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Getting Hooked On WFN

World Fishing Network
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I always prefer to be out on the water rather than stuck in the house or at home for that matter, don’t tell my wife. However when I am stuck at home for what ever reason I still have my satellite and WFN. I also have a PVR so I can record all the fishing shows I love to watch, without the need to be home.

I used to have to surf all the channels to find what fishing shows are on but now I can just go through the guide and record any future events while I am sleeping or better yet, while I am out enjoying a day on the water fishing with friends.

A couple of the programs I like most are the fly fishing related programs, as I love to fly fish and really enjoy tying some of my own flies.

I can cast a fly pretty well but I am always ready and willing to learn new things to get a better cast.

I also like watching fly tying sections on these shows. I am a show me kinda guy. I do so much better when I see someone tie something. I end up tying flies I would have just been left scratching my head trying to figure out.

It’s also nice to be able to jump online and see what’s going on at www.wfn.tv both in the past and what’s upcoming.

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Fly fisherman above Ojo Calenti Bend on the Fi...
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I don’t care how great a fly fisher you are I am sure there are times you don’t feel like getting wet.I live in New Brunswick and we have a lot of water that stays cold all year long. We also have April and May that aren’t exactly known for warm water here.

Then there is the water I would never walk in without waders, like the water we fish for chain pickerel.It’s dark water, full of leeches and the bottom is soft so every step is going down a foot or so into the soft muddy bottom.

Because our season starts mid April I have neoprene chest waders but once the water temperature rises they get too hot so I have a second pair of waders that are much thinner, helping to cool me down on those scorcher days.

Which Waders Are For You?

Chest Waders or Hip Waders

Back 30 years ago when I learned to fly fish I started out with hip waders as most of the places I fished were brooks that were fairly shallow. It wasn’t until I started fly fishing for Atlantic salmon that I need to get myself a pair of chest waders. These days I never wear hip waders.

With or Without Built in Boots

My personal preference for my waders is to have them without boots attached. I find that my boots fit me better when I buy them separately. Plus I have gone through multiple pairs of waders over the years while my boots remained in good shape. No need to replace the boots.

I also find the waders that come with the boots as part of the waders just never seem to fit me properly. The waders are either to big and loose or the boots are. I have never had the problem with waders I buy without the boots.

I have also found that waders with built in boots tend to rub against my legs too much which irritates my calf long before the day of fishing is done.

I never leave home, when I am going fishing, without my chest waders, even if we are going to be in the canoe all day.

Simm’s makes great waders, give them a look before you purchase your next pair of fly fishing waders.

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Tenkara fly fishing
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Much of New Brunswick is under a heavy rain fall this morning. It’s going to feed a lot of streams so the water level’s going to very high again. Good thing we have has some mild weather earlier this month, so it may not be as bad as it would most other years.

I was looking for a video on fly fishing for trout and came across this helpful video on the fact trout seek protection from various things that help them live longer. Knowing these little tips will help you land more trout on the fly.

Enjoy Scott Linden’s Fly Fishing Tips: Trout Hiding Places.

Learn where the trout hide for their protection and you can have great fly fishing days most of the time, just be sure to practice CPR (Catch, Photograph and Release) so our kids have the same opportunity when they start fly fishing for trout.

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A Few Bass Fishing Facts

Spotted Bass From The Coosa River, Wetumpka, A...
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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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Fly Fishing Equipment – What to Choose?

Fly Fishing in Southeast Louisiana
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Fly fishing is a fantastic sport that has been around since the time of Cleopatra. While salmon and trout are the most targeted species for fly fishing there are many who target lesser known fish. Species other than trout include freshwater fish such as pike, bass and carp and saltwater varieties of all types including bigger fish as marlin.

Due to the different fish and types of fishing there is a vast amount of fly fishing equipment to choose from.

Fly Fishing Equipment Types And Uses

  • Waders – Fly fishing waders are essential to keep the fisher dry and warm. The two main types of waders are full body waders and knee or hip waders used mainly for small streams or lake edge
    Depending on the conditions to be fished body waders can be obtained in various thicknesses of neoprene for colder conditions or lighter high tech GORE-TEX varieties.
  • Reels - Your choice of fly reel will be determined on where you fish and the type of fish you decide to target. If you plan on fishing small streams the best setup will be a three to five weight combination of rod and reel. Larger fish, lakes and rivers require heavier fly rods and reels, this area is more general purpose and a weight 7 to 9 will handle most medium size fish. If you intend chasing game fish such as marlin you will need very high quality big game fly fishing reels
  • Rods – Fly rods in the same way as reels come in various weights and lengths depending on the variety of fish chosen. Fly rod weights are coded from 1 through to 12, 1 being very light an 12 being strong and heavy. Your fly rod and lines are the most important fishing tools, always buy the best you can afford, I can highly recommend sage fly fishing equipment.
  • Fly Fishing Vessels – Other than using a conventional runabout boat there are there flotation devices to allow the fly fisher to get closer and quietly to his prey. These include float tubes and single man pontoon boats.
  • Fly Lines – Choosing the correct line for the fly rod and reel is also of great importance. Without properly matching your fly fishing equipment you will not get the best casting distance. By using for instance a number 7 rod and a number three line is a poor match and will cause casting problems, therefore all of your lines, reels and rods must match to the corresponding weight number.

While reels aren’t so important, the line and rod should be the same, however you can get by buy using one line weight different. With a top quality no 7 rod for example you should be able to cast a number 8 line with ease.

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Tips to Buying Fishing Vest

Wet Wade
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I love the fly fishing vests I’ve had over the year and really feel they are a necessary part of my fly fishing gear, I could see me carrying all the stuff I carry with just a jacket on.

With the different styles of fishing such as dry fly and wet fly, carrying the equipment for each style required can become quite a load. A quality fly fishing vest should keep all your tools and extras organised and within easy reach, and in doing so make each outing an enjoyable and hopefully memorable experience.

As an illustration a days outing on a far-flung river requires that you carry certain supplies. The fishing could change from fishing fast water where you are fishing with a heavy nymph, or to clear deep pools using a sinking line and streamer fly. You may also come across areas that you could use a dry fly or tiny nymphs such as back washes and incoming creeks. All of these conditions require varying lines and fishing flies. Nothing is worse than to be caught out by finding the trout suddenly coming on to a dry fly and all you have is nymping gear with you.

Dependent on the amount of time you have you may also want to something to sustain you. When I spend a day on the river I usually take lunch, a small billy and gas cooker if the area to be fished was in a fire restricted area. Also foul weather gear and spare clothing in the way of light weight but warm polypropelene shirt, socks and leggings. All of this gear requires a serious, good quality fishing vest.

Not only is the fly fishing vest a great way to keep organized, but also ensures that you have everything you need. With a well set up fly vest you can leave all your gear inside ensuring that the next time you venture out everything is where it should be. Get used to keeping the same things in each pocket so you can unconciously locate whatever it is you desire. The majority of vests these days have a host of pockets and compartments for whatever it is you need. Cell phone and camera pockets, pouches for torches,glasses, the list goes on.

Most fishermen will have need for different fly vests. For myself I have 2, one I use for fishing from a boat, canoe or where i know what to expect such as local lakes rivers and streams. This is a lighter vest for basic gear such as fly boxes, leaders, a spare spool, and perhaps an extra reel. On the other side is a full day pack / vest that can house various reels, lines and apparatus for a long day hike.

Obviously the fishing vest you choose will suit your style of fishing, be prepared to spend a little extra and opt for quallity fly fishing vests such as a simms fishing vest, Like the rest of your fly equipment good quality will give years of enjoyment and fond memories.

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Dave Fly Fishing
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I went to bible college for 4 years and never missed a day even though I had to drive almost an hour each way. I was dedicated but every day I drove by a number of great trout fishing streams, brooks and rivers. It was tough on those perfect fly fishing days but I never once stopped to wet a line.

It seemed that all my off time was studying and working to pay for college.

The college sat on a hill top overlooking a valley that had streams full of brookies and even some salmon criss-crossing the landscape. About half my classes had a view of that valley and called to me daily until finally I couldn’t take it any more and went to the main office where I explained that I had never missed a day, even when students that lived on campus missed days because of bad weather.

And then I asked for a day off to go fly fishing for trout. Well the profession I was talking to laughed and told me that he had to fight that urge during classes, but that he lived right there and was fly fishing every evening for an hour or two.

Then he not only said that I could have any day off I wished, with his blessing. He also added that he knew of some great hot spots that he would share with me if I promised not to share these spots with anyone for 4 years.

For a minute I was thinking he was pulling my leg but he wasn’t. I agreed.

The next day I went fly fishing and had a great day. I think I was blessed with the perfect day, maybe because I never gave in to temptation during those months of classes.

The professor I was talking with did take me fishing, in some of the areas I already fished but he showed me how to catch the big trout, 16 and 18 inch brook trout. And I kept my promise not to tell anyone for 4 years. At that time I took my best fishing buddy, who I told about this promise from day one, so he waited 4 years to get this same opportunity.

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Fly Fishing in Southeast Louisiana
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I never enjoy getting a hook stuck in me. I really don’t know of anyone that does, although my son might like it as he really enjoys getting tattoos.

Over the almost 50 years of fishing I have had a few hooks stick various places in my body, from my foot to ears but they were all self inflicted. However this story isn’t about me hooking myself. This is about my buddy Roland, who I haven’t fished with for a few years, nothing to do with him hooking me though.

I always were a fishing hat as it keeps a lot of hooks from nailing me in the head when I am fly fishing on those windy days. I wear glasses because I have to if I want to see but I would wear glasses as a safety feature even if I didn’t need them to see. I have only ever ripped my glasses off once but better my glasses than my eye.

Back to my buddy Roland.

We were on Grassy Lake, it’s more of a big pond than a lake but we have pulled many tasty speckled trout from that little lake. Although the year Roland started using a fly rod he only managed to get two trout, on the fly rod that is. And he wasn’t casting at the time, he was just letting the line drag behind the canoe while I was paddling across the lake. He was a great sport about it and never got upset when I teased him about his first year.

Oh yeah, he did how one fish while he was casting. Unfortunately that fish was me. Right in the side of the neck at the speed of sound. Instantly Roland’s face went right into a look of horror and then he couldn’t look at me again.

It was so fast that it didn’t even hurt, no pain at all but of course I could let him know that right away.

Roland was of no help at all as he was too busy looking away and begging me to forgive him.

I tried for a few minutes to get the hook out of my neck but just couldn’t get it to come out and Roland couldn’t look at me so I just left it in my neck and cut the line. He was going to have to tie on a new trout fly.

I fished the rest of the day and when we returned to the car later than evening it only took me about 1 minute to get the fly out of my neck once I could see what I was doing in the rear view mirror.

I should have taken a picture so I could show his wife how he tortures me when we going fishing.

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Culex quinquefasciatus, known vector of west N...
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META: Mosquitoes are pests and can be hazardous to your health; they spread diseases like malaria. They can also be very irritating. To get rid of these blood-sucking insects we use various kinds of repellents and the electronic mosquito repellent is one of them.

When you have planned a barbecue for your friends and family or have planned an outdoor trip, mosquitoes can be a great nuisance and can ruin everything. A mosquito bite is like having a needle-prick. This will leave you feeling irritable, restless and very itchy. Your attention span tends to diminish quickly at an outdoor party or trip if you are being hassled by these pests. Not only can these little creatures call you loads of discomfort but the females can give you some very serious infections.

In most Asian countries and in Africa’s Sahara region mosquitoes can cause some grave health risks such as malaria, dengue, encephalitis, West Nile virus etc. A high mortality rate, especially in children can be gained by infections from these pests. It is therefore, quite vital that you smother yourself in some kind of mosquito repellent. This will not only keep the insects away, but will protect you from diseases and stop you getting irritable should you be unfortunate to obtain a mosquito bite.

There are several kinds of repellents available in the market and the electronic mosquito repellent is a suitable solution for warding these nasty pests. Mosquitoes cannot stand the smell of the electronic mosquito repellent and will therefore not penetrate the vapours that it releases into the air. The vapour will be released into a certain radius giving you maximum protection and shielding you from these pests. In comparison to the stronger smelling repellents on the market that you can spray on your skin, this is a more appropriate option. The electronic repellents will last as long as they stay plugged in but these ones only last for a few hours.

Another kind of electronic mosquito repellent is one that emits ultrasonic sound waves that are bearable to the human ear but are found repulsive by mosquitoes. These can either be set on a table or worn around your wrist when you are camping outdoors. The sound of a male mosquito flapping his wings is something that a female will stay away from as it is scientifically said that they can only mate once in their lifetime; this is an added advantage of this repellent as when sprayed it emits the sound that females very often dread. This kind of repellent should not b e relied on for protection however, as it is reported it is not ver effective.

You need to choose a spray that will give you the maximum amount of safety and will give good protection against these insects; this is essential. The electronic mosquito repellent comes close to being the best on the market as it’s not like others which have to be rubbed or sprayed onto the skin. This can be harsh and not smell very nice. The mosquitoes will stay away from you with the electronic repellent as it works silently in the background. One such repellent however, may not be sufficient, as the fumes that a repellent releases only workis within a radius of a few meters and may not be enough for very large areas.

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META: Every camper has different requirements and there are many differnt kinds of tents available today. It is therefore imperative that you look for a tent that best serves your needs and at the same time is durable and suitable for the weather type of your camping site.

Provided you have a comfortable tent, are sheltered and cosy, camping can be considered an exciting adventure. The needs of different people vary considerably so it is up to you to ensure you purchase the tent that will suit your needs best. There are a number of factors you need to consider when choosing your tent like how much weight can I carry, the weather conditions of the area you will be visiting and the space you require. High standards in terms of material, durability, quality and reliability can be provided by tent manufacturers as they test them.

Materials used for tents are generally lightweight nylon or polyester fabric. The groundsheet or base of the tent suffers from constant abrasions from the ground below. For this reason, they are made out of a far more durable fabric. To prevent it from tearing easily ripstop nylon is used. All camping tents are made to be waterproof by using a coating of polyurethane. This prevents the water from seeping in from the outside in case of a sudden shower or drizzle. It is very important to ensure the tent you buy has really good ventilation; the coatings on the tent sill determine this so check this out before you purchase.

The kinds of tents include ridge tents, geodesic tents, dome tents and tunnel tents. There are many factors which can determine whether your tent can withstand severe weather conditions; these include, the arrangement of the poles for the tent, the location of the guy points and the aerodynamics. Sturdy tents that are fit for harsh weather are the Geodesic tents. They have been tested to fit these conditions and will suit people who are considering going on an expedition. The poles intersect each other forming a self-sustaining structure that allows more room inside, besides it can hold the weight of snow as well as keep the icy winds from penetrating through the material.

There is more space in the tunnel tent due to the fact it has a curved roof. This gives more height in comparison to the dome tent which has a pointed sloping roof. This means you will not feel constricted as there will be more room inside the tent. A dome tent only uses two poles for support or sometime three if there is a porch included so if you are looking to buy a lightweight tent then this is the most suitable. This would be very appropriate if you were going backpacking.

If you are looking for a family tent then you must look for designs that are structured keeping in mind a base camp environment. These will remain standing until the end of the trip as such tents are only erected once. Because these are larger and heavier, it is safe to assume they can accommodate more people for a longer period of time. Taking a tent that is a size bigger than your actual retirement can also be useful as this will mean you have more space; and no one will regret that. With the above descriptions of the different varieties of tents, you can now easily select one of your choice.