Kingfish Fishing Bait

Kingfish is a beautiful fish and on the list of many fishermen as their favorite. Kingfish are also known as whiting or sea mullet. These are fish that swim in surf making fishing a totally extraordinary experience. They live and move in schools of thousands and of course if you caught one, then you are in the middle of it.

Kingfish are small fish with even smaller mouths. They love clams, worms and crabs – mostly things that are found on shores. The angler can use any of these things as baits, but should always keep in mind that it should not be lowered too much so that other fish or crab steal the bait. Spinner hooks work very well for catching these fish. So are Styrofoam floats adapted on rigs with shank hooks, or Sea Striker gold hooks.

The best bait, the bait which the kingfish simply cannot resist are expensive and almost royal, i.e. the bloodworm. The angler can use one or two worms alone on the hook or in combination with some other bait like strip of pork, mullet or even squid. If you cannot have the bloodworm, you can use its closest substitute, the night-crawler. Though nothing can really give the results the bloodworm gives, a good combination with night-crawler and strips or squares of squid work pretty well. Do not let the night-crawler get washed out however; the kingfish will not touch it.

The baits should be smallish since the kingfish are small biters and do not really go for any big chunks, even if they look wounded and tasty. Use happily spot, mackerel, squid, mullet or any combination of these if you do not have bloodworms. Kingfish are also very attracted to fillets – so if you like to use mullet, use de-scaled finger type fillets. It is a little known fact that sand flies make just as good effective baits for these fish and with a little patience and free time, the angler can get them for free (catch them themselves).

Keep the bait on the move as the kingfish are attracted to on-the-move type of bait. However, move it slowly and tantalizing just as in cat-and-mouse game for best results. The mostly swim around the shore so the angler should best concentrate his efforts there. Kingfish cannot resist baby clams – though it is not easy to get them, these bait are sure-fire ways to catch kingfish.

In the sea the kingfish always tends to swim towards the shore – so that is the best way to position yourself to catch them. In lakes/ oceans the best time to fish for kingfish is early in the morning till about 10.00 am and late evening after 6.00 pm.
Sea Fishing Tips - Fishing TV

Boat Fishing Tips and Tricks by Steve Dolan

Boat Fishing

If you're keen to find a fun family activity, then give boat fishing a try. There's nothing better than heading off on your boat with the wife and kids, talking about the fish you plan to catch that day.

It's important to realize, though, that there are lots of different types of boat fishing, and each one has specialized boat requirements. You can do everything from dangle some bait on a string over the side of a canoe, right through to high-tech rods and a powerful cabin cruiser. It just needs to be seaworthy - the rest is up to you! But if you're keen to buy a boat, you need to do some homework first. It can be very confusing walking into a boat show or dealership and seeing so many choices. You need to think about what you're planning to do with the boat before you can decide which one to buy. Here are some popular boat fishing choices.

Freshwater Boats

If you enjoy fishing in freshwater lakes, rivers or streams, then you don't need a massive boat. Instead, choose an aluminum or fiberglass boat. Make sure it's easy to transport and lightweight. Popular choices include bow riders, runabouts or walley boats, with either a small or dual console. These boats are fine for family freshwater boat fishing outings.

Offshore Saltwater Boats

Fishing out on the open sea is the most common thing people think of when you mention boat fishing. Most people enjoy fishing offshore because they get the chance to catch huge fish and use heavy tackle. It's important to have a dependable, heavy boat for this type of fishing. You'll encounter plenty of different weather and situations on the open sea, so you need to be able to rely on your boat. You can choose twin or single outboard motors, and you definitely need a cuddy cabin or a center console. If you want to spend a bit more, you can start to look at the more luxurious boats, including a bluewater or convertible with luxury quarters, and maybe even an elegant living area. Bigger boats generally have powerful inboard diesel engines as standard.

Inshore Saltwater Boats

If your tastes run to tarpin, snook, trout, bonefish or redfish, then you will want a boat suitable for inshore saltwater fishing. It's best to have a light boat that is smaller than a 25-footer. All you need is a single outboard motor. You're likely to be in shallow water at least some of the time, so something like a flat or baby boat works well. These have a spacious deck you can use for casting, and are still float well in shallow water.

Bass Boats

This type of boat is generally suitable for tournament and sport fishing. They're colorful, fast, and ride low in the water. It's preferable if the bass boat has a trolling motor mounted on the bow. Generally they have a platform at both the bow and stern ends, which makes casting much easier. You can choose from aluminum or fiberglass.

Float Tubes

These don't really qualify as boats, but fly anglers find them very handy for fishing in mountain streams, ponds and lakes. A float tube is simply a flotation device containing a seat. The angler is partially submerged when seated in the float tube, and uses fins on his feet to navigate around on the water. They're tricky to handle, and fly-casting requires lots of practice. You can choose between round float tubes, which are similar to an inner tube, and pontoon float tubes, which have an air chamber either side of the fisherman. The pontoons are slightly eiasier to maneuver, as their v-shaped design reduces the amount of water resistance.

It's always a good idea to speak to experienced anglers who either have their own boat or use one regularly. They can give you lots of help in deciding which type of boat is right for you. Read magazines, guides, and talk to your local boat charter service. fishermen generally love to talk about boats, and you can learn a lot to help you select the perfect fishing boat for your needs.


Fishing Tackle 101 (Fishing 101)

Carp Fishing Bait And Tackle Secrets Of Success! by Tim Richardson

Many anglers mistakenly think that all they need to succeed is a bag of readymade baits and a few thousand pounds worth of new gear. But did it ever strike them that actually the most well known anglers of the last 50 years certainly did not always use readymade baits or the latest most fashionable carp gear – because such things are only relatively new innovations! Read on now for genuinely new edges and tips you will not find in any magazines!

carp fishing arguably got more popular in the early eighties when many more individuals and companies saw that carp fishing could become a big business. In the nineties when carp magazines became more of a force of influence other than the voice of experienced anglers on the bank, the commercialisation of carp fishing really got moving. Unfortunately many of the carp magazines appear to be more interested in making money and selling products than offering readers open-minded opinions free of commercial bias but it appears that running magazines requires guaranteed regular advertising revenues in order to survive. I must admit I preferred the days when guys wrote books and articles that were not blatant promotional vehicles for company's products!

All this has gradually happened in a steadily growing rate of change that has seen once peaceful lakes today resemble bivvy cities. The enormous commercialisation of carp fishing has been going on for some years but I consider the real start of the cult of carp fishing explosion was around the early nineties when the magazines popularity really began to grow and influence anglers mindsets.

Cliff Fox founder of Fox International now one of the biggest tackle companies was running a different kind of engineering business before he really got a name for mainstream carp fishing tackle and if I remember correctly he was into providing things like custom-made shelving for businesses and so on. However it seems he always had an urge to design fishing-related items and I know he liked using gadgets such as 2 way radios such as when he fished certain lakes in Essex. Even in his much earlier days he was selling things like his old-fashioned style of metal bait dropper for instance.

I noticed a distinct change in his tackle preferences when he joined the Savay syndicate when long-range tactics were essential and his rods and reels suddenly resembled pretty much in the early nineties what have become the normal for most carp anglers today. In the eighties one of my fellow syndicate members designed a zero-friction style of bite indicator and this was field-tested on the water. I was one of the lucky few to use these brand new swinger indicators before they became a world-wide phenomenon and initially we really mainly used them to find fish by refining their setting to most easily indicate line bites which was something that monkey-climber-type bite indicators were less effective at doing.

I invented a rear rod butt clip by using the plasticized rubber of an old style heavy duty hose pipe and it is no coincidence that Fox brought out the foam rubber and metal adjustable rear rod rest ideal for clamping your rod solidly in position when fishing in snags and hit and holding and so on. In the early days on the syndicate I used to tie my rod butts to my rear rests using a simple thick string loop that when passed from one side of the rest to the other the rod formed an angle that meant the string stayed in place until manually lifted off by hand immediately when a run occurred. You might think that stretchy or elastic type rigs are new but we were using such rigs and indicators for that matter back in the early eighties or before that time

It amazes me how many anglers now use the plastic coated braids and other materials of hook links, where once very few anglers thought of including hinges and loops in their rigs. Of course stiffness in a rig is an advantage in hooking fish and loops can help prevent hooked fish slipping of hooks for instance. The old Amnesia type rigs are still in use and the memory of certain materials makes them ideal for producing curved springy type rigs perfectly angled for maximum penetration. I still really like using multi-stranded hook links and I remember having to buy my first batch by mail order in the very early days when Kryston was far from the multi-million pound turnover business it is today.

Believe it or not the original multi-strand product I used was 60 pound strength – and I initially trialled it as hook link material at that strength in the maximum thickness - and caught very good fish in the upper twenty pound bracket on this material right from the first cast! The fact is that multi-strand totally flattens and spreads out when compressed by carp lips when carp are testing for lines connected to baits and this is just on of the many unusual advantages of this material.

Inevitably I obviously split my 60-pound hook link material into 3 lengths to make the material go much further as it was quite expensive and using it at 20-pound strength and thickness was ideal. I found it best to make thumb knots in it about every 2 inches, leaving the last 3 inches able to spread out next to the hook. Use with PVA products this hook link material is I believe as good as invisible as is possible when presented correctly with practice – unlike so many hook links that will never disappear, flatten out or absorb light to a sufficient degree to be totally natural!

Many lines and plastic hook links even reflect light – like the vast majority of hooks; this is madness considering how acute the short-range eyesight of carp has been proven to be! Some of those so-called expert names in magazines have even written articles on rigs that included silver hooks – talk about misguiding the masses!

Of course in the eighties we used PVA tubes, PVA string and spodding and method type ground baits although the cult status of such products was yet to come about probably because those of us who used such edges then mainly kept quiet about them – but there are plenty of other secret edges yet to be exposed in the magazines or elsewhere!

I will finish with a tip about bait. Years ago we used to make liquid bait soaks by boiling down the whispered-about potent additive Belachan fermented shrimp block and adding all kinds of weird and wonderful substances, some of which are still under wraps today. One impact that Belachan in solid or in solution has is highly significant enhancement properties within baits of all kinds. Belachan has a significantly high mineral content that is highly attractive in its own right and this obviously enhances the amino acids, various acids and other compounds that Belachan offers that are so stimulatory to fish.

Today many bait companies offer Belachan in liquid form, often at inflated prices - so why not make your own homemade bait edges instead – in far more naturally concentrated forms? I do not recommend you use the enhancer MSG (monosodium glutamate) because it over-hydrates brain cells at the brain receptor site causing bleeding on the brain – please pass this on! Other very good enhancing liquids include L030 and liquid yeast – these examples and more are very rich in natural glutamate! These will certainly multiply your catch rate if you fully maximise them and impregnate your baits with them to a far greater degree than almost all readymade baits available today!

In fact I have found it easily possible to make homemade baits packed with liquid nutritional attraction that have proven to last functionally intact in water for at least 21 and more hours, that contain no egg binder and have no need of cooking whatsoever! The competitive advantages of these homemade baits are huge (all it takes is to keep an ever open mind and a willingness to think for yourself instead being hypnotised into becoming a mindless consumer!)

Such unusual baits contain far higher levels of liquid foods and natural enhancers, and natural feeding stimulators and attractors and as such are far more potent to fish than any readymade boiled, steamed or heated boilies or pellets. If you fish maggot-dominated lakes such as the Sandhurst Lake why follow the herd? Sure when so many maggots are entering the water carp receptors can get adapted to becoming very much more sensitised to their excretions but guess what – it does not mean you have to stop using boilies at all unlike anglers such as Ian Chillcott and Gareth Fareham might imply! No disrespect intended to them but to be frank I do not regard them as scientific experts on bait or fish - so why swallow every word they say? They are good anglers because they are willing to be adaptable - but you too can be equally if not even more adaptable and successful!

Think about it; exploiting liquidised maggots as the liquid protein and ammonia source in your boilies, pellets and ground baits is going to really make a difference if you use very soluble bait designs. With the right information these are totally unique baits you can easily make at home for yourself - to keep ahead of your fish and competing anglers! (For further information on making, adapting, designing and boosting your baits see my bait secrets ebooks website Baitbigfish right now - and improve your catches for life!)

By Tim Richardson.

Best Carp Fishing Guide

MAKING CATFISH AND CARP GROUND BAITS – Fishing Secrets Of Nuts ...

If you are looking for something different to boost your catches, you can never be stuck for choice and there are some very effective ones too. Nuts are one very special ingredient and bait that has caught fish reliably for ever. There are many reasons why such an often ‘foreign’ food item produces fish. But fish just love them!

One important mention is nut preparation. Unless nuts are used as finely crushed or flour form, they need correctly soaking for at least 12 to 24 hours to ensure they have fully absorbed water. Many fish have died as a result of the fish eating nuts thrown in as ground bait or chum, and then had nuts swell up as they absorbed water, but inside the fishes’ own digestive tract! In the States nuts dumped directly into rivers do not seem to decimate carp however. Why I do not know especially as much of this waste is not ‘human grade’ and likely to have toxins as a result of fungi or bacterial activity. Perhaps resistance has been developed as a result of this seasonal activity of dumping?

Let’s focus on ground baits. Frequently anglers use loose nuts or seeds like sweetcorn, or maize, tiger nuts or peanuts, pellets or boilies for ground bait. Some use live baits like maggots or bloodworm. Nut oils like tiger nut oil and peanut oil and pellet type oils like marine halibut oil are being used with great effect to enhance baits. But one often overlooked method is using homemade ground baits and these can be so successful! They can incorporate the ingredients used in your pellets or boilie mix. They can contain the flavours and oils used in your hook baits among many other components.

You can even add live elements like bloodworm, maggots or worms to stimulate your fish and get them digging in the silt for far longer, giving your more time and chances of successful bait pick-ups. Besides this point, many fish love to feed on tiny particles of food and this is often more natural for them. Often this type of baiting will produce fish successfully whereas ground baiting with ‘whole baits’ like boilies, big pellets or cut meat or fish baits will not. Even the addition of cracked corn, soaked corn flakes or maize flakes can bring your swim alive, adding corn steep liquor is an obvious edge here.

Ground bait traditionally in the UK was made from bread crumbs. Bread crumb ground bait is very effective for carp and many other species even catfish, because it is a great carrier of liquids, for example liquid liver, blood, corn steep liquor, all manner of flavours, liquid fish protein, liquid amino acid and vitamin / mineral additives. I’ve caught many big carp and catfish using ground bait. How you use it and what you combine with it regarding your hook bait, and near hook proximity attraction all play a part in your individual success on a particular water and the way you need to fish there.

Making a boilie from various nut meals is not uncommon. Even a simple recipe like the following can be the basis of your ground bait and be ‘tweaked’ to attract all kinds of species if not carp or catfish:

Peanut meal (roasted is often higher in protein.)

Crushed tiger nuts.

Crushed almonds. (Especially high in vitamin E and very good on waters hard hit by high fish oil baits like pellets and fish meal boilies with bulk oils.

Crushed brazil nuts.

Tiger nut flour.

Brazil flour.

Eggs or gelling agent.

Sweetener. E.g. Molasses, fruit sugar, brown sugar, icing sugar, Talin, Betalin, Thaumatin B etc.

Ground nut or tiger nut oil.

Amino acid containing additive.

‘Super sweet’ taste enhancer or similar.

A teaspoon of nutmeg or cinnamon per pound of dry powders is optional. So many taste and smell options are available. Fenugreek is another good additive, especially if you use natural and synthetic maple syrup as the flavour.

Some may prefer using an essential oil component like geranium terpenes. If you add crushed hemp, then hemp oil with fennel essential oil is a good combination. (Including fennel seeds and black pepper add another dimension for example.) Aniseed is well proven for holding fish in a swim, but is used so much it can lose its edge, but with so many other choices who needs it?

A flavour is desired by many anglers. Well very many are good, but I’d go for Rod Hutchinson’s “Chocolate malt.” Dynamite bait’s “Fish Gutz” is another good one. This is the much whispered about coffee flavour of recent times, although Rod Hutchinson’s Coffee flavour from the past was brilliant.

Adding a small amount of chocolate powder or coffee powder adds a different dimension to this bait in certain stimulating ways. Fish detect certain compounds like caffeine, and stimulatory phenols in the case of peanuts and almonds especially, which create a ‘I want just one more’ effect. Carp have proven to possess dopamine neuronal systems. These can be very much linked to preferential behaviours and ‘the feel good factor’ in the brain. This doe not mean that this response is always good for you or for carp either!

Too much chocolate or crisps, biscuits, candies or cookies are not nutritionally good for you, but give you a temporary ‘lift.’ Sugar, fats, opiates in milk and wheat, salts etc are addictive to humans and carp love them too. But too much of these and it either means disrupted physical health and mood and even diet or behaviour-induced diseases like fatty liver, fatty heart, heart trouble, obesity etc. Activated dopamine neurons are powerful aids to learning and repeated behaviour. The ‘just one more’ syndrome is a great thing to exploit in your bait any way you ‘ethically’ can without harming fish health. You can see the links between our love of curry and the use of chilli powder in baits. Hemp and the abuse of cocaine and similar substances. Even tobacco and alcohol are fish stimulators at the correct level and in the right dose.

(Please note nicotine is fatally poisonous even more toxic than cyanide... Smoking this stuff is insane. We used to use it as a kill-all insecticide in glass house plant production using nicotine shreds. Even this has caused human fatalities. Funny that nicotine is a naturally produced insecticide and we should choose to smoke it. Incidentally Indigenous American Peoples use pure willow leaf tobacco in sacred ceremonies, but knew all about its power and how not to abuse it! Anyway, virtually all drugs of abuse use activation of dopamine neuronal systems.)

In the case of carp, in some fishing situations where anglers fish predominately with certain nuts introducing huge amounts, carp get hooked on these baits like peanuts and tiger nuts. They can eat them at the exclusion of anything else, resulting malnutrition and weight loss. Although nuts contain healthy omega oils, protein and vitamins, iron, they are not particularly digestible and not especially high in protein. (Some roasted peanut products excepted.)

Nuts are very attractive baits in their own right, but their attraction can be enhanced.

Now if you cannot get any of these ingredients you can replace them with many others. Even ground rice, corn flour, semolina or ordinary wheat flour can be used. Desiccated cocoanut is very good too. Many commercial ground baits contain this. The trick is to ensure your finished bait has added soluble attraction and feeding stimulation. For example, you could add a teaspoon of sea salt per pound of dry powders. Peanut butter is a great additive.

I read an amazing story as a kid once about a young boy who landed a stupendous uncaught giant carp from a nearby lake by using a homemade peanut butter sandwich. The irony was that it was laced with cocaine and the carp had a ‘fatal attraction!’ Fortunately the story was made-up, but it really got me thinking about making baits ‘addictive!’

Various seeds can be added to your nut baits too and roast sesame and pumpkin seeds are higher in protein being 30% protein or above. Hemp seed and crushed hemp seed or powder have always been good as is hemp oil. However, how many anglers have used hemp protein?

Nut milks instead of ‘conventional flavours’ are well proven, coconut milk combined with condensed milk is a tasty combination for example.... Milk powders can be very useful in ground baits improving solubility, nutritional attraction and even binding as with Vitamealo for example. ‘Tahini’ or creamed sesame seeds when sweetened make a brilliant base for an alternative paste or dough bait.

Malt extract is very useful proven additive too. Another water attracting or hygroscopic ingredient to attract catfish in particular, is LO30 fish protein. The spray-dried form can be incorporated into ground baits, pellets, boilies or dough or paste bait mixtures and is highly effective. The popular liver powder, green lip mussel extract and blood powders and green corn steep liquor and even Vegemite, Miso soup, are all proven nutritional ground bait additives to add. Betaine HCL is another and many betaine products are now available, and combined with added amino acid type products are excellent.

Making hook baits with crushed nuts and seeds impregnated into the surface provides a different texture and leak-off rate of attractors to your baits which can be more productive than ordinary round skinned boilies. I like to use a mix of crushed nuts and seeds in high levels in my paste baits and air-dried pastes and ‘just skinned’ boilies in a PVA bag along with fresh paste. The irresistible effect of this lot ‘melting’ around the hook bait is fantastic. I have often used a slower melting paste actually on the hook alongside pellet or boilie or nut bait or baits on a hair (or hairs) to trip-up those warier fish.

You can make a sweet nut bait with an added proportion of ‘creamy’ squid liver extract, and fully expect big catfish and carp with this unusual combination. Nut baits go far beyond a chopped or skinned or glugged tiger nut or flavoured humble peanut. Creative bait making, even simply mixing proprietary base mixes and ground baits together works wonders. The added bonus is you can make those more expensive products go much further by additional nut meals and bird seeds. So why not make some homemade baits, go nuts and land more crackers!

The author has many more fishing and bait ‘edges’ any of which can have a huge impact on your catches.

By Tim Richardson.



Catfish Fishing - Part 1 - How to Catch Catfish - Secrets and Tricks

Night Fishing For Catfish -Enticing Trophy Catfish Into A Feeding ...

Night fishing For Catifsh Article

Equipment you will need :
Boat
Boat Anchors
Separate 12v Battery To run lights
Night Lights
Submerged Lighting
Live Bait Keeper
Chum bag
Rod Holders
Heavy Bait Casting Or Spinning Rig
Insect Repellent

Night fishing for catfish can be a very rewarding fishing trip .Trust me If you do it Correctly you will catch fish, not only will you catch fish but some will be lunkers! catfish feed at night and are very active, and when they get into a feeding frenzy fishing action can be incredible! catfish are attracted to submerged lighting And have a very keen sense of smell. So If you can locate their nightly haunts you can entice them on to your hook with some simple methods I will explain here. 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.

Boat Setup 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. Set up your lights so they distribute light evenly inside the boat. I personally fish from a 20 foot pontoon and I have 3 halogen battery powered lights hung 2in the front, left and right and one hanging from my canopy in the rear. (I have used my Coleman Lanterns but they attract a huge amount of insects)

You also will need a secondary light on your person. This light is used for re-rigging your fishing poles. Trust me , no matter how prepared you are before your trip you will loose some tackle, from line crossovers, or snags, or fish snapping your line. (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 submerged light source. You are probably asking your self right now why do I need submerged lighting? The submerged lights will generate plankton swirls that will attract bait fish. Once the bait fish start schooling The big cats will come. attract schools Submerged lighting rigs come in a variety of sizes and shapes, the one I use is 36" long about 4" in diameter. Center the submerged 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.

You will need a secondary power source for the submerged light, the water illumination light and to operate your aerator pump for your live bait or live well."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.

You will need all Your poles pre-rigged If you have the rigs I would set up 3 poles , per person in advance of getting on 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

It has been my experience the bigger cat's roam the shore lines or back waters in search of food at night. Every body of water will be 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.)

Enticing the Cats to your boat.

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. There are many commercial chumming systems you can purchase and they work very well, but I use a simple very inexpensive method that anyone can set up. First you will need a nylon netted bag that you can close tight. (a good example would the netted bags that you put golf balls in that have a string closure adjustment) This is what I use, works perfect , very inexpensive. Next , get some good size freezer bags, 3 should do for one nights trip. Next , Purchase about 2 dozen good size chubs and cut them in 1" to 2" slices, make sure you do this in a pan that will not drain all the juices. 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! Now stick the freezer bag in side the meshed bag that can close. Close the bag tight and tie a line at the bottom of the bag about 2 feet long. Attach about a 2lb anchor to get the bag to the bottom . Now tie a line at the top of the bag with enough lead line to get the bag on the bottom. Now before you lower the chum bag to the bottom take an ice pick, or something sharp that will puncture the bag , but not tear the plastic. Punch the freezer bag numerous times, then lower to the bottom an tie it off on the side of the boat.

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. When you are fishing at night and you have submerged a lighting setup ,you want get your line about 2 ft away from the light source, approximated on the outer edges of the source's beam. You will be fishing only a short distance from the boat, so your rigs need to be set up to fish in close proximity to the boat. You could fish tight line with a basic catfish hook and a small sinker. Or use a slip bobber system. I prefer to use the slip bobber system. I use the single hook rig. But both single and multiple hook rigs work fine. I just have preference for the single hook rig. I do use the double hook rig when fishing for other types of fish. I use all heavy duty, open face , and spin cast rod and reels with 30lb test. When you do get a lunker on your line you want the tackle set up to handle the fight. 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. I use both live bait 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.

Now Bait your rigs,Get Your Boat Setup and get ready for an exciting Night fishing for catfish Trip! Once you catch a lunker 10 pounder You will be Hooked for life! So have fun and good luck! Get Your free copy of "78 fishing Discoveries Unleashed" Here--oldfishinghole.com

Angling Technics Technicat Bait Boat | Carp Fishing Tackle Review

Fly Fishing for Largemouth Bass

Like all bass fishing, bass fly fishing has exploded in popularity. The Largemouth Bass is considered by many the greatest of all gamefish. Once limited to just the Eastern United States, the Largemouth Bass has been introduced all over the continent. When most people think of bass fishing they think of, stiff fiberglass rods, heavy lines and large lures. But more and more fisherman are finding the advantage of fly fishing for this game fish.


Advantages of fly fishing:

Fly fishing allows the angler a wider variety of food imitations. While large lures only imitate a small number of food sources, flies can imitate virtually all the sources of bass food, including small organisms like nymphs and even dry flies. Fly fisherman can also cast out mice, frog, and a variety of other food sources for these opportunistic feeders. Many times bass are found in shallow water, hiding under or near logs or snags or in weeds. Fly casters have the advantage of more accurate placement, and being able to place their offering quietly without spooking skittish fish.


Bassy Water:

Largemouth Bass usually emerge in early spring albeit a bit sluggish, but nevertheless with a speeding up metabolism, they are seeking food. Most largemouth’s will seek food in the shallows, being territorial the best hiding places will go to the biggest fish. Recognizing a good bass hiding spot is the first step in successful bass fishing. Fallen logs or weedy areas will provide cover for the wary lunker. Often times bass can be spotted by the careful observer, in clear water bass will appear green to pale olive across the back and white to pale yellow in the belly. In some areas a partner system will be beneficial with one angler standing above the water to provide a bird’s eye view. Float tubes can also be helpful allowing an angler to cover a lot of water in shorter amount of time, although you give up some of the advantages of sight angling.


When to fish:

Largemouth bass emerge in the early spring from deeper water. The exact timing depends on the region and the severity of the winter. But when ice begins to thaw and the water warms up, the largemouths metabolism begins to quicken albeit slowly at first. The strikes won’t be as hard, as the reticent fish, slurp in minnow patterns. Much like a trout slurps up an emerger pattern.

But once the water begins to warm to 60 degrees. The largemouth’s thoughts turn to spawning. In many areas this is around April. And the bass feed furiously, and seemingly without much thought to selection. It is during this time, that the bass fly fisher can found in their true natural environs. bass cruising the shoreline in 1-3 feet of water, needing to bulk up for the upcoming spawn. It is then that the bass are the easiest to catch. Being fiercely territorial and in a feeding frenzy, they will attack anything in their path with a ferocity that makes this fish legendary.

After the spawn the bass seeks out deeper water, however , early morning and evening in particular can give one great action all summer long. And with the cooler waters of fall, bass return to activity that makes a trip to your favorite bass hole a worthy endeavor.


Techniques:

Early in the morning, I usually fish the banks with steamers. Casting out Woolly Buggers, Woolly Worms, Muddler Minnows, and even a leech pattern or two. One to three feet of water is where I concentrate, while the bass cruise actively looking for fish to eat.

In the spring time by afternoon I have switched to floating bass bugs. The very thing that makes bass fly fishing so fun. Casting one toward a nice looking bass hiding spot, I allow it to sit there for a few seconds. If you allowed the fly to ‘pop’ upon landing and have a nice bass picked out, often times this all that is needed for the bucketmouth to inhale your offering. Make sure your rod tip is at the proper angle to absorb the hit, or the game will be over before it begins.

If after a few seconds the ‘hit’ doesn’t occur, begin retrieving your fly at intermittent intervals like would occur in nature. This ‘popping’ action is what attracts the bass to your offering. Watch for the wake as the great hunter is not at all shy, and remember especially trout anglers, the bass’s mouth is huge and these animals were built for eating.


Flies:

Well, The Big Y Fly Co. (http://www.bigyflyco.com) is about selling flies, so you didn’t think we would forget that did you. If it is still unclear bass are opportunistic carnivores with huge mouths, that will eat anything. There are the usual bass bugs that float like the Frog, and the Mouse Rat. Then there are the divers, that float and then sink when you retrieve them, like the Dahlberg divers. And then there are the streamers, like the Woolly Buggers, Clouser minnows. Furthermore for those hot days or big reservoirs, there are sculpins and leeches that, like bass, will seek deep water.

The great Largemouth Bass has soared in popularity like few other game fish. If you haven’t ever experienced fighting one of these, you are missing out on something special. Now introduced virtually everywhere throughout the continent of North America, there is bound to be some great bass fishing not far from your door.

Fly Tying with David Strawhorn - Cats Whisker(lure)

Fishing Bait

Fishing Bait

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Do I Know How to Catch Fish?

Since I am a woman I thought I should probably let you all know that when it comes to fishing...I DO know what I'm talking about.

I first learned to fresh-water fish at about the same time that I learned to walk, as I grew up with a well-known trout stream running through my backyard.  My dad taught me and my four brothers how to fish.  I have also been baiting my own hooks since about the age of five or six since my dad made it very clear from the beginning that if we didn't bait our own hooks, we didn't get to fish.  Of course from my infancy to age five he bent that rule, but after that I was on my own.  Now, at an age over 50, I consider myself very knowledgeable about fish and fishing both freshwater and saltwater.

Even through my teenage years I fished.  As I also like to hike and camp, I taught myself how to catch the elusive native brook trout that inhabit the small springs and streams in the mountains.  I learned that to catch these fish you must use their natural food as bait, so first I would round up crickets and small grasshoppers.  Then I would crawl to edge of the stream on my belly (native trout spook easily - they can feel your footsteps vibrations and will scatter if you try to approach the stream walking), then I would carefully lower my bait into the water.   Since these native trout rarely got any bigger than 7 to 8 inches I would catch several before putting them in a pan and frying up my breakfast.  Mmmmm, nothing better than fresh native trout for breakfast when you're toughing it up in the mountains :)

My brothers and I also spent many days and weekends fishing the lakes of North America.  We battled monster Pike, Pickeral, and Muskellunge as well as the smaller game-fish like Large-mouth and Small-mouth Bass, Perch, Catfish, and Carp.  I learned that you need to fish for each and every game fish in a different way, with different tackle, and different bait if you want to be successful.  Yes you can catch many different fish using just one type of tackle but if you really want to catch more of a specific type of fish you need to be more specific with your tackle, bait, and presentation.

I moved to Florida many years later and for a time lived in a house on a Gulf-access canal.  The neighbors told me right off the bat that they never saw anybody catch anything in there.  Not knowing anyone who knew how to saltwater fish, I took it upon myself to teach myself how to saltwater fish.  I lay on the dock and watched...I saw many fish.  I saw how the little Pinfish scattered and hid when bigger fish came into the canal.  I watched them jump out of the water (it looked like the water was boiling) when they were cornered.  I saw how the Sheepshead would constantly pick at the mollusks attached to the dock.  I watched the Snook lay under the dock during the day and become voracious predators come dusk and dawn.  I watched and learned.  I also bought several salt-water fishing magazines and read every article I could find on what kind of fish were in this body of water, what they ate, and how to catch them.

I went out and bought bigger tackle and started fishing off the dock hoping that the little knowledge that I had gained would be enough to catch a saltwater fish...and to my, and my neighbors surprise I immediately began hauling in every kind of salt-water fish imaginable.  I couldn't believe the fight that the Crevalle Jacks gave me!  These fish are not good eating but they are one the strongest, most aggressive fish that I have ever tried to reel in.  The first one I caught on a shrimp but soon found out that they actually preferred the Pinfish as bait. This is when I first started free-lining Pinfish and Shrimp, just because I had a hunch that it would work better than a sinker and or a bobber.

The month of October was one of the best months for catching Redfish (Red Drum) off the dock.  During this month I was pulling in 35 to 48 lb. fish over and over again.  I always released them but had to spend about 20 minutes reviving them before I let them go as my line was only 18 lb test and I really had to play them to get them to the dock.  

We got a boat and soon I was taking what little knowledge I had out into the flats and up to 50 miles out into the Gulf of Mexico.  I read everything I could get my hands on about how to catch Grouper and other reef-inhabitants and again went out and bought bigger tackle.  My Grouper rod is a heavy duty Penn rod and Penn bait-caster.  I lined it with 50 lb. test and an 80 lb. leader.  You do need to use a drop or slide sinker when fishing the reefs for grouper so you can get your bait down there fast enough that the smaller surface-dwelling fish don't eat your bait before it reaches the bottom.  When grouper fishing you MUST set the hook as soon as you feel them bite!  Then you must immediately haul them up out of the water because if you don't they WILL take your bait, hook, and line down in their den and you WON'T be able to pull them out.

While bottom fishing the reefs, I always have at least one other rod ready for surface fishing - usually my Fish-Bonz rod lined with 18 lb. test and a steel leader.  Reefs are good places to catch Mackeral, Kingfish, Snapper, and of course Sharks.  There is never any lack of action at a good reef.

A friend of mine and her husband came to visit me down in Florida.  He happened to be a Pro-Bass fisherman from North Carolina but he had very little experience in saltwater fishing.  I tried to give him some pointers on how to catch some of the saltwater denizens.  I explained to him that the tackle and techniques were very different and that just because he was a Pro-Bass fisherman didn't mean he would do well fishing in saltwater.  He shrugged it off and made it a contest...well I've never met a man I couldn't out-fish (except for maybe one of my brothers) so I took his challenge, since he was being stubborn and wouldn't listen to me.  When the day was done, he admitted defeat and let me tell him how he should be fishing this type of body of water.  They came to visit several times since and he's now a much better salt-water fisherman.

I moved up north to New England a few years back.  I had only ever fished the Atlantic a handful of times but I used my experience from fishing the Gulf to land me several Striped Bass, Halibut, Sharks, and Pollock.

I am now back where it all started with the trout stream running through the backyard.  I felt that it was time that I shared some of my fishing knowledge with other people. I hope that this patience-building pastime gives you just as much enjoyment as it does me, my children, and all of my family.  Lets take care of our streams, lakes, rivers, and oceans so that the new generations can enjoy them the way we have.

Thank you for the opportunity to tell my story.  Good luck and happy fishing - JD

Fishing With Live Shrimp Bait

There are several ways of fishing with live shrimp as bait; however, most of the time you are better off fishing the live shrimp "free-lined".

Free-lining is exactly what it sounds like - the only thing on your line is a light leader and a hook baited with live bait.  This allows the bait to move naturally in the water, thus attracting more fish.   When fishing with live shrimp you can hook the shrimp right between it's head and back plates.  This hook placement works well if you are fishing from a dock or other shore location.  If you are fishing from a boat you are better off hooking the shrimp near the tail and drifting your boat with the tidal flow.

Saltwater game fish are especially fond of this type of bait presentation.  I've used this type of bait presentation to catch Sharks, Cobia, Snook, Red Drum (better known as Redfish), Black Drum, Sea Trout, Grouper, Sting Rays, Mackeral, and Striped Bass, to name a few.

Other types of live bait can also be presented by free-lining.  Pinfish and Grunt work well in this bait presentation method because your bait will naturally cover more territory as it's desperately looking for cover to hide from the predatory game-fish called by it's panicking action.  Additionally, the Grunt is appropriately named because it "grunts" when stressed and effectively "calls" the predator to it's location.

So the next time you do some flats fishing, canal fishing, dock fishing, shore fishing, or boat fishing try free-lining your live bait, you won't be disappointed.


Good luck and happy fishing - JD

Fishing in the Gulf of Mexico

A freshwater fisherman once said to me that fishing in the Gulf of Mexico is like fishing in a barrel...wrong!  You have to know what you are fishing for, where you will find those fish, what kind of rod and line to use, what kind of bait to use, and how to fish that bait.  Because of the size alone of the Gulf of Mexico, without knowing all of these things (unless your lucky enough to have an experienced guide) you probably won't catch a thing!

There are several different kinds of places to fish the Gulf of Mexico.  You can fish it by boat, you can shore cast, you can fish in the canals or you can fish in the mouths of the rivers that feed into the Gulf.  The one great thing about fishing the Gulf of Mexico is that in EACH of these places, if you know where and when to go, you can catch almost all of the areas game fish.

Some of the game fish that you can catch in any of these places include the Red Drum, Black Drum, Cobia, Sheepshead, Snook, Sea Trout (not the freshwater kind, not even a cousin, but instead is a member of the drum family though they look nearly identical to their freshwater namesake), Grouper (several types), Black-tipped Sharks, Lemon Sharks, and the list goes on and on.

Here's a little extra information on some of the above mentioned fish:

• The Cobia's fins are very sharp and can cut you up badly if you handle them incorrectly.  
• The Sea Trout's mouth is very soft and tender and must be hooked and landed gently as their mouths tear easily.  Use a light line for this fish.  6 to 8 lb. test is more than sufficient.
• You can hear the Drums (both Red and Black) before you'll ever see them.  Listen for the sound of drums early morning, and late afternoon...dum da-dum da-dum.  This will help you pinpoint their location especially of you are fishing around docks. If you are out in a boat listen as well because this fish will sometimes hang out under your boat.  In that case not only will you hear the Drum (dum da-dum da-dum) but if your boat is small enough you will feel the vibrations of the Drum's call.
• Yes Grouper do come inland on occasion.  Mostly during breeding or when the water temperatures cool.  They like live shrimp, pinfish, and grunts.  The pinfish and the grunt are to the Gulf of Mexico as the minnow is to rivers and streams.  To find locations to boat fish for Grouper you only have to get a good marine map that shows you where the reefs are.  Where there are reefs, there are Grouper.
• The Sharks are opportunistic feeders, they're pretty much everywhere and chances are if you're fishing the Gulf of Mexico you're going to catch one at some time or another.

These are only some of the amazing fish that make fishing the Gulf of Mexico a worthwhile experience but in no way is it like fishing in a barrel.  Take the time to learn about the fish and saltwater fishing techniques before you go fishing in the Gulf and you won't be disappointed.

Good luck and happy fishing...JD

Tips on pole fishing tackle and rigs video

tips on pole fishing tackle and rigs
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Fishing – The Equipment, Tools, and Advice That You Need

Fishing can be an extremely enjoyable and relaxing adventure. As long as you have the right tools and knowledge you can be a successful fisherman or fisherwoman.

The most overlooked factor in buying equipment is choosing the right fishing tackle. You should follow these simple guidelines in the selection of tackle.

1. You must first determine where you will be fishing.  Different bodies of water, as well as different types of fish, require appropriate fishing tackle and bait.
2. You need to decide what type of bait that you will be fishing with, will it be artificial or live bait? Artificial bait includes flies, spinners, lures, plugs, and other plastic/wood/metal forms that imitate the characteristics of a live bait subject.  The basic rule in choosing the kind of bait is to know which is abundant in that actual environment.  Bait such as night crawlers, red worms, wax worms, leeches, helgamites, minnows, or other pin-fish type bait are considered live bait.  There are also other types of bait that work well for some types of fishing such as: salmon eggs, power-bait, and other home-made dough type bait-balls.
3. Once you have determined where you will be fishing, what you will be fishing for, and what kind of bait you will be using, you should be able to choose the appropriate line to use. The five types of tackle are fly-fishing, deep sea, plug or lure- casting, spinning, and bait-casting.  Fly fishing will require you to use a fly rod/reel and line specific for fly rods.  Deep sea fishing will require a heavy rod and reel combo as well as stronger line.  The other types of fishing can all be done on a spinning reel/rod combination; however, you may also desire to use a bait-casting reel/rod when using live bait.  This tackle combination does not work well however with plugs, lures, and spinners.  
4. Additional tackle that you should purchase are sinkers, hooks and bobbers. Sinkers and hooks could be bought in different packs with different styles and sizes. When selecting bobbers, always keep in mind that the smaller the bobber, the better the performance.  If you plan on releasing the fish that you catch please consider using circle hooks.  They are made so that they hook the fish in the lip and so ensure a quick return to the water once landed.  The type of sinker that you should use will vary with the type of water that you will be fishing.  Split shot sinkers work well in lakes and streams and slip sinkers work well in deep sea and rivers.
5. If fishing for large “toothed” fish, be sure to purchase leaders.  They are available in various strengths and lengths, depending on the type of fish that you are fishing for.  Most test (line) will not stand up to a large “toothed” game-fish.  Whereas leaders which are made of either heavy duty line or steel, can help you bring in that “monster” Muskie or other large game-fish.
6. Additionally, you should purchase a good pair of hemostats.  Because they are thinner than pliers, they work much better at removing a hook from the mouth of a fish.  They also can be carefully inserted a little farther down into the mouth to retrieve a hook when it’s been swallowed.
7. One last piece of advice…before going fishing please check the weather.  Weather plays a BIG role in whether the fish will be biting or not.  Also, if you plan on going out on a boat you need to be aware of any approaching storms.  Always leave information with someone about where you plan to fish and when, especially if you are fishing from a boat, inland or ocean.

Good luck and happy fishing! JD

Extreme Carp Fishing with Penfishingrods.com

Extreme Carp FIshing with Penfishingrods.com
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Making a Hair Rig Suitable for Bread or Dough when Carp Fishing

Making a Hair Rig Suitable for Bread or Dough when Carp Fishing

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Selecting Flies for Pacific Steelhead

Popular flies for Steelhead vary greatly whether you are fishing in the Pacific region or in the Great Lakes. The fisheries have developed separately and so have the preferences anglers have for flies cast to their intended prey. We will primarily concentrate on Steelhead flies on the West Coast in this article and concentrate on flies of the Great Lakes region in a future article. There are some common patterns used in both regions as well, and we will point those out as we go along.

Fly fishing for Steelhead can be traced back to the Eel River, in Northern California, during the late 1800’s.. And many of the first Steelhead pattern’s roots can be traced back to the same era as well. There were a few problems during this time, and none more crucial than lack of material with which to tie flies. Standard featherwing trout patterns became the foundation of many steelhead patterns. Other patterns were adopted from English trout patterns and Atlantic Salmon patterns. Many of today’s most popular Steelhead patterns can be traced back to these beginnings. Green Butt Skunk, Skykomish Sunrise, Purple Peril, to name just a few all hail back to these early beginnings.

I keep several fly boxes stocked just for steelhead, I always think I’ll leave a few home, before I head out, but rarely do. How many flies you decide to carry is up to you, but there a few things to consider when selecting an assortment of flies. The most popular colors for Steelhead flies are as follows: black, orange, purple, red, and chartreuse. The key is to have a variety of colors in the fly box before heading out. Although the old adage “bright days, bright flies, dark days, dark flies, ” is a decent starting place. One also remember the time of day one will be fishing. Summer steelheading is done mostly in the darker hours, and therefore dark flies are popular like the aforementioned Green Butt Skunk, and its variations.

As fall begins and water becomes murky and bright marabou patterns are often the ticket. And in the winter I use lots of egg-sucking leeches, bunny leeches, and bright egg patterns like the Sucker Spawn. As water becomes more murky, the brighter the pattern one can get away with.

Nymphing becomes more and more popular every year for steelhead, which ignites the old argument whether or not steelhead eat once they enter the river. It seems more certain in the Great Lakes region that they are thought to, while the Pacific steelhead is thought not to. The extra space taken up with roe or sperm production results in a very shrunken stomach. Nevertheless more and more angler’s are using stonefly nymphs, hare’s ear, and caddis larva to catch steelhead in the west. Matching the hatch is not as crucial as it is in trout fishing, nevertheless fishing a pattern that represents a common food source in the river being fished is necessary. Nymphing for Steelhead is more successful further inland, as it is thought Steelhead become interested in feeding after having been in the river system for awhile

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Fishing Sea Walls And Riprap

Tired of fishing with your GPS and finding nothing, tired of dragging that Carolina rig all over the bottom of the lake, tired of trying to come across that magic spot on the lake. Well you may be ready to try your hand at fishing rocky riprap or seawalls, those obvious shoreline, hugging features found on lakes, rivers and reservoirs across the county. These forms of cover can held bass throughout the year. These spots are simple to find and are easy to fish. Here are some tip for fishing riprap and seawalls.

SEAWALL PATTERN: When theres a large surface mat of water hyacinths has blown up against a long stretch of seawall. When you tie on a Gary Yamamoto custem bait 3 inches fat baby craw, with a big bullet weight and begin picking the floating vegation apart. fishing floating mats against a seawall or near the seawall, there’s usually clean water underneath it all the way to the wall. This is a good spot do to combined horizontal cover with vertical and its open underneath. That crawl space will attract a lot of space.

Flip right through the top of the mat and start at the deep edge. But don’t forget to fish the seam between the mat and the seawall.

GIVE THE SEAWALL A HUG: One technique is paralleling the wall with hard plastic lures and buzz baits. Also hugging the wall with a lizard, tube, worm and creature is just as important. One of the most important things if your pitching against the wall is to get the bait to fall as close to the wall If you are using a baitcaster you have to feed line out to allow the bait to fall up against the wall. If you are using a spinning reel it’s the same just don’t close the bell until the bait hits the bottom. The other you can do is pitch the lure toward the wall and have it hit 1 to 3 inches before the wall, and then peel off line. It tends to fall more toward the wall.

FALL PATTERN: When fall comes the bass are migrating into and out of creeks, so the riprap provides an easy, dependable way to intercept bass. fishing in the fall the bass are moving shallow or coming back out and they have to go through bridges to do that. So riprap along bridges would be a prime pattern Some good lures for this would be a shad colored crank bait like Rebel Wee R or 5A and 6A Bombers to crank the rocks, also the bomber long A jerk bait is another good choice. Cast parallel to the rock line and concentrate on deflecting the lure as often as possible. The biggest key in the fall is repetitive casting, you ask why, because the bass have seen lures all summer. So its important to cast repetition to a good looking area like a point of the riprap or a tree or brush laying down along the riprap.

PARALLEL PARKING FOR BASS: When it comes to bass fish there are not to many hard and fast rules but when you come across a seawall and lines of riprap, one rule rings come to mind. Take a casting angle that enables them to be paralleled with a lure. Another lure of choice for fishing seawalls and riprap or bulkheads are throwing a topwater and spinner baits in the morning, then a lipless crank bait or shallow diving crank bait later in the day. But regardless of the lure, always parallel them as much as possible and at least 45 degrees them, depending on the water depth and position the fish are in. Remember to put your lure as close to the wall as possible, or even bang it off the wall as you bring it back to the boat.

RIPRAP ROADMAP: Riprap can be intimidating to some fisherman or woman. Whether it is the foundation of a bridge, current break or erosion control for a stretch of shoreline, riprap can look over whelming in some situations. You may have riprap two miles long and it all looks the same, so where do you start bass fishing. You got to understand what lies beneath the surface is not exactly the same. Its important to locate irregular features in an otherwise uniform line of riprap. So you look for visible things like logs, treetop or flotsam that has drifted against the rocks or an unusually large rock is always worth fishing. But there are concealed irregular features that will hold a lot more bass. On lakes, a small ditch or creek may run into the riprap and come to a stop. Usually, a bridge crosses a channel and there will be a culvert nearby on one side of the riprap foundation. This can be an outstanding spot. 0

Tutorial on Attracting Fish: Salmon

Sounds-Gory-But-It-Works Fish Bait Recipes...

When you start looking around for fish bait recipes you'll be amazed at - and often amused by - the assortment of "trusted" "secret" and "sounds-gory-but-it-works" fish bait recipes you will come across!

If you want to learn how to prepare your own recipes, then get ready for some often gruesome kithen work... not to mention the aromas you will have to contend with.

Of course, if you want to avoid all of the preparation in the kitchen, you can buy commercially prepared fish bait recipes, but this can add quite a bit to your weekend fishing budget!

There is no shortage of advice available about fish bait recipes. First you have to decide what kind of fish you're aiming to catch, as they all have different tastes.

The smell of the bait is often very important. For instance, river salmon is known for a keen sense of smell to go with their eyesight, and you should try to take advantage of this when preparing your bait.

The smell of bait also fades in the water, so you should have enough bait to be able to change your bait often to keep that irresistable smell hanging and drifting around there in the water.

California salmon fishers recommend using tuna balls. Canned tuna in oil or water can be placed in a mesh bag and tied shut when used below a float. Chopped herring or sardines make great bagged baits too.

Some fish bait recipes are really very simple. For instance, if you're after bottom-feeding fish like carp and catfish, you can simply use bread, small pieces of cheese, and even canned corn.

However, the following doughballs recipe for carp is often used:

You start by mixing 1 cup of flour, 1 cup of yellow cornmeal, and 1 teaspoon of sugar. You then take a 1-quart container of water and pour just enough of it into the mixture to make a heavy dough. Then roll the dough into balls of 1/2 inch to 1 inch. Now you mix the rest of the water with 1 cup of molasses and pour it into a pan. Bring the molasses and water to a boil, and when the mixture is boiling, you drop in a couple of doughballs. Cook them for 2 to 3 minutes.

Many homemade fish bait recipes feature the use of marshmallows to assist in floating the bait, and some belive the color also helps to attract the fish.

Here follows a basic fish bait recipe using marshmallows:

Fill a bowl with 1/4 cup garlic powder and a small cup with water. Put about 5 miniature marshmallows in the water and make sure that they are soaked. Then put them in the bowl of garlic powder and stir them around so the powder coats them evenly. Put them in a jar for later use.

Many websites feature discussion forums where the detail of fish bait recipe preparation can be found. Here you will often find people who spill the beans about great family traditions and "secret" recipies that never fail...

Fresh Water

Walleye Fishing Tips

Here is a simple walleye fishing tip that I use for one area of a lake I fish frequenly on Manitoulin Island and the lake is Mindemoya lake. This walleye fishing tip will work on most lakes of various sizes anywhere walleye are caught.

I have been catching walleye for over 50 years all across Canada. During that time I have learned a lot of things about fishing. But always remember that you can usually learn some new tricks and tips at any time.

Over the many years that I have fished this area I see so many anglers full of enthusiasm and expectations come and leave just frustrated with their experience fishing walleye. This fishing tip will help eliminate that frustration. It may not make you an expert, but it will make a difference in your fishing results.

Lake Mindemoya is not a large lake but to know where certain features of the lake are is great information to have. Depth, where to find shoals, sunken islands or structure that walleye love and frequent. My favorite spot on this lake is what is called Grassy Island and in the north west corner of the lake. It is actually what I call a sunken island because the only time it is actually visible from anywhere is in the summer when the reeds and grass are growing. In fact the hottest time of the summer is a great time for fishing walleye.

Now the first thing is of course is your rod and reel, sounds simple but be sure to use good fishing equipment. A light action graphite rod and reel with 6 or 8 pound test line is sufficient to catch and land most large walleyes.

The last thing is of course the simplest the hook. A plain unadorned ball-headed jig is king here. It is simple and easy to use, and deadly. Use 1/4 ounce as much as possible. If you have a problem finding the bottom you can move up to 3/8 ounce till you get used to finding the bottom.

These jigs have no action of their own, so that is up to the angler, short hops seem to work best but do not be afraid to experiment. Try to maintain contact with the bottom at all times, but try not to bounce on slack line. This can cause you to get snagged more often.

Jigs are great for catch and release, most of the time the walleye will be hooked in the top lip. Unhooking is fast and easy for you and the fish.

Tip jigs with either a minnow or a leech. I like to use leeches but at times minnows will work best. I usually carry both so I can test which is working best that day or for the area you are fishing.

Well now put this all together and lets catch those walleyes. Off the edge of this grassy island or sunken island as I call it there is a drop off and the walleye hold to this at different depths at different times of the day. Deeper during the heat of the day and closer in the evening.

The area I fish I am usually able to drift slowly over this reef from one end to the other and preset my jig and bait offering easily plus with great success. If you use electronics of any kind of course you can find these walleyes and where they are holding up. Also if it is too windy to drift the way you want a trolling motor can keep you in the thick of the action or even anchor.

Walleye do not like bright light and most anglers think that the best time for fishing walleye is early morning or in the evening and even after dark. But on Mindemoya Lake in the heat of summer you have an algae growth that clouds the water somewhat and makes for great fishing even in the heat of the day. As simple as this walleye fishing tip seems, remember it works and just experiment and you will succeed.

So to wrap this up if you ever get to my favorite place on earth, Manitoulin Island and happen to be near grassy island on Mindemoya Lake say hello to the oldtimer you see out there all alone in his Lund boat. Do not be afraid to ask questions, because he will have fish! Get out there and enjoy nature and relax!

Basic Freshwater Fishing Tackle: Baits

Choosing The Right Salmon And Steelhead Rod

Recently I had a chance to make a new friend with someone looking to get into fishing. When I asked him what he intended to fish with, he told me about some of the recommendations he’d been given. As a result of the “advice” he received, he ended up with a "tweener". That is, a rod that is in between, or can be used to fish for more than one species.

When choosing a rod, you want to pick one that BEST suits what you are fishing for. As I mentioned in one my earlier articles, when I first started fishing for these larger fish (Salmon/Steelhead), I didn’t know anyone who was really into it. So I asked the guy at the store, and he showed me a "tweener" rod. Let me tell you right away... it doesn’t work like that. It can catch you fish yes, but to really get into fishing, you want to use what works best.

Salmon Rods

Depending on where you intend to fish, these guys can reach the 50 lb class. Are you going to be able to work one of these guys using the 10-20 lb rod (“tweener” rod) you got? Probably not. When fishing for Silvers (Coho) that rod is perfect, as these fish typically run in the 10-20 lb class. Sometimes a bit bigger but you get the idea.

When hooking into a Chinook, you need something with backbone and power. Something heavy enough to handle the ride these fish are going to give you.

Typically, your average salmon rod is rated 12-25 lbs. and 8'6" in length. This rod will give you the strength you need, as well as the length for casting ability. This rod is not going to be quite as sensitive, but that’s okay since Salmon typically are not going to "nibble" at your presentation. They will smell it, maybe think about it, but once decided... they just take it. No pecking at it like a steelhead would.

Once you set the hook... Look out! When that hook gets set these guys will come un-glued. Again, at that point you need some power in the rod in order to control or fight them. Remember, these fish are running 20 lbs on up. You’re in for a fight.

If you’re going to be fishing from a boat, you may want to go a bit smaller in length. Maybe 7'6", or 7'9". You don't need quite as much length when you aren’t casting out far, or not casting at all, as when running Kwik-fish, or bait with diver or back-bouncing.

When these monsters hit and bury your rod you’ll be glad you have that stiffer, heavier action. Again, hang on. Once hooked they’ll go nuts. Not out of the water nuts (usually not), but straight down, and up and down the stretch of water you’re fishing.

Steelhead Rods

Steelhead are totally different critters. Where salmon will bite primarily out of hunger, steelhead will also strike out of irritation. Steelhead will strike at something simply because it is in their way, or territory.

With that in mind you need a rod that is more sensitive where you are able to feel the bite or strike. I recommend a fast action rod. These are also 8'6" in length, but this time we want to go with a 8-12 lb rod. This class of rod is much lighter than those of 12-25 lbs. If you are looking at the G-Loomis rod, you are going to see 8-17 lb extra-fast action. This is the rod of all rods. You will feel everything with this rod. It’s stiff, but surprisingly sensitive. Having that stiffness will also help in your hook set.

In my experience with steelhead, they usually come at you quick. Whether bite or strike, it happens fast. Sometimes they slam you, and sometimes your line or drift will stop, but usually for me it happens quick. Bang, or "tap tap", in these instances you need a quick hook set. That is where a good, light fast action rod is an advantage. The rod picks up on the hit, and gives you time to react. Again, with my IMX rod... there is no missing it. I may miss the hook set, but I know when the fish was there.

When you do set the hook and get a fish on, oh baby, be ready for some action. I love the mass of a salmon, but in my opinion there is no fight like a steelhead. These guys come up out of the water head-shaking, upriver, downriver, you name it.

Again, if you are in the boat you can afford to go a bit shorter for the same scenario as above... plugs, bait/diver, etc ...

Brands can be hard to choose from as there are quite a few.  As I mentioned before, do your homework and choose a rod that will give you the best fishing experience.  Good luck and happy fishing!


Backpacking Fishing Rod