Image by Getty Images via @daylife

I would like to replace the waders I have now, actually both of them. I prefer stocking waders and wading boots but when my last waders finally gave up the ghost I had not time to order new ones and had to buy locally from depleted stocks.

They have served me well but I do prefer stocking waders like I said.

I’m a bit of a river bum so it seemed appropriate to check out RiverBum.com and see what they have to offer.

Fishing Related Products

Redington® Blackfoot River Fly Fishing Vest - Line/term/acc/boats Offer by: Bass Pro Shops Price: USD 39.95 Classic look in 65% polyester/35% cottonPractical pocket layoutNine external pockets (some zip, some hook ’n’ loop)Three interior pocketsOne large rear zip pocketFleece fly keeperKnit collarThe Redington Blackfoot River Fly Fishing Vest sports a classic look in 65% polyester/35% cotton and boasts a practical pocket layout, featuring nine external pockets (some zip, some hook ’n’ loop), three interior pockets, and one large rear zip pocket. Fleece fly keeper knit collar. Color: Tan/Sage. Imported.Manufacturer style : 5-FM002250. Classic look in 65% polyester/35% cottonPractical pocket layoutNine external pockets (some zip, some hook n loop)Three interior pocketsOne large rear zip pocketFleece fly keeperKnit collarThe Redington Blackfoot River Fly Fishing Vest sports a classi

Related articles

• Montana Fly Fishing Guide: Things To Know Before Heading the Home of the Best Trout Fishes (bigbubbagrimes.wordpress.com)
• Trout Unlimited to Hold Women’s Fly Fishing Seminar May 14 – 15 in Altmar (harrys-travel.com)
• Fly Tying Video: Magic Caddis (midcurrent.com)

Image via Wikipedia

I can’t begin to tell you how much fun fly fishing has given me over the past 30 years. And to think that it all began with a family visit from Ontario and a 15 minutes lesson on how to cast using a fly rod, thanks to my brother-in-law Joe. I never went back to Ontario and since that time I have had countless hours of fun and excitement fly fishing for brook trout, Atlantic salmon, smallmouth bass and chain pickerel.

How time flies when you’re having fly fishing fun, right?

Sage Fly Fishing Rods from RiverBum.com. We give you Maximum Fishability and Lifetime Warranty.

I took a part time job pumping gas for Sears, in Dieppe so I could have lots of time to practice my new fly fishing skills on some of the most gorgeous brook trout I had ever seen. I just kept finding new brooks and streams and they all seem to have hungry brookies waiting for a fly.

So I spent the next 4 or 5 years getting familiar with the waters of New Brunswick and even started fly fishing bass and pickerel which opened a whole new world of fishing to me.

Ready To Fish at The Drop of a Hat

I was definitely addicted to fly fishing, so much so that I almost always had my canoe on the roof of my car ready to go fishing and of course kept my fishing gear in the car 24/7. I could get off work and be fishing in a half hour if I wanted to but as time went on I found more and more places to fish so some days I would drive for awhile to get to some new waters. It never gets old.

God Wants Me To Fly Fish

I remember one day I came out of work ready to go fishing and saw that my car had been broken into. I was instantly heart broken as I expected to see my fly fishing rods, reels, waders, gear, and 100s of flies that took me a long time to tie to be gone. I would have to buy all new stuff and that wasn’t really in the budget.

I looked inside and nearly burst into tears. Then I started doing the Happy Dance. All my fly fishing gear was still there. So I wondered if the broken passanger window was an accident. Then I saw the glove box was open and all our CDs were missing. This highly intelligent thief had stolen about 15 or 20 christian CDs and left hundreds of dollars in fishing gear just sitting there.

I went back into the gas bar and told the guys I work with what happened and we all had a good laugh. Then one of the guys from the automotive shop helped me put plastic over the window and I headed off fishing feeling very blessed that God wants me to fish.

Related articles

• Fly Fishing Chain Pickerel in New Brunswick (thejoyofflyfishing.com)
• Fly Fishing For Trout Tips For Beginners (mademan.com)
• Fun Fishing in New Brunswick Canada (thejoyofflyfishing.com)
• 10 Tips For Fly Fishing For Brook Trout In Streams (mademan.com)

Once I learned how to get it to pop correctly and how to get the wake just right bass were fighting for it. So here is a video that shows how to pop a popper on the fly.

Now if you want to know how to tie a bass popper just head over to my fly tying section here for some instructional video: Fly Tying Bass Poppers

Related articles

• New Brunswick Women Fly Fishing Fun (thejoyofflyfishing.com)
• Creative Bass Fishing And Fly Fishing Procedures (thejoyofflyfishing.com)

During the 1960s I was a kid growing up in central Ontario, Canada. I did a lot of fishing in the river that ran through the back of our farm. The only thing I ever caught there was catfish although there were some big pike in the river, I just didn’t have the gear for them.

I remember my older brother Chuck catching a huge walleye on one of his fishing trips. I was always to young to go on those trips as there was a lot of drinking. Anyways he didn’t call the walleye a walleye, ever. He always called it a pickerel.

I was actually 30 years old and living in New Brunswick Canada before I saw my first Chain pickerel and realized they weren’t the same species.

Chain pickerel are also known as “federation pickerel” and in SE U.S. they are nicknamed “jack fish”.

Caught My First Chain Pickerel on The Fly

It’s kind of cool the way I found out about pickerel here in New Brunswick as I mostly fished brook trout. I consider myself blessed to have caught my first real pickerel on the fly rod while fly fishing for trout so it was a happy accident.

Fishing A Flooded Forest on The Fly Rod

It feels like a lifetime ago I had been invited to go fishing with a fly fishing buddy. Wayne wanted to take me to a little spot he wants to keep secret. He told me we would be able to catch some big brook trout on the fly.

Once we arrived I could not believe he expected me to actually use a fly rod in there. It was a forest that had been flooded years earlier when busy beavers had blocked the flow of water and flooded a large patch of timber.

Wayne told me there was 16″ brookies within. I didn’t call him a liar however I’d been thinking it. I did become a believer after he landed the first 16″ brook trout.

Fly fishing through trees was really a brand new experience. I had fished ponds and brooks for trout using the fly rod, had even learned to deal with trees behind me just not a forest all around me.

I spent most of my time staying out of the trees but did get a few trout. As usual when it comes time to leave I usually need to get a couple more casts. Just as I pulled the fly from the water for that final cast a pencil like 10″ fish flew from the water and grabbed that fly.

I couldn’t imagine just how intense this tiny fish was. That was when I learned the difference between a walleye and a pickerel.

These days I fish Chain pickerel every chance I can. My record continues to grow from that first 10″ chain pickerel to 25″.

Related articles

• Fun Fishing in New Brunswick Canada (thejoyofflyfishing.com)

I certainly enjoy brook trout fishing here in New Brunswick, on the fly or using my spinning rod. The thing is there can be so many brookies that all you catch are small ones while the big ones just get bigger. It really pays to study the water so you are casting to the places that should hold the biggest trout or you’ll be catching 10 inch brook trout all day.

Not saying there is anything wrong with that, it’s still a lot of fun.

For Me Spring Brook Trout Fishing Rocks

My favourite time of the year to fish trout is in the early spring as soon as our trout fishing season opens April 15. There can still be ice in the water but as long as you have a clear spot to cast to you can catch trout after trout and they can be quite active even though the water is only a degree or two about freezing.

I practice catch and release almost 100% but in the early spring when the water is so clear and cold the brook trout just tastes so good that I have to take a feed of trout home for my family to enjoy. The rest of the year it’s all CPR, catch, photograph and release for me.

Some places the fishing never shuts down, it’s an all year round thing but in New Brunswick our trout season is April 15 and ends Sept. 15 in all the areas I know of.

Brook Trout Fishing In Late August

When it comes to brook trout fishing I do prefer the fly rod. Fly fishing for brook trout is a lot of fun and most of the time I can fly fish using top water or dry flies that float. Just love seeing them take it from the surface.

The thing about evening fishing at the end of a long hot day is that everything becomes active as the sun drops and the air temp cools slightly. Just enough to make those nervous trout a little less nervous giving the opportunity for a great catch.

Brook Trout, Beaver Ponds And Early Morning Fog

When it comes to beaver ponds I love to get there with my float tube or canoe  just about day light. I used to get there and get right in the water but in the past few years I have relaxed a bit, just a bit and now I like to get there early and sit on the bank while I have a coffee and just watch to see what’s going on.

Get out on one of these ponds in the early morning mist can be almost mystical. Especially when you can’t see 30 feet in front. It’s the time that I find it’s most relaxing, until that first strike of course.

On a day to day basis I prefer to fish trout in the early morning before the sun is high on the water. If I’m fishing a river or a stream it doesn’t seem to matter so much as there are usually plenty of trees hanging over the water to keep the sun out of their eyes and making it harder for airborne predators to spot them.

If it’s cloudy all day I find the fishing can be fairly constant all day long.

When the day has been long sunny and hot I like to get my fly rod out and hit the water in the evening as it starts to cool off. Even the bugs like it when it cools off a bit and become active. It’s a great opportunity to catch a number of trout but also to catch that trophy you’ve been seeking.

Related articles

• 3 Brook Trout Fishing Tips I Think You’ll Like (thejoyofflyfishing.com)
• Fun Fishing in New Brunswick Canada (thejoyofflyfishing.com)

Fishing is a sport that requires you to be prepared. Sure, you can grab any sort of stick, attach a rope to it and TRY to catch something. But, in today’s wide world of products, you can do so much better and become that much more successful at fishing. There are several things that you’ll need and that’s what we will talk about here.

Bass Fishing

So what are some of the few big bass fishing 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 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 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.

Fly Fishing

Knowing how to utilize fly fishing knots is an extremely important skill to have when mastering the sport of fly fishing. First of all, there are quite a few different types of knots that you can utilize for fly fishing, and most of them are relatively simple to understand. The most simple ones utilized are the arbor knot, Albright knot, nail knot, double surgeons knot, and improved clinch knot.

Each one of these knots serves their own individual purpose, and is beyond the scope of this article to explain exactly what they do. However, here’s the important thing you need to understand about this. Without any one of these knots, fly fishing would not work. Obviously, this sounds rather complex and complicated, but once you understand how to do it, it will become as simple as time your shoe. Do you remember when you were a young kid and you watch other people riding their bikes? At first, this probably looks so complicated, but once you understood how to do it, you were amazed at how simple the process was. The same could be said of fly fishing knots. There are certainly more knots than the ones listed, but these are by far the most basic, and the ones you should understand released at the beginning.

Once you understand how to tie a basic fly fishing knot, you want makes sure that before you begin to go fly fishing, you must be certain that they are going to hold up. Especially at first, you might not know how to do it very well, and you might lose an awesome catch because of a faulty knot if you aren’t careful. By far the quickest and easiest way to make sure the knot stays tight as is to simply pour a little water on them, and then pull the lines to ensure the Knights hold still.

One final fly fishing tip that, while unrelated to knots, is essential to having a successful and enjoyable fishing trip: make sure to purchase fly fishing waders, which is a special type of clothing to help you stay dry while out on the water. Without this, if you do happen to get wet while fishing, particularly on a cold day, the rest of the trip will be miserable.

General Fishing

First, what is fishing tackle? This is the equipment you’ll need to get your bait out there. You don’t need to spend a fortune on it, but what you should do is get the right products for your needs instead.

The Rod And The Reel

The most fundamental product that you need is the rod and reel. For a beginner, go with a lightweight choice that has a spinner reel on it. You can even purchase them together. As for length, go for about six feet for the adults and four to five for your child.

Next on the list is fishing line. It is also called filament. You’ll need to know which weight to get. This is called the pound test. The larger the pound test number is, the stronger the line is. Depending on the type of fish you are after, you’ll need to choose the line that is about the weight of the fish. For a small, light rod, go with up to six pound test. If you are using a large sized spinning reel, go with a stronger line. For bait casting reels, go with six to thirty pound test. The most popular options are the eight to sixteen. Don’t always think that heavier is better though as many of the fish will be able to see the line and won’t go near it.

Also in your equipment, you’ll need a fishing net. This will help you to catch your bait and can help you bring the fish in.

Options In Bait

There are many options in bait that you’ll need in that tackle box. First, we’ll talk about which live choices you have. Go with earthworms to start. You can dig your own or get them from the bait shop. You can go with mealworms or grubs as well. Depending on the type of fish you are after, you are likely to have a type of bait to use to catch them. Ask your local anglers for information about which seem to work the best for your area.

There are several other products that you will find that you’ll need in the way of tackle. Here are some of them and what they are good for.

Bobbers. These are floats that you’ll attach to your line to dangle your bait in front of the fish. They give you some extra weight when casting. They will sit at the top of the water. Small is a better way to go and make sure it is just enough weight to keep the bait from dragging.

Hooks. You’ll need to choose the right size for the job at hand. When using live bait, buy sizes from six to ten. For bullhead or catfish, you’ll need larger hooks. For catch and release fishing, look for fish hook barbs that can be flattened. To choose look for the size that is about the right size for the mouth of the fish you are trying to catch. Too large and you won’t get a bite and too small will leave you with the hook in its belly.

Sinkers are next. These are weights that come in a wide assortment. They are used to keep your line from floating under the water. Split shot sinkers are tiny and they are by far the most popular. But, some weights can get up to a pound in weight. Make sure that they are lead free though when you purchase them.

Leaders. These are small metal pieces with an eye on one end and a pin catch on the other. The pin is used to slip a hook or lure onto it. You’ll then thread the line through the eye and knot it. They are helpful when it comes to changing hooks and lures. You may want to consider them when you are after muskellunge, walleye, or northern pike as they’ll keep the fish from biting through your line.

Swivels are used instead to attach hooks and lures without a leader. There is an eye on one end and a pin clip on the other. The same process is done as with a leader except that the pin clip opens much like a safety pin. They protect your line from tangling as your bait moves in the water.

In your tackle box, fill it with several very important things. For example, you’ll need a good quality fishing knife. This will help you do many things from cutting tangled line to cleaning your catch. Also, make sure to have a pair of needle nose pliers in there to help you remove hooks safely. It is wise to have a first aid kit on hand as well and make sure it includes antibacterial lotion. In fact, the tackle box itself should be organized with all of your gear and kept clean. Some will even come with the artificial bait you may need.

The best place to find all that you need in fishing tackle is through the web. You’ll find some of the best products here. Not sure what to purchase? Ask a local professional to help you to know what works well in your area. This can lead to some excellent fishing experiences.

In case you are searching through the web for more info about golf stretching exercise, check out the web site which was mentioned right in this line.

One of my favourite ways to fish for trout or pretty much anything I fish, is on the fly. Using my flyrod gives me an entirely different feel than any other way I fish. I also tie most of my own flies which gives me another thrill each time I hook a fish on a new fly I tied.

I catch trout on some flies that are so small, some a size 22, that I’m surprised they even see it as a food source. But man can they attack those little. Some days it’s just not stop all day and evening. Usually in the heat of summer.

You can stop at just about any stream or brook here in New Brunswick and there will be brook trout. If you can get a fly in there you’re most likely to get some however I have found that moving off the road about a 15 minute walk will land you many more trout and bigger ones as most people don’t go far off the road. You have to break through that barrier of Alders before you get to where you can cast your fly, at most places.

My Choice For Brook Trout Flies

I enjoy tying my own trout flies for my fly fishing trips although I don’t get to tie as many as I once did. Life tends to get too busy some times but there is such a difference mentally when I use my own flies. I guess that would be pride.

I’m a real sucker for the dry fly but then again I’m the same way with my spinning gear. I just love top water action. Very visual. You cast that fly out there and it lands so softly on the water it barely makes a ripple and then BAM. A trout slams it and it’s game on.

My personal favourite dry, wet and streamer trout flies:

Dry Flies – Hair Wing Dry Flies – size 8-18

- Gray Wulff
- White Wulff
- Irrisistible

Dry Flies – Fan Wing – size 10-20

- Adams
- Royal Coachman Fanwing
- Dark Hendrickson

Other Trout Dry Flies I Use

- Misquito size 10-20
- Brown Bivisible sizes 10-20
- Brown Hackle Peacock sizes 12-20

Wet Flies

- Black and Grizzly Weighted Wooly Worm – size 2-10
- Coachman Lead Wing Wet Fly sizes 12 -18
- March Brown English Wet Fly sizes 10-14

Streamers For Brook Trout

- Mickey Finn – size – 6-10
- White Maribou Streamer sizes 10-14
- Black Woolly Bugger – size – 6-10

There are flies that just seem to catch everything so it’s important to treat your fish with respect and if you’re not taking them home get them back in the water quickly. Keep them in the water and only take them out for a quick picture or two and then release them back so others can have that same experience some day. So practice CPR – Catch, Photograph and Release.

I release more than 90% of my fish back into the wild to catch another day but I do keep a few, mostly in early spring while the water is still ice cold. They always taste so good at that time of year. Maybe it’s because I haven’t had any since the previous season. Of course if I damage a fish I will not put it back hoping it will survive. I just take it home and cook it up for dinner.

Many happy days on the water my friend.

Related articles

• 3 Brook Trout Fishing Tips I Think You’ll Like (thejoyofflyfishing.com)
• Fun Fishing in New Brunswick Canada (thejoyofflyfishing.com)

Fly fishing is a lot of fun but can be somewhat frustrating if you don’t know how to use a fly rod to cast an artificial fly. It only takes a few minutes of guided practice t learn how. Then you can get to the water and have fun while getting better and better on each cast. But the real secret to fly casting is learning how to do it efficiently so you can last all day.

Once you’ve accomplished the task of learning to cast a fly an entirely new angling experience awaits you.

You can learn the stance, how to hold a fly rod and how to cast a fly in just a few short minutes if you have a good instructor. I know we all can’t be blessed with someone local to show us, as I did, but you will be happy to know that YouTube.com has plenty of videos that will show you how. If you have a laptop you can even take it outside for practice.

This new angling skill can be learned quickly, give back years and years of fly fishing fun and you can always improve your game.

I consider myself privileged mainly because my sister’s husband Joe, who had been fly fishing for quite some time before I arrived on the scene, took the time to show me how to cast a fly and how to tie knots.

It always takes me back a step when I say it’s been 30 years ago but even today when I get the call or urge to go fly fishing I get just as excited as I did way back then. There is just something that’s almost mystical about fly fishing, but maybe that’s just me. Nothing like seeing a fish take a dry fly on a river, pond, beaver dam or a mirror finished lake.

The Joy of Fly Fishing

I get a lot of fun out of fishing but I get something extra when fly fishing and I often think of how much fun I’ve had over the years since then. Heck the only time I take my fishing gear from my vehicle is during the off fishing season as I hate missing a fishing opportunity so my fly rod and gear never leave the truck during fishing season.

Practice Your Fly Casting At Home

When I go fishing I don’t want to fumbling around trying to get it right. That’s why you don’t wait until you’re at the water’s edge to start practising your fly casting technique. Of course it’s going to be practice but I am talking about learning how before you leave home. When I’m out fly fishing I need to be able to pay attention to the things around me instead of being irritated attempting to figure out the cast.

I started in the backyard. The first step would be to ensure there were no obstacles behind me that would impede my cast when first learning. I started by making sure I had approximately thirty ft with no obstacles right behind me.

Next, I tied on a fly. Note that I snapped off the hook point to prevent hooking things during practice sessions, things like a tree.

Joe showed me that putting a magazine between my elbow and ribs would make for a better cast and it worked great. In addition Joe showed me that moving the rod within 10 o’clock and 1 o’clock positions during the cast would make it easier and that worked better too.

The Armchair Fly Fisher:

I don’t know where I learned about this technique for practising fly casting but it worked well. I used the end section of my fly rod, attached a 3 foot section of yarn then seated myself in my living room where I practised holding my arm at my side going from the 10 and 1 o’clock position.

Practice getting the technique down before ever worrying about accuracy or distance. You will be surprised how easy it become to get distance and accuracy once you perfect the stance and arm movement.

When I am fly fishing trout streams I like to start with dry flies like the Adams dry fly with a lot of brown in it. There is just something about using brown hackle dry flies, the trout just love them and I seem to catch far more trout with them. I haven’t tied any Adams for years so I jumped onto Youtube and looked up a video for tying an Adams dry fly, check it out.

Related articles

• Fun Fishing in New Brunswick Canada (thejoyofflyfishing.com)

Bass fishing is always fun with my spinning gear but what I really enjoy is fly fishing for smallmouth bass. They are almost as much fun as Atlantic salmon but a whole lot easier to get the strike.

To make bass fishing even more exciting you have to try it from a float tube. My first fly fishing for bass trip was to Lake George New Brunswick on the hottest day of the year.

It was so hot the fish seemed to shut right down so we had to hunt for locations where the water temperature was cooler so I suggested we make the mile long trip to the other end of the lake.

My fishing buddy wanted no part of it, it was just too hot. Then I suggested we use the car to take our float tubes to the other end of the lake. He was down with that.

The other end of the lake has so much more rock, weeds and lily pads for the bass to get out of the direct sunlight.

My fishing buddy for the day was kinda dragging his butt. I admit it was hot and I wanted to find some shade for myself but I was more interested in seeing if I could get a smallmouth to strike.

I was a good 10 minutes away from Kerry. He was still puttering around the shoreline as if he was ready to go home. Then a huge bass hit my top water Deer Hair Mouse – Size 1/0 and I yelled FISH ON. That got my buddies attention and he immediately perked up and headed my way.

From that point on we had bass hitting all day long, none stop. I had found the perfect spot.

These smallmouth bass were not really monsters by any stretch of the imagination but they were big enough to spin us around in our float tubes.

I have to get Jamie to Lake George next year. We wanted to go this year but the pickerel here in New Brunswick kind of kept us busy all summer long.

Related articles

• Another Fun Day of Fishing in New Brunswick’s French Lake With Casey And Jamie (thejoyofflyfishing.com)