rods

We assume that you know that bamboo is split and then glued together in order to utilize the hard outer enamel and reduce the diameter of the pieces. Some rods are made of bamboo split into six sections and some in eight (octagonal) but the six strip construction is more often used. Some makers claim that the eight strip, being more nearly a true cylinder, possesses better action but this seems to be more theoretical than practical, while the tiny tips of an eight strip rod are likely to be ” soft” due to the comparative amount of glue necessary to hold the pieces together. Eight strip rods cost more than the six strip and if the angler wants a round bamboo fly fishing rod they are preferable to the six strip planed down as planing certainly must injure a rod. As a general rule a well-made six strip rod leaves little to be desired.

Special Feature Bamboo Fly Fishing Rods

A novelty in bamboo fly fishing rod making is what is known as the ” double built ” rods which are made of two layers of split and glued bamboo, one within the other. They are heavier and strong, and it is claimed, hold their shape better, than ordinary rods and are popular for sea and salmon fishing but unnecessary, I believe, in single hand fly rods. An English innovation is the steel center rod which consists of a fine piece of well-tempered steel running as a core through sections of regular split bamboo. The makers claim this construction gives a rod of superior casting power with only of an ounce added weight. Friends who possess rods of this kind are enthusiastic admirers of this construction for heavy fishing.

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My man and I live on one of the premier walleye fishing lakes in the state of Minnesota.  We moved here about 5 years back and have loved every minute of it.  We have always enjoyed walleye fishing.  I was shocked when my partner began taking an interest in bass fishing. There are lots of articles in the sporting mags about fishing for large mouth bass, but we had not fished for them.  My partner asserted that we had enough walleye in the refrigerator and could catch more any time, but he would have liked to engage in the game of fishing for large mouth bass.

I enjoy being out in the boat and getting a tan, so I did not actually care what my hubby was fishing for.  Then one day we were out on the lake and he caught an enormous bass casting into shallow water.  I was dazzled at the sight of this beautiful fish leaping out of the water, shaking his head making an attempt to get rid of the hook in his mouth.  I had been relaxing in the sun reading a book when the fun started.  My husband ordered me to get the net.  I stood with the net and watched the enormous bass jump out of the lake again.  Following the leap my man’s fishing rod almost doubled over as the fish made a dive to the bottom of the lake.  This battle went on for approximately five minutes before we ultimately had the large mouth bass in the boat.  We took pictures and then released this wonderful fighter.

After seeing the fun my husband had in hooking the big bass I announced I would have liked to give it a try.  After only three casts I felt pull on the line and then a powerful pulling.  I have fished for years and could not believe the strength of that fish.  He swam under the boat to try to lose the hook.  He then took an air borne jump from the water.  The leap in the air dislodged the hook from his mouth.  It was actually the most thrilling fish I ever lost!  I knew why my partner had switched to fishing for large mouth bass.

Fishing for bass requires the utilization of artificial lures.  There’s a giant selection of lures in numerous shapes and sizes.  During the past I can’t say I have paid much attention when my hubby is picking out lures, but with bass fishing I have started my own tackle box.  What an astonishingly fun fish to catch.  I don’t take a book with me in the boat when we are fishing for large mouth bass.

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