Trout Fishing Tips For Beginners

I see a lot of information out there for seasoned trout anglers, but there is very little information about trout fishing for beginners. In this article I'm going to provide a few tips and techniques that will help the beginning trout angler experience more trout fishing success. By using these simple tips and techniques you will be well on your way to being a very productive trout angler.

Most of these tips are best used while wading in your favorite trout river or stream. As a matter of fact as a beginning trout angler you realize that rivers and streams are the best places to begin your trout fishing "career". Sure, you can fish for and catch trout out of ponds and lakes, but these trout are almost always stocked by fish and game departments and are shells of their 'native' cousins. As a matter of fact, to me, stocked trout are almost not trout at all. They are a man-made replica of this beautiful creature.

My personal views aside, the bottom line is that these trout fishing tips for beginners will make anyone more successful. They will help you get of on the right foot. So, what do you say we get down to business?

1. Wear Drab Clothing - The water that trout live in is almost always cold and clear and these fish are very aware of their surroundings. For this reason you don't want to wear any clothing that makes you stand out. If the trout you're trying to catch recognize anything out of the ordinary they will tend not to bite. This is especially true with larger more experienced trout. The bottom line is to not wear or do anything that will make you "stand out".

2. Be Organized - As a beginning trout angler, especially when fishing in rivers and streams, you want to be as organized as possible. This means wearing a fishing vest for carrying all of your fishing gear and tackle. Fishing vests are usually thought of for fly fishing, but they can be used by spin fishermen as well. Fishing vests have a ton of pockets for all of your trout fishing gear, and everything is hanging on your body for easy access on the water. Things like retractors and bait bags can be added for even more convenience. By being organized you can spend more time with your line in the water (where the trout are) rather than out of the water searching for gear, lures, and or bait.

3. Use Live Worms & Gang Hooks - One of the best baits in the world for trout is live worms, and when it comes to live worms gang hooks are a must. Gang hooks are the best way to present live worms in a natural manner. You see, a set of Pre-Tied Gang Hooks enables a live worm to be presented in an outstretched and completely natural manner. When it comes to trout fishing, especially for beginners, this tip is one of the best. This tip will most certainly get you off on the right foot.

As I've said, these tips will make you a much more productive trout angler. There is also no substitute for spending time on the water practicing your craft. The more time you can spend on the water trout fishing the better, and before you know it you'll be an expert trout angler rather than a beginner.

By Trevor Kugler

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

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Catching Fish - Tips For Catching More Fish Than You Thought Possible

In this article I'm going to reveal some tips that will help you in your pursuit of catching fish. As a matter of fact these tips, when practiced, will help you catch more fish than you ever thought possible. When it comes to catching fish I've personally been using every one of these tips for more than 20 years and know how effective they are, and if they work for me they will work for anyone.

Steven Wright once said, "There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the bank looking like an idiot." In my experience, no truer words have ever been spoken and these fishing tips will help you avoid the latter part of that quote. The best thing to remember when it comes to fishing is no matter what type of fish you're fishing for or what technique you employ; there is nothing that will impact your success like practice. There is simply no substitute for spending time on the water honing your craft.

With that being said, let's get down to the tips and techniques that will help you catch more fish than you ever thought possible, what do you say? The first thing to keep in mind is the clothing that you wear. This is especially true for river and stream angling. When you're fishing in close proximity to the fish that you're trying to catch, which is the case for river and stream angling, the less conspicuous you are the better. This means wearing clothing that blends into the background as much as possible. Drab colored clothing is a great idea and will make you much less visible to the fish, which means more bites for you.

The next thing to keep in mind is when you're fishing. The best way to determine the best time to be fishing is by learning the simple ways in which the weather and moon impact fish behavior. By paying attention to the weather and moon and planning your fishing trips accordingly you will experience much more fishing success. Fish are impacted greatly by these two forces of Mother Nature and using this simple information to your advantage is a great idea.

When it comes to catching fish live bait is very effective, and when it comes to fishing with live bait, gang hooks are a must. This is especially true in the case of live or synthetic worms. Gang hooks are simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem, thus enabling live bait to be presented in a totally natural manner. When it comes to catching fish with live bait (especially live worms) are a must have item. They are attached to your line using a small barrel swivel to prevent line twist and can be used with many different fishing techniques.

These simple tips are extremely effective and will help you enjoy much more fishing success. Give one or all of them a sot sooner rather than later and find out for yourself.

By Trevor Kugler

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country...Montana!

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

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Something Different For Carp Fishing

Achieving an Edge to catch more fish

There are no set rules to achieving an edge in carp fishing, what maybe advantageous in a certain situation or lake may not be good on another. That sounds like a politician's answer; nothing concrete for you to work with? It would take more than I can fit into this article to describe the many advantages that will put the odd extra fish on the bank, therefore have opted to cover a few and portray the thinking behind achieving an edge rather than attempting to detail as many as possible. Hopefully this will spur you into thinking about your approach and even what else can be done to increase your chances. Here is an open question that I would like you to think about whilst reading this piece, I will present my opinion of the answer in the conclusion; why are some anglers more consistent than others?

We are mid way through the maggot boom; they are a brilliant bait and will encourage a take when other methods fail. Rob Maylin then came up with the maggot aligner and landed many of the big fish from Swan Valley using the method. I wonder what the next 'in method' or bait will be? I suspect chopped lob worms with a whole worm over the top will be re-invented or naturals such as cockles will be the in thing, if maggots, worms or cockles have not been used on your lake I strongly recommend you give them a go!

Polaris float fishing for carp is little practiced and a highly successful method for short session carping, more so than sitting behind indicators. I believe it is effective due to its sensitivity, a single bleep or rod tip knock can be an indication of a missed take, that single bleep when fishing a float would pull it under resulting in a hittable indication and possibly extra fish on the bank. Additionally the float helps keep the majority of the line near to the surface and only a short length of line from float to lead. I suspect maggot fishing using a polaris float will be a devastating method!

We understand that carp learn by association? How many times have carp associated long lengths of line travelling through their patrolling level from rod to lead as danger? Would it be advantageous to keep as much line as possible out of their patrolling level? We automatically presume that pinning the line between the rod tips to the lead is the right thing to do.

Back leads are appropriate in many situations but maybe not so good for all as the main line is often pegged up above the lake bed due to running across obstacles such as bars, weed and debris. An open question leading on from this; should we not look at keeping the line in the surface layers when the fish are deep and the line close to the bottom when they are in the upper layers, thus avoiding line running through and across their motorways. The sensitivity of a float is far greater than that of any alarms. Think about it, for example: the depth is 7 foot: that is only 7 foot of line that a bite signal must travel through before an indication is seen? In comparison to a far greater distance that the signal must travel through for an alarm indication, even then it may only be a single bleep. I don't normally hit single bleeps but would hit the same amount of indication transmitted to a float, interesting?

On larger lakes an angler that can cast over 160 yards will be able to apply those skills to pick up bonus carp at distances that the majority cannot achieve. I recall fishing High Town Lake near Ringwood 15 years ago, using my trusty old whisker rods casting single hook baits into a bay where the fish felt safe and out of reach. Using 8 lb line and a shock leader to encroach into their safe haven and pick up extra fish. At the time no one else fishing the venue that was able to reach the magic zone. However the next season a couple of the local anglers had observed the successful tactic and had been out honing their casting skills and soon became accomplished castors. Able to place a single hook bait at the edge of the carp's safe haven, and having a moderately successful season. Why didn't they think of that in the first place, why did it take someone else to demonstrate the advantages of the method on the lake? A little forethought would have given them a distinct advantage, fortunately for me I was able to catch the majority of fish I was after during the first season of casting into the safe haven, the following year the fish held further out of range due to the pressure and the method was not nearly as productive, to a certain extent they missed the boat. The moral of the story is if you can identify an approach that would give you the edge then get on it as soon as possible before the method is done to death and blown. I had it good at the right time and took advantage of the situation. I believe an advantage can be gained on all venues if a little thought is put into the approach.

I have wandered off track a little within the previous paragraph, where was I? Oh yes, achieving an edge. Placing a hook bait where they do not associate danger will give you an advantage. This can be accomplished by looking for suitable spots e.g. I recall a season on Somerly near Ringwood where an edge was achieved via dropping the baited rig close to a rope within six foot of the bank and near to a snag, it was not possible to cast to the spot due to overhanging bushes. However it was possible to drop the baited rig through a small gap in the bushes, near to the snags, then crouching down in order to pass the rod around two trees to the pod. This little extra effort often resulted in nettle stings to the derrière but was worth it. I went on to land over 30 x 20 lb fish and 4 x 30s that season including the lake record, a carp named Billy Boy, most of them from that one little spot. Bare in mind the period I am referring to was around the early 90s, a good result on any water back then. The consistency was soon noticed, but due to pointing the rods towards the centre of the lake and keeping the top two feet of the rods under the surface it was difficult to spot exactly where I was placing the rig. I had the spot to myself for many months until someone saw me place the bait, soon after the spot was blown as he informed others and the old falling domino effect took place i.e. don't tell anyone but I know where he's having the fish from, he tells his mate and so on. Hence the reason I was deceptive at the time.

The use of roach poles with a small plastic cup glued to the tip allows us to place a bait close in under bushes as long as they are hollow underneath of course. The rig and bait is placed in the cup and the pole extended to the desired spot and tipped. It is often used in spots that are difficult to cast too. Is this method altogether ethical, I would not like to pass comment and will sit on the fence? The pole or wading will allow you to accurately place a rig and bait and are good methods in certain situations.

Anglers that are new to a venue occasionally do very well! You may recall occasions when the new person on the block out fishes the regulars. This may be due to them not being aware of the vogue methods. The new angler tends to turn up with a fresh set of eyes and ideas, approaches the lake using a strategy that the carp are not accustom to and catches them off guard. The regulars often look on, unaware of the fish having grown wise to past successful methods, failing to notice that results have slowed. Jumping on the bandwagon will place you pretty much on the same level as the majority on the venue, but may not be the method for the best results, something different and some analysis may give you an advantage.

Some of the top UK anglers do a lot of tree climbing; it allows the angler to get above the water which in turn reduces the amount of glare. Many of them practice tree hugging on a regular basis as they can observe fish habits, this gives a greater understanding and feel for what is happening sub surface, do you climb trees or fish blind?

When the weather is warm surface fishing comes into its own, although it is an oft practiced method, usually with a float controller. The beach caster method looks clumsy but is an absolute brilliant method; it works due to there being no visible line on the surface, only the hook bait. Alternately laying the line over lily pads or hang it from a twig. Nowadays I have found it increasingly difficult to entice a take using float controllers unless I drop down to 6lb X line.

I cannot detail all of the possible edges due to their being an infinite amount; however I do hope that I have been able to give some pointers in the right direction and as the saying goes, 'food for thought.'

Conclusion in gaining the carp fishing edge

The edges mentioned are but a fraction of what can be used to gain an advantage. I have purposefully presented you with many open questions and not too many direct answers in order to get your brain working. If you wish to improve your chances then take a leaf out of the most successful angler's books. As stated in recent articles doing something different may catch the carp off guard, don't put all of your eggs in one basket, test and adjust for maximum results.

The initial question within the first paragraph was: why are certain anglers more consistent than others? Answer: They work hard at achieving an edge and think about what they are doing! If you too work hard and think about your approach, you may swing the pendulum in your favour. I hope within this article I have achieved the aim of getting the 'grey matter' working?

By Ron Simonds

For more information on fax marketing visit fax marketing articles More of my articles at marketing articles

Many commercial venues did not live up to their expectations, and they therefore decided that they had the spirit and knowledge to fabricate the ideal commercial venue, which would be suitable to all levels of carp angling ability. Dave improved his fishery management training by attending a number of courses, absorbing all of the information necessary to manage and nurture a lake from draining, stocking and rearing to management. It's not surprising that Dave and Jo covered over 7000 miles searching for a lake that fulfilled the criteria essential for success.

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Three Tips to Catching Big, Fat Bass!

People ask me all the time, "How do I catch giant bass"? Most folks are under the false impression that there is a mysterious, trademark secret that I keep to myself. The truth is, there is no real magic to catching bass, but just some long proven strategies. Bass-catching success consists of several factors -- some of these may work for you, and some may not. Three of the most important techniques that I employ are:

Don't Use the Same Old Tricks

Fish recognize and learn to avoid consistently used lures. What does that mean? When you finally hear about the 'hottest' new fishing method, the fish are already learning to avoid it. The technique won't work as well for you as it did for those who employed it earlier. Experiment with your fishing style and learn to do things differently. This will increase the chances of bass to fall for your tricks.

Use Live Bait

While it may seem obvious, it is undoubtedly a strong tool in your fisherman's arsenal. We all know that using live bait is a pain; it's difficult to collect, maintain, and maneuver. But in order to catch the real prize, you can't settle for just plastic worms. To catch the fish, you have to give it what it wants. And what it wants is real live worms. Not using live bait will drastically decrease your opportunities.

Work With the Right Tools

Most bass fishermen miss out on catching some big fish because of faulty equipment. From broken lines to a straightened hook, low quality equipment is the blame for many mishaps. The most important thing for you to do is to use the best gear available, like a good line and a razor-sharp premium hook. It only makes sense to spend that little extra money to reel in the big one.

Bass fishing is one of most exciting recreational activities you can ever enjoy and there really isn't any secret to getting the bigger bass. But if you use some proven techniques such as live bait and working with some really good tools, you'll increase your chances of catching some real rewards.

By Nick J Mack

Nick Mack is an experienced bass fisherman. He is actively involved in local tournaments and his tips and tricks are all over the net. If you want to know more about catching huge bass all the time you can get FREE tips on his website at...

http://www.Pro-Fishing-Tips.com

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Fly Fishing Etiquette

When I was just learning how to fly fish I was very fortunate to have been taught about displaying common courtesy and respect for the beautiful natural resources that God has graciously given us. I naively thought that this is what fly fishing was all about and that everyone who fly fished had the same morals and values that I had learned. Unfortunately, I was wrong.

I have found that while many fly fishermen hold to these same moral and ethical standards that I do, not everyone does. In my idealistic mind, I still believe that all fly fishermen should put themselves on a pedestal and should be shining examples of what all fly fishermen should be. I think we should lead by example. We need to be leaders (no pun intended) and practice what we preach to enlighten our fellow angling community of what good sportsmanship and good stream etiquette are all about.

The following are some basic rules of etiquette while fly fishing that I have either been taught directly or learned indirectly by observation:

1. Obey all state and local fishing laws and rules even when no one else is around. You never know who may be lurking nearby.

2. Always recognize and respect property rights. Always ask permission first. Public waters are disappearing quickly and we must show the utmost respect to the property owners to show we are gentlemen.

3. Do not litter. If you brought it in, take it out (even leaders). If you change a leader, spool it up and put it in a vest pocket to be thrown away later. Leave the area cleaner than you found it.

4. Wade only when necessary. The aquatic life is crucial to the trout's survival.

5. Strive to not leave any marks or tracks whenever possible.

6. Mum's the word. If someone happens to divulge a secret about a favorite fishing hold, keep it to yourself. There's nothing worse than losing a favorite, tranquil spot to a crowd.

7. Approach the water slowly and quietly. Do not enter the water anywhere near an angler who is already in the water. A section of water belongs to the first person fishing it. It is inconsiderate to crowd an angler who was there first. One of the times this may be a problem is when fishing a crowded Steelhead run in the Great Lakes region or fishing the Russian River in Alaska during the Sockeye salmon run.

8. If there are many anglers on a section of river or stream, find a section that is equal to or greater than the existing distance between each angler.

9. A stationary angler has every right to remain where he/she is for as long as they want. If you are working your way toward them, exit the stream and quietly walk around them. Having said that, the stationary angler should also practice common courtesy and, after some amount of time has passed, share that piece of water with others as well.

10. If you see an angler sitting on the bank, keeping a close eye on the water, he may be resting the water and giving the fish (and himself a break). Do not charge into the stream and take this location away from him. Instead, go chat with him and ask how he is doing and he may opt to share this stretch with you...but don't be surprised if he doesn't.

11. If a nearby angler has a fish on, yield to that person and if necessary, lend a helping hand by offering to net the fish, etc.

12. After you have hooked a fish, do not play it excessively. Land and net the fish as quickly as you can. Keep it in the water as much as possible and remove the hook with forceps without touching the trout, if possible.

13. Practice catch-and-release. Each time we release a trout we give it another chance...a chance to grow, a chance to reproduce, a chance to provide another angler with the joy you just experienced.

14. Boaters need to yield to anglers already on the stream (this is more boater's etiquette than anything but still applies here). They should not float small streams where there is not much space to get your particular watercraft through this section. If possible pass behind a wading angler but if ever in doubt, yell ahead to the angler and ask him which bank he would like you to navigate.

15. Never light a fire on someone else's property.

16. Use common sense.

17. Communicate calmly to resolve conflict.

Steelhead fly fishing etiquette is much the same as fishing for their smaller cousins but I recently learned of an extra point I'd like to share here as well.

1. In the West they practice what they call "rotating the pool". This is where each participating angler will cast his fly and let it drift through the pool and then takes one to three steps down stream. I never knew of this until a recent visit to Colorado where I was speaking with a fly shop owner who's son guides in Alaska. This method is used heavily in Oregon and Washington but from what I understand, isn't really practiced too much in Alaska either.

2. In the East, the concept of "rotating the pool" is a relative unknown and I can't say that I've ever seen it practiced in the Great Lakes region. I'm all for it, though. Having fished the Lake Erie region many times and seeing many anglers sitting in one hole or pool for hours, I'm of the opinion that this method would be a great addition and a welcome change to eastern steelheading.

I believe fly fishing is the most rewarding sport there is to those who truly understand and embrace it. It can be a time for complete solitude and reflection, a means of stress/tension reduction from the rigors of the daily grind or a time of fellowship with friends and/or family. I have found it to be one of God's most awesome blessings.

By Steve Haupt

For more information on this article, fly fishing for beginners or fly fishing in general, please visit the Hooked-on-Flies website

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Fly Fishing Spoken Here!

Fly Fishing is a very old method of fishing that is particularly effective for hauling in trout. Ponds, small streams, rivers and lakes are best for trout. Fly fishing is tantalizingly unique in that the bait is artificial flies made by tying, fur, yarn, feathers, foam, or almost anything else that can be made to look like a fly onto a hook as bait. The best way to learn how to tie flies is to talk with anglers who have become experts over time or you could attend a fly tying school.

Dry fly fishing and wet fly fishing are the two forms of fly-fishing. Dry fly fishing is the most familiar and is regarded as the classic form. Using the dry fly fishing technique, the angler casts the fly upstream hoping that the trout will rise up and bite the fly as it passes overhead. Wet fly-fishing involves fishing beneath the surface of the water and can be divided into lures fishing, true wet fly-fishing and nymph fishing.

Fly-fishing tackle, and fly-fishing reels and rods are all commonly used fly-fishing equipment. Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, California, Idaho and more recently New Mexico are all popular fly-fishing areas in the U.S.. British Columbia and Alberta are also very popular.

The popularity of fly-fishing has increased dramatically in recent years. It is definitely a fast growing sport and it's easy to see why; it's relaxing, enjoyable and rewarding. Usually, fly-fishing anglers practice the sport in the most beautiful areas of the world. Fly-fishermen worldwide are known to have an on going love affair with their sport.

Beginning fly-fishing anglers may have difficulty learning the sport. Probably the best place to learn is a fly-fishing school or from a fly-fisherman that is willing to take you on as a student. There are also a number of excellent fly-fishing courses on the Internet. The school you choose should teach the techniques, strategies, and tactics used in fly-fishing.

Before you get hip deep in any water, you should learn about the various fish you'll be casting for, learn the basics of casting and how to read the water, you'll want to know how to take care of your gear and how to tie knots, and maybe you'll even want to learn a little about hatches and entomology.

This sport is a life-long source of endless delight. You will live to feel the hairs on the back of your neck tingle as you watch a trout looking upstream for the fly you've just cast.

By Lanie Dills

Lanie Dills is the creator Fly Fishing Ontario. If you would like to know more about online e courses on fly fishing, visit: Beginning Fly Fishing

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Night Fishing - The Final Frontier

If you don't leave your house in the black of night to go fishing this summer, you probably won't be catching any monsters this season. Night fishing is the final frontier in most fisherman's lives; once you start night fishing you keep night fishing for the rest of your life-the addiction is too great to beat. Many waters are becoming completely over saturated with pleasure boaters and jet skiers, and their pleasure is not fishing, it is creating as much noise as possible. Most fisherman just shake their heads in disgust and walk home dreaming of another lake to fish.

But there is a rare breed of fisherman that stands on the shore during the day and waits for the sun to set and the moon to rise. A fisherman that no longer fishes with the masses during the day. This breed of fisherman knows that the biggest fish don't move until the sun sets in the summer anyway, and he relishes the solace and solitude that the night brings him. This fisherman reworks his schedule to revolve around night fishing, the fruits are just too great to ignore.

The key to successful night fishing is locating one good location that fish will flock to once the sun sets. And these places are often very close to the shoreline in both rivers, lakes, and streams. Sitting on bait for hours on end can of course work, but it is not the most productive method to getting the most out of your night fishing. To really tap into the insane action that can occur when night fishing you need to walk and cast lures around your location. Or, if your in a river, walk up and down the bank letting your bait drift and drop over the darkened holes of the twilight.

By Scott R

Some excellent lures for bass fishing at night are the same plastic worms and grubs that you would use during the day. There is no reason to use only top water lures. In fact, using top water lures often leads to an extremely frustrating experience as hook ups tend to be low. Check out some high quality and well priced bass worms

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Catfish Fishing Tips

I first started fishing catfish in my early childhood with my dad and though I have caught some Blue, and Flathead Catfish, Channel Catfish have always been my main target. I primarily fish them in the Snake and St.Croix Rivers and sometimes the Mississippi too. Wherever I can find a little nook and cranny where the current isn't so fast there always seem to be catfish hiding looking for some fresh bait. Catfish can also be found wherever you can find a rocky bottom to.

The best time to catch catfish is usually after dark until early morning right before the sun comes up, and they always seem to be the most active around a full moon. Catfish also like to hang out in holes where the water is a little deeper. Again, anywhere the current is a little slower and a place where food might gather is great place to find catfish.

Some other Catfish Fishing tips that I have used over the years are how I rig my pole. Now this is fairly basic. I like to use a medium sized pole about 7 to 8 feet long with about 17 to 20 pound test line. Some prefer 50 or 60 pound test but the lighter line has always worked best for me because I have found it is just easier to deal with when tying hooks or getting your line out of snags. The main reason I use a lighter line is that your catfish is much less likely to notice any friction with lighter line compared to a heavier line. I like to fight the fish a little too, with a heavier line its to easy just to drag the fish in which I believe takes the sport and excitement out of it.

As far as hooks go I have always just used a smooth, medium sized hook, with no barbells on it. Catfish have very tough skin and I rarely loose a catfish after I have hooked them so you won't need a trebble hook or any special kind of hook for Catfishing. Before I put my hook on I always just slide one slip sinker on with the size of it going by how fast the river current is, and then one clip on sinker or a swivel to keep your sinker away from your bait. I like to put the sinker about 2 feet away from the bait so your bait can float and move around in the river current.

One last Catfishing tip I will give you here is in filleting them correctly. This is very important if you want to get the best flavor out of your Catfish. I will put the Catfish on its stomach and then start with the tip of the knife right behind its head next to its spine and then slowly start slicing downwards until the fillet comes off. Then just cut your fillet off the skin. Now this part most of you probably already know as it is the same as most other fish. This is the important part. After you have your fillet in front of you there will be a yellowish strip running down the middle of the meat with a little bit of red on top of the fillet. This needs to be cut out or your Catfish will taste mushy and lose a lot of its flavor so don't forget. I also like to cut the head meat out of the larger ones usually at least 15 pounds, this is the whitest and best part of the Catfish. And prepare some homemade tartar sauce for a great meal with the whole family.

By Shane Brown

Shane Brown has spent the past 25 years fishing all kinds of freshwater and saltwater fish but Catfishing has reigned supreme in his Fishing adventures.
http://thecatfishking.com
http://thecatfishking.blogspot.com

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How to Rig Trout Bait

As trout anglers, many times the way in which we rig our bait can mean the difference between a great day fishing and a day simply standing on the edge of the water enjoying the scenery. Not that enjoying the scenery is a bad thing, but as anglers we want to catch fish, right? In this article, I'll explain how to rig trout bait, whether that bait be live or synthetic, to help you catch more trout.

Before I begin, I do want to mention that when trout fishing it is extremely important that you use fishing line that's as light as possible. My personal preference is four pound test, and in my opinion no line heavier than six pound test should be employed in most trout fishing situations. I realize that this advice may sound sophomoric, but every time I go trout fishing I see discarded fishing line that's heavy enough to land small sharks, so I figured this should be mentioned. Trout live in clear water and have very keen eyesight, so you should always use fishing line that's as light as possible.

If you want to know how to rig trout bait, the first thing you need to familiarize yourself with are gang hooks. Gang hooks are simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem, which enables live bait (especially live worms) to be presented in a totally natural manner. This makes a huge difference in the amount of bites that you receive. Not only are gang hooks great for live bait, but they are also great for synthetic bit such as Powerbait. Imagine having two chunks of Powerbait floating from your trout rig rather than just one? Believe me, it makes a difference!

So now that we know that we need light line and gang hooks to learn how to rig trout bait, let's get down to the details. Begin by grabbing the end of your line and tying on a small barrel swivel (size 10 or 12). If you are still fishing with trout bait such as Powerbait, slip an egg sinker onto your line before tying on the barrel swivel. Now tie a set of pre-tied gang hooks onto the opposite end of the barrel swivel. If you're fishing in a river or stream, split shot sinkers are added above the barrel swivel for weight. This is your basic trout rig.

Now add either a live worm (or other live bait) or synthetic bait onto the gang hooks and you're ready to go. What I just described is how to rig trout bait to catch more trout. A live worm rigged on gang size 8 or 10 gang hooks and allowed to flow naturally with the current of a river or stream is a deadly combination. Using the same gang hook rig while still fishing with synthetic bait is extremely effective for stocked trout as well. The bottom line is that you now know how to rig trout bait, whether that bait be alive or man-made.

This information works and will help you catch more trout on your next fishing excursion. How am I so sure of this? Because these tips have been working for me for more than 20 years, and if they work for me, they will work for anyone. Rigging your trout bait in the proper manner makes a huge difference, and now you have the information you need to catch more trout.

By Trevor Kugler

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

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Largemouth Bass Fishing With Monster Worms

Big bass love to try and get their mouths around gigantic creations. Some like to finesse big fish, and outdoors magazines are often filled with "Micro lures for Giant Bass" articles. We are they kidding, big fish like to eat big lures, these articles are just filling space for their advertisers. Sure, big fish will attack small lures if it's the only lure in the water, but they much prefer attempting to maul a meal that will satisfy them instead of grazing on micro minnows.

With the internet, has come the ability of specialty bait companies to offer their wicked creations to the public without having to go through huge discount retailers. Specialty pourers have come up with some of the most incredible plastic baits ever seen in fishing history. They have no strict profit margins, they are beholden to no shareholders, and thus they are allowed to be creative. And the common fisherman can actually get their hands on some truly innovative baits.

A fisherman can pretty much get his hands on any bait his imagination can conjure up. Giant frogs, snakes, lizards, salamanders, and the wonderful creature baits. And, importantly, when you buy from independent individuals, the the prices are actually reasonable.

Now, with the competition of the internet, prices are driven down-way down. Paying 5 bucks for 5 pathetic looking plastics worms because it's the only choice in the store is gone. Manufacturers of over priced plastic junk actually have to do some market research these days to keep customers. Take advantage of all the internet tackle makers and make your fishing more enjoyable.

By Scott R

Check out the most reasonably priced, amazing largemouth bass fishing plastics available on the planet. Tight lines :0

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What Is The Best Bait For Channel Cats (Catfish)?

There are so many good baits for catfish. Let's be honest the catfish is not a finicky eater. They have been known to bite on everything from hot dogs to ivory soap. I know people that will swear shrimp sprayed with WD-40 is the way to go. Trying to identify the best bait for channel cats is difficult.

Here is my list of baits that work best for me and depending on your local, time of day, season or any other variety of reasons will work for you. Every one of these has worked for me and every one has left me without a fish. I will list them here in the order I prefer and some of that has to do with ease of use.

CUT BAITS

Cut baits cover a wide variety of fish baits. The most common ones are: shad, bluegill, anchovy, sardines, mackerel and minnows. Make sure it is legal to use them in your area. I know that bluegill is not legal in some states but is ok in others. I cut them into chunks depending on the size of the bait. I believe cut baits to be the best bait for channel cats and all other types of catfish.

SHRIMP

You can purchase shrimp at your local grocery either with or without shell. I leave the shell on but most remove it. Depending on the size of the shrimp and the size of the bait you want you can use them whole or cut them in half. Many also soak them in vanilla extract to enhance their appeal. I am particularly found of the cut baits and shrimp because they stay on your hook and can be fished in fast currents when necessary.

CHICKEN LIVERS

These can also be purchased at your local grocery store and are a very good bait. I do suggest you take an old nylon stocking and cut it into small squares. You can use these squares to wrap around the chicken liver and attach it to the hook. They will stay on the hook much better. Fish on the bottom and check your bait every 20-30 minutes. If all the blood is gone replace the bait.

WORMS

Night crawlers, garden worms and Catawba worms are all included here. These are the old standby and will catch catfish but are best used where they are likely to find them. Places where creeks and drainage ditches feed into the lake or river seem to be best.

PREPARED BAITS

These can and have been made out of just about everything you can think of. I have tried many different kinds and have had some success. I am sure others do as is evidenced by the thousands of recipes that can be found on the web but I prefer the more natural baits. I think they are the best bait for channel cats and occasionally you will catch their larger brothers, the flathead and the blue catfish.

By Douglas Burns

Doug Burns is founder of CatfishAngling.com. A leading source for tips, tricks and information on catfish fishing. Doug has been an avid angler for 35 years and cares about what you want.

MAKE A REQUEST, ASK A QUESTION : CatfishAngling.com

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How To Catch Striped Bass

Striped bass go by several names depending on where you are from. In Arkansas where I'm from their just called Stripers but in some areas go by Rockfish. Freshwater stripers can grow quite large, easily topping 50lbs in a lot of large lakes across America. They are fun to catch, fierce fighters, and great to eat but do take some practice to learn how to catch. Let's review some tips for catching these monsters.

As with Largemouth bass a good time to fish for stripers is in the early mornings. At this time of day they are feeding along the shallows and banks, anywhere there is a slight current that will stir the bait. Try top water lures in a light or white color. Cast them in and immediately start your retrieve working the lure as if its injured with a slow drag then stop action. Be ready cause when stripers hit they hit hard and fast!

Striped bass love to feed at mouths and channels feeding into a lake and channels. Besides the water current the water temperature differences where the water feeds into the lake is a great spot. The colder water meets the warmer water and stuns, or makes sluggish, lots of the food stripers love. These areas are easy to spot because as the stripers start feeding the bait fish will be coming to the top trying to get away. And its hard to miss a striped bass hitting bait on the top. Choose a top water lure that mimics the color of what the striped bass are feeding on. As soon as it lands start reeling in varying the speed of your retrieve.

Stripers are also a great fish to troll for if you are fishing channels or rivers. Use live shads or underwater running lures colored as shad or bluefish for the best results. Large white headed jigs can also work. Troll slow and watch for your line to either take off or veer to the banks. Adjust for the depth of the area you are trolling and get ready for the fight. I've has had stripers tow the boat while still taking 30 minutes or more to land. These are the catches that are remembered for a lifetime.

By J. P. Cooper

Learn all the Bass Fishing Secrets the Pros use at http://www.fishing-secrets.com And be sure and sign up for your free Bass Fishing Secrets newsletter to get all the latest news and fishing tips.

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Fishing Tips - The Most Important Fish Catching Tips

No matter what type of fish you enjoy fishing for; there are some simple things that any angler can do to help them catch more fish. In this article, I'm going to discuss some of those fishing tips in the hopes that one or all of them will help you be a more successful angler. These fishing tips have been learned through more than fifty years of combined fishing experience, and are simple yet incredibly effective. Give one or all of them a shot, and see what you think, I promise that you won't be disappointed.

Before we begin, let me mention that in my opinion fishing is just like anything in life. The more time you invest in it, the more successful you will be. This means that there is no substitute for spending time on the water and spending some time reading things (such as this article). Every little "tidbit" of information that you can add to your repertoire, might be the difference between a trophy and getting "skunked". That being said, let's get down to business, shall we?

• Use Fresh Line - If you fish a lot, and are like me and like to use light line, change your line frequently. "Fresh" line is much more effective than old or heavily used fishing line. Using fresh line makes casting and knot tying a ton easier. Make sure you change your line at least once a month during the heart of fishing season.

• Pay Attention To Your Hands - Make sure that your hands are free of any unnatural odors. These unnatural odors (such as gasoline residue or smoke) will transfer to your bait and cost you bites. A good tip is to rub your hands in a handful of grass or dirt before baiting up. This will help eliminate any of these odors that might be present.

Use Gang Hooks - If you are a live bait angler (especially live worms) then gang hooks should always be employed. Gang hooks arte simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem, this enabling the angler to present live bait (and especially live worms) in a completely realistic and natural manner. The results can be quite amazing. Presenting your live bait in the most natural way possible makes a HUGE difference in bite rates.

Use Mother Nature To Your Advantage - If you want to catch more fish you need to use the weather and moon to your advantage as an angler. These two forces of Mother Nature have as much to do with you catching fish as the type of bait or lure you choose to employ. There are simple rules that need to be learned and used that will enable you to be on the water when the fish are the most active. This will make a huge difference in the amount of fish that are caught. My mentor always used the weather and moon to his advantage, and you should as well.

These simple, yet amazingly helpful and effective tips, will help anyone be a more successful angler. Remember, when it comes to fishing tips, many times the simpler they are the more effective they are. Now employ one or all of these tips sooner, rather than later, and see how many more fish you get to catch.

By Trevor Kugler

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

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The Best Time Of Day To Catch Fish

Did you ever wonder what the best time of day to catch fish is? I know, I know, the best time to catch fish is anytime that you can, but the truth of the matter is that some times are better for fishing than others. To the amateur, fishing is all about luck, but to the more seasoned angler, we realize that there is much more to the fish catching equation. The bottom line is that the best time to catch fish can be determined fairly easily.

More than 25 years ago I had the pleasure of learning to fish from someone I have always considered to be a fishing 'master'. This man was the best angler I've ever known, and regularly caught trophy fish (on ultra light gear), out of waterways most anglers thought fish of that size didn't reside in. It was truly a beautiful thing to witness, and in this article I'm going to reveal the secret to determining the best time to catch fish.

This secret was taught to me by the man I was referring to, and has to due with two forces of Mother Nature. Those two forces of Mother Nature are the weather and the moon, and they have as much to do with your fishing success or failure as the bait you use. Many anglers don't realize this, but it's nonetheless true. The best time to catch fish is when the weather and moon are in your favor, rather than working against you.

The best way to make sure that these two forces of Mother Nature are in your favor is by educating yourself a little bit. Don't worry, I'm not talking about becoming a meteorologist or astronomer, I'm just talking about learning the ways in which these two forces affect fish behavior and therefore fishing. All you need to know is which phases of the moon are the most important, and which fronts have what impact on fishing.

If you know the ways in which these two things affect fishing, you'll know what you need to know. As a matter of fact, you can learn what you need know about these subjects in about a half an hour of study. That is of course if the information is compiled in one place for easy access. If you just search blindly, the information may be a bit more difficult to come by.

If you've ever had the pleasure of having one of those epic days fishing, where it seemed like you could do no wrong, you now know the reasons why. Those two reasons are the weather and moon, and they hold the key to knowing the best time to catch fish. After you start implementing this information, you'll realize that while luck obviously plays a role in fishing, it's probably much less of a factor than you ever imagined. Start using one or both of these forces of Mother Nature to your advantage, and you'll begin catching more fish; it's as simple as that.

By Trevor Kugler

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country...Montana!

Affordable & Effective Fishing E-books: http://stores.lulu.com/jrwfishing

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Introduction to Bait & Tackle

So you decided to be a fisherman, or you are or want to be a fisher man, you must have some general knowledge about bait & tackle. I'm going to start off with the tackle part first because it is pointless to try and catch some fish with bait if you have nothing to snatch the fish up with.

Let's start from the foundation, the fishing rod. There are many types of fishing rods that are used and designed to catch specific fish. For a brief example I'll start with the light flimsy rods, they are designed to bend a lot, like into a complete "U" shape, and these rods are designed for smaller fish ranging from 0-50 lbs. The larger fishing rods that don't bend as much, are usually a lot heavier and more durable, they are designed to catch the bigger fish 50 lbs and up. The bigger rods in saltwater fishing are mostly used when trolling fishing, deep-sea bottom fishing, or if your bait on the hook is over a couple of pounds you will want a big rod. For the inshore fisherman or beginner, you shouldn't have a need for a big rod, unless of course you are on a boat at sea or charter boat etc.

The fishing rod is the foundation, the second part of the fishing rod is the reel. Again there are many types of fishing reels, there are spinning reels, bait castings reels, reverse reels and many more. Most reels that are manufactured today have a "drag" setting. The drag setting decides how much tension is going to be put on the line. For example, if you hook a 50lb fish using 10lb test line, and you don't have a drag setting the fishes force is going to break the line. With the right amount of drag set though, the fish will not break the line, the fish might run for awhile before you can reel, but eventually the fish is going to get tired and you will be able to reel him in.

Next is the fishing line, fishing line is listed per pound test. Fishing line ranges from 5lb test to well over a hundred. Fishing lines come in many different types of colors, like white, red and blue, other colors of fishing line are there too of course.

The last 3 or so feet of you fishing line, called "the Leader", should be rated at least twice as high as the fishing line you are using. The leader is what has the hook on it. If you are using 10lb test you should at the very least have a 20lb "leader line". Leader lines are sometimes metal, which is actually quite often. Lots of bait & tackle shops sell pre-made leader lines to where you can just hook them up to the regular line. Also called "swivels".

Depending on whether you are fishing on the top of the water or you want to fish the bottom you will need to decide how much weight you want to put on the line. The weight or weight's, should be positioned right above the leader line in most cases. That way if you are bottom fishing the weight will hit the bottom and the leader with the bait can float freely a couple feet from the bottom.

Next I will talk about "bobbers", which mostly come in handy when freshwater fishing or saltwater fishing the flats or canals. The bobber is generally positioned right above the leader also, and the bait will not sink due to the flotation of the bobber. Once the bobber is pulled under water, more than likely you have a fish on and need to "set the hook" to nail the fish.

Choosing the right hook is always a must, you will learn better the more that you fish as to what kind of fishing hook you need to choose, and what you are fishing for. If you are trying to catch snook don't use a huge hook, if you are trying to catch some big shark then raise the size of the hook. The best types of hooks in my opinion are the "circle hooks". Circle hooks are self setting and have a better percentage of landing fish.

Lures, artificial bait used to trick fish into thinking its live bait. Lures must always be moving to be put to good use, you cast out the line then you reel in at a fast pace. There are thousands of types of lures and since this is a very basic article I am not going too much into detail because that's a whole different article itself easily.

Tackle Boxes are used to, well, store your tackle. The most common things found in tackle boxes are hooks, weights, lures, artificial worms, swivels, knives and whatever else you can think of to stuff in there.

There are many other types of tackle or fishing gear out there, this was just a very basic guide to the beginner or less experienced fisherman. Other types of bait & tackle I didn't cover but are very essential are jigs, cast nets, gaffs, chum, bait buckets, spears, nets, live wells, and more. This was just a brief explanation of bait & tackle and I hope you enjoyed this article.

By Dave Spates

If you liked this article and are determined to get some gear to catch some fish, then stop here to find great deals on Bait & Tackle

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How to Make Plastic Fishing Lures

How to make plastic fishing lures is one of the easier tasks when it comes to tackle making. It doesn't require a lot of tool, and the items required in order to make them are relatively inexpensive such as liquid plastic. Once these items are acquired you can make soft plastic worms and other plastic lures for pennies a piece.

The most expensive part about how to make plastic fishing lures is obtaining a mold. Molds are used to speed the whole process up and they make a more uniformed plastic worm. You simply pour the melted plastic inside holding the mold at an angle to insure the mold fills from bottom to top that way you do not get any air bubbles inside your plastic worms. Then you let the mold sit to cool so that the plastic sets, then removing the plastic worm carefully place them inside a small container of water to finish cooling and curing. Adding things like glitter etc are ways you can jazz up your own homemade fishing lures.

But what if you don't want to bother with purchasing a plastic worm mold? Can you still make soft plastic lures? How to make plastic fishing lures without a commercial mold is not that difficult to do. Here's how I go about making a mold from common Plaster of Paris. The first step is to simply create the two halves of the mold. You can use anything you like to hold the plaster, aluminum foil, small cardboard boxes, pie plates etc. The trick is to let the 2 halves partially set before actually creating your mold. I like to let my molds set for about 30 minutes to an hour depending on the thickness of the plaster.

The next step in how to make plastic fishing lures is to use a master worm. Now a master worm can be anything really, the easiest is to use a worm from your tackle box or make one from modeling clay, either way works. If you do choose to use a plastic worm from your tackle box make sure as you set the worm into one half of the mold to line up the seam on the worm with the top of the plaster otherwise you'll land up with 2 seams in your new plastic fishing lure. One from the master and one from your newly made mold.

Ok before setting the master worm inside one half of the mold it is important to coat the worm in either some Vaseline or vegetable oil. The purpose here is so that the worm doesn't stick to plaster once it is fully set. Now carefully set the plastic worm into the mold halfway. Again paying attention to any seams that may exist on your plastic worm.

Next we need to make registration pins in the mold so that it will line up the way we want when it comes time to pour in our melted plastic. The easiest way here is to use some finishing nails I like to use about 3 and set them into the semi set mold. Then put the other half of the mold on top, clamp it together and let it set overnight to insure the plaster fully sets.

All is not done yet, there are still a couple steps yet to do in how to make plastic fishing lures. Now after we have removed the master worm and the plaster is fully set you need to cut a sprue channel so that you have somewhere to pour in the melted plastic. Finally we need to seal the mold. Plaster is porous and even if it's fully set you will have all kinds of little leaks inside the mold if you do not take the precaution to seal your mold. Any kind of epoxy or mod podge will work. Don't get carried away just a light coat will do. Now our mold is finished.

As you can see how to make plastic fishing lures isn't that difficult and there are creative ways we can get around the more expensive parts to making plastic fishing worms by making our own molds. There are a few other pointer to make mention and you should be able to pour out your plastic worms without any trouble, and that is before pouring the melted plastic into the mold, coat the insides lightly with some vegetable oil or Vaseline just so its easier to remove the finished product.

By Troy Nantais

T Nantais is an avid fisherman and enthusiast of tackle making. For information about tackle making he has written more about it at http://www.squidoo.com/tacklemaking There you can find a lot of useful information and reviews books and tools for the job so that you can make your own plastic fishing lures.

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Top Five Huge Bass Fishing Mistakes!

There are TONS of mistakes people make when bass fishing, but I'll make it quick, don't wanna take up too much of your time, so I'll just point out the top five most common bass fishing mistakes...

HUGE MISTAKE # 1: *NO PATIENCE*

The number 1 biggest mistake I see people make would have to be tossing their line out and then reeling it right back in!

What you should really do is, toss your line out and let it sit there... where ever it lands and wait, wait, and wait (30 seconds and more at times). This alone will do wonders to your fish count if it doesn't already!

It's usually tough to see under water even for fish, which is why you NEED to put this next tip to use at all times...

HUGE MISTAKE # 2: *LACK OF POPPING*

When you toss your lure into the water don't just let it sit there... Reel in your line until there is no slack left, then snap and even jerk your wrist towards you to stir up some vibration, and commotion in the water.

By doing this you will create loads of curiosity around your bait, fish will come to see what's going on and quickly see a delicious little meal(your hook) bouncing around and it will immediately turn into a feeding frenzy, your lure will be irresistible to them!

HUGE MISTAKE # 3: *THE CONFIDENCE BAIT*

I see it all the time, most fisherman have a go to bait that they can always count on to catch fish when nothing else is working. This is fine until this bait turns into the only thing you use...

It's always a wise decision to keep your go to bait as a go to bait and keep switching your lures constantly (every 10-15 minutes) if you aren't catching anything!

HUGE MISTAKE # 4: *LOSS OF FOCUS*

Don't lose your focus, I know fishing is supposed to be a relaxing sport and hobby but you still need to pay attention to what your doing, at least some what...

I've realized I always tend to do best when I first start fishing, Why? Because I'm psyched to be out on the water fishing (off shore or on the boat) I'm totally pumped!

But what happens when it's been a few hours or more?

You get tired, relaxed, and calmed down which in turn causes "LOSS OF FOCUS". If you can just remember where you need to be casting, to jiggle your bait, and every once in awhile change up your lure if your not having much luck, you should be just fine!

HUGE MISTAKE # 5: *NOT ENOUGH CHANGE UPS*

No luck? ...Keep moving! If you aren't catching anything change it up, leave that spot...

I don't care how many fish you caught or what you heard about a spot if you don't get anything within 15 - 20 minutes...LEAVE, and leave fast, There's nothing there, not today at least, don't waste your time!

These are just a few of the mistakes people tend to make when fishing for bass... if you'd like more FREE advice along with loads of bass fishing tips, tricks, techniques, news and more... check out my site below!

By Nick Mack

Nick Mack is an experienced bass fisherman. He is actively involved in local tournaments and his bass fishing tips and tricks are all over the net. If you want to know more about catching huge bass all the time you can get FREE tips on his website at... http://www.Pro-Fishing-Tips.com

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How To Correctly Bait Your Fishing Hook To Catch More Fish

So you are about to start fishing. First things first, you need to bait your hook. Do you know the correct way to bait you hook? Below are some tips that will help you attract and catch more fish by simply baiting your hook better.

Firstly, you need to use sharp hooks. Buy new hooks frequently and replace your old ones. If you keep your hook on the line for a long period of time you should sand the point to keep it nice and sharp. Try to buy the best hooks you can (if you buy the cheapest you may save a few dollars but in the long run is it worth it?).

Hooks vary in size, shape and color so go for the hook that is best for the fish you are targeting. If you're not sure, ask the people in your local fishing store. Some fish are supposedly attracted to red hooks (some sand varieties of fish target bloodworms and can be attracted to the red color of the hook) but a plain silver hook will usually do.

So you are ready to bait your hook. It sounds very easy but are you really baiting your hook correctly? Below are some common bait varieties and suggested ways to apply them to your hook.

1) Shrimp (prawn) should be put on the hook tail first and so the body of the shrimp curls up into the shape of the hook. Most people bait shrimp the other way (head first) but this will cause the shrimp to fall off more easily. Try to keep the hook entirely in the shrimp when threading through. Most fish species don't mind if the shell is left on. Some people believe in de-shelling the shrimp but this takes time and often makes them soggy and they may fall off the hook easier. You can take the head off the shrimp as this often makes the shrimp too big to fish with if left on (and as an added bonus you can add the heads of the shrimps to your burley bucket to attract more fish)

2) Octopus should be baited using the tentacles foremost so they cover the hook. As with the prawn the octopus should thread over the hook to disguise it.

3) Squid is a good bait as it is hardy, easy to place on a hook and is hard for nibbling fish to nibble off. Just thread the squid over the hook and once again try to disguise the hook with the bait. Also try to use the softer parts of the squid body as some fish may not like the harder parts found near the head.

4) White bait, Mulie or any other small fish really needs to be hooked with a gang of hooks (at least 3 hooks in a row) otherwise they simply slide off the hook.

So next time you are baiting your hook, take the time to try to disguise your hook and make sure that the bait sticks on your hook securely. This will help you catch more fish and save you time as you will not have to keep replacing your bait.

By James Fletcher

James Fletcher is a boating and fishing enthusiast. His website is a great source of boating and fishing knowledge. Find more useful boating and fishing tips at:

http://www.freeboatingtips.com

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Techniques, Tips & Trout Fishing How To

Even though no one can really claim to know all the answers, let me share with you some of my personal trout fishing "how to" techniques and tips. When one thinks of fishing for trout, almost instantly fly fishing will come to one's mind. Perhaps you're a pre beginner, never been fishing in your life but always wanted to. You might not even know what fly fishing is. Well, to sum it up, it's...

A completely distinct, and very ancient way of angling for hooking trout and other kinds of fish, such as bass or salmon. Angling itself means simply fishing with a hook to catch fish in the simplest form. And, in case you don't know, you can use a fish worm, midnight crawler, lizard, chad, grasshopper, minnows, gizzard, liver, and many other forms of bait that will work great.

If you don't want to touch and use live creatures or portions of them, you can buy artificial flies or bait made by man to look like a real fishworm, but made out of man-made material. I've heard of many weird baits being used throughout my fishing years. Some say their baits are so good, that when they dangle them out over the water or stream that the fish can't resist jumping up and hooking themselves. You decide whether to believe them or not.

Now, if you already know all that I have shared with you above, but not much more, then this next part is for you.

First, you'll need a rod and reel, one that will catch fish, big or little, and that personally suits you. The rod you chose will depend on whether you're male or female, a young boy or girl, or if perhaps you have some years built up to deserve the honor of being called a senior citizen. Weight is a factor to consider, as well as make and color.

There are 3 main types of fly rods - Cane, Fiberglass, and Graphite. Each has its benefits and features, which you need to consider.

All of the information provided here is basic trout fishing how to advice. Learn as much as you can, and be prepared to never stop learning!

By Sam Phillips

Click through to our site to learn more about the types of rods, including a description of each and how it works, and much more trout fishing how to information. You will also find a complete review of a trout fishing guide that we have used and recommend for anyone interested in learning as much as they can to improve the sport of fishing that they enjoy. All of this and more for the outdoor lover at http://www.smoky-mountainvacation.com

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Top 4 Best Bass Fishing Lures Secrets

So you're planning your next bass fishing trip. You've got all those brand new shiny crankbaits sitting ready to go in your tackle box, and now your surfing the net looking for the best bass fishing lures secrets. In this article that's exactly what we are going to look at, and I know after your done reading this you'll have a added a tip or 2 to your bass fishing arsenal of knowledge. After all it's all about getting that nest monster bass in the boat right? There's no point having a nice shiny crankbait in your tackle box if you don't understand how to put a bass into your live well with it.

So let's look at best bass fishing lures secrets and their strategies and how they apply to bass fishing. All lures no matter if they are spinnerbaits or crankbaits are designed to perform a specific way. A lot of times the reason why anglers fail to catch more bass is because they fail to use lures for the function they were designed for. If you're completely familiar with the function and characteristic of each lure in your tackle box then you can be rest assured you have an edge over the angler that just starts grabbing crankbaits on a whim when the chips are down.

There are all kinds of different bass fishing lures available. Many of these lures overlap in their function, but there are others that were designed to meet certain conditions and require special techniques to be successful. In general bass fishing lures fall under the following;

1. Shallow Water Fishing: Ah the magic of catching bass in shallow water can be a bit tricky. This is one water type where snags can rule the day and it can be easy to lose 20 bucks worth of crankbaits and catch zero fish if you are not careful. This is also probably the most common section of water where most bass anglers prefer to take on their trophies. Floating/Diving plugs and Spinnerbaits are the winners here.

Choose, minnow-imitating balsa plugs or plastic plugs that float when they are at rest and dive only a foot or two on retrieve are your best choices here.

Spinnerbaits are excellent shallow water lures, particularly in the spring when fish are shallow due to the warmer water. Spinner baits are also very good at covering large amounts of water fast as you look for those active feeding bass. So I often like to hit shallow water areas up with a 1-2 punch technique. First fish an area with a quick covering spinnerbait looking for those active lunkers then follow up with a shallow running plug. By using the 1-2 punch you can cover a lot of water, and be sure you covered it effectively before moving on to the next spot.

2. Medium depth angling (4 to 12 feet): Here you are best off choosing a straight running dive to the bottom plug often referred to as a crankbait. Crankbaits generally come in 3 styles, shallow medium and deep diving versions. Each version is dependant on the size and shape of the lip that protrudes from each one. The idea is you want to choose a crankbait that can dive into the strike zone where the bass are sitting as fast as possible and stay there the longest. Medium and deep divers are usually the most useful to bass fishermen here as they tend to work best for most conditions.

Don't forget worms and jigs are also highly effective bass baits in this depth range, so don't forget to give them a try too. Often worms and jigs in this depth range will tend to target the shy biting bass or are great to tie on if your fishing during a cold front.

3. Deep Water Bass Fishing (10 feet or more). A bass fisherman needs to understand why bass heads for these deeper waters and understand this then you'll see why this bass fishing lure secret should be your first choice. Bass seek the comfort of cooler, deep water in late spring, summer, and early fall. A lot of the times the water is too warm for the bass in the shallows so this tends to push the bass into deeper water. Another reason why bass head into deep water is because of weather. A heavy cold front will push bass into deep water as well, but for whatever the reason why bass may be holding in the deeper water doesn't mean you can't catch bass, it just means we change strategies.

Here the bass fisherman that knows how to handle a plastic worm is going to put lunkers in his boat. In deep water plastic worms are probably more effective then all the other lure combinations combined. Another great choice here is the jig. Both lure choice are extremely effectively in very deep water (and at any depth for that matter) at targeting shy bass.

4. Surface fishing: Ah the favorite technique of bass anglers, nothing gets the heart pumping more then the excitement of surface fishing for bass. Watching a bass nail a fishing lure on the surface is breath taking and I don't know an angler alive that doesn't get excited just thinking about it. Surface lures run the gamut here and there are a lot of choice from soft plastic floating baits to wood or plastic plugs that twitch, wobble, chug, and sputter. Going through all the techniques in how to fish surface lures is an article all on it's own but finesse in working these surface lures is the name of the game.

That's the basics of bass fishing lures secrets and how to choose the best bass fishing lure for the job. The point to remember here is there is a time and place for every fishing lure. If you want to maximize your potential to catch big bass then you need to use a lure that was designed for whatever situation you may be fishing in. There are good lures and bad lures, good times to use them and poor time to use them. But having a solid understanding of the usage a lure was designed for an its place will go a long way to help you choose the correct fishing lure the next time you open your tackle box.

By Troy Nantais

Now obviously there is a lot more to bass fishing then understanding lure choice and having a well stocked tackle box. For more information on bass fishing and bass fishing secrets check out http://www.squidoo.com/basshabitat

My name is T Nantais and I am an avid fisherman who loves Bass fishing and you can find a lot more bass fishing tips on my page.

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How To Rig Powerbait To Catch More Trout

Are you interested in knowing how to rig Powerbait to catch more trout? I assume so, or you wouldn't be reading this article. In this article I'm going to reveal the best way to rig Powerbait to catch more trout, and the best times to use said trout rig. These two valuable pieces of information will help anyone catch more trout on their next fishing outing.

When talking about trout and Powerbait I think it's important to describe what it is we're fishing for. When you use Powerbait for trout the bottom line is that you're fishing for stocked fish, rather than 'native' fish. These are trout that have been raised and 'planted' by the government. There's nothing wrong with this, it's just the way it is. For the most part the rig that I'm going to describe is used for still fishing in lakes. This can be modified as you see fit, but for me, Powerbait is only used when still fishing is lakes for stocked trout.

Many people ask what color Powerbait is best. I've always said that I've never believed that it matters. If one color isn't working, try another color, it's as simple as that. Stocked trout are no very sophisticated (to say the least) and I simply don't think that color matters much. The important thing to remember is that whatever color you use, make sure that it floats. Flotation is the important aspect this type of trout bait.

Begin by taking the end of your line and slipping on an egg sinker (1/4 to ½ ounce). Now tie on a small barrel swivel (size 10 or 12). The barrel swivel acts as a "stopper" for the weight and helps to prevent line twist. Now tie on a set of pre-tied gang hooks, size 8 or 10 is usually best. Now add enough Powerbait to each hook to completely cover each hook. In other words, when you're done you'll have two balls of Powerbait hanging from the end of your line. This is how to rig Powerbait to catch more trout.

Now cast this rig into the lake, let it sink, and slowly reel in the slack line. Now prop your rod against an immovable object and wait. Your line should be completely taught. The rod tip will bounce when you start to get a bite (it shouldn't take long). Now how do you make sure that you're fishing at the best time?

The best time to be on the water fishing is determined by the weather and moon. All you have to do is pay attention to the weather and moon, and plan your fishing trips accordingly. Seriously, the weather and moon have an incredible impact on the feeding activity of trout and the better you understand this phenomenon the better. This might sound strange, but it's nonetheless true.

Begin using these tips sooner, rather than later and you will begin catching more trout. Albeit stocked trout, but hey sometimes an anglers got to do what he or she has to do.

By Trevor Kugler

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!

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Bass Fishing For Beginners

Bass fishing has come a long way from being a nonchalant hobby to becoming a serious sport with different competitions held worldwide. The unique challenges created from bass fishing has helped to promote its popularity as a sport, resulting even in specialty baits, rods, clothing lines, and even boats. The sport is growing at a fascinating rate with millions being drawn in every year. The various types of bass fish that you can catch include small mouth bass, striped bass, spotted bass and largemouth bass. Out of these, the largemouth bass is the biggest one weighting over 10 pounds. Catching one is considered to be a stiff challenge as they do throw up an incredible fight when caught.

Many different states have different laws and regulations with respect to bass fishing. Most states employ the release as you catch rule according to which an angler is required to throw the bass as soon as it is caught so that there is an abundant supply of bass fish in the fishing area. For a beginner, going through the rules and regulations of the area makes great sense as you would not want to risk having your license revoked due to some misunderstanding or other.

As a bass fishing beginner, it would be great to kick-start your bass fishing adventure by fishing on smaller ponds or shorelines of lakes. These places have abundant supply of white and spotted brass and catching them should not pose much of a challenge.

There are three major types of bass fishing with the primary one being live bait fishing. In this form of bass fishing, live bait such as a worm or a shad is used to entice the bass. However, one needs to ensure that these baits are not dead beforehand as that would not be likely to attract any fish to your hook. Another form of fishing which is commonly used is Spinner Fishing. This method involves the uses of lures at dawn or late at night. However, this technique is restricted to only experienced bass fisherman, as finding the right type at the right fishing spot takes a lot of practice and skill.

Plugs are another type of bass lure and there are many different types used for plug fishing. While some of them are used for catching fish on the surface, most of them find use in catching deep swimming bass. Because bass are predators and eat their prey alive, using plugs results in great results as they do sound life-like thereby enticing bass fish into falling for the bait.

Bass fishing has grown in popularity and there are many competitions just for catching bass. The two major bass fishing competitions in the United States are the Bassmaster Tournament Trail and the Wal-Mart FLW Tour which offer prize money to the tune of $500,000 and $1,000,000, respectively. With so much at stake for a fun filled hobby, expect more and more people to tune into this wonderful recreational activity in the future.

By Allen Bohart

Fishing charters can be a good way to learn about the ins and outs of fishing an area. For these and other fishing vacation ideas, visit http://www.thefishingbobber.com today.

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How to Rig Live Worms to Catch More Trout Today

Do you know how to effectively rig live worms when you go fishing? After reading this article, you most certainly will. Rigging live worms for trout fishing isn't difficult, but it does involve more than simply tying on a large hook, threading a worm on, and calling it good. I'll explain the simple steps in this article so that you'll know exactly how to rig live worms to catch more trout (or any other species of fish for that matter).

Let's begin with the basics. When fishing with live worms it's important to use fishing line that's as light as you feel comfortable fishing with. For example, I personally use four pound test for 90% of my live worm fishing. The lighter the line, the more bites you will receive, it's as simple as that. This is simply because lighter line is less visible, and in clear water (here trout tend to reside) the less visible your line is, the more bites you will get. Not to mention the fact that using light line makes fishing a ton more challenging and enjoyable in my humble opinion.

The next thing that needs to be mentioned before I outline the "rig" itself is that when using live worms for bait it's a great idea to make sure that your hands are free of any unnatural odors before baiting up. Why is this the case? Simply because these unnatural odors, such as gasoline residue or smoke, will transfer to your bait and cost you bites. This is especially true for larger, more experienced trout. I've personally tested this theory, and it absolutely makes a difference. The simple remedy for this problem is to grab a handful of grass or dirt before baiting up, and rub it into your hands. This will effectively "wash" your hands f any unnatural odors.

Now down to the business of how to rig live worms to catch more trout. The key to this equation is gang hooks. Gang hooks are simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem that enable a live worm to be presented in an outstretched and natural manner the way God intended, rather than all "balled up" like a piece of meat. Having your live worm look like a live worm makes a huge difference in the number of bites you will receive. Let's get down to the "rig", shall we?

Begin by grabbing the end of your line n tying on a small barrel swivel (size 10 or 12). Now on the opposite end of the barrel swivel tie on a set of pre-tied gang hooks (size 8 or 10 for trout). Weight can be added to the rig by adding split shot sinkers to the line above the barrel swivel or by sipping and egg sinker onto your line before tying on the barrel swivel to begin with. Now you simply place a live worm onto your gang hooks and you're good to go.

This rig is amazingly effective for rigging live worms or trout fishing, and when allowed to flow naturally with the current of a river or stream, the results are deadly. Use the split shot option and add or remove split shot as needed until you have the right number to allow your offering to roll along the bottom while it flows with the current of your favorite trout river. Now you know how to rig live worms to catch more trout. Give this rig a try sooner, rather than later and find out for yourself how effective natural presentation can be.

By Trevor Kugler

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

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Using Live Worms While Fishing

Were you aware of the fact that using live worms for fishing involves more than simply attempting to "thread" a worm onto a hook and calling it good? At least it should if you want to become a true live worm angler. Just buying a Styrofoam container full of worms and "threading" said worms onto a single hook and using them for bait is how amateurs and first time worm fishermen do it.

For those of you who want to graduate to true "live worm fishing" there are a few simple rules that should be followed to improve your success. In this article, I'm going to reveal these simple, yet amazingly effective tips that will help you almost immediately. These tips have been proven by more than forty years of combined fishing experience, and were originally taught to me by the best live worm angler I've ever come in contact with. Now you can take advantage of these tips by reading a quick article. Not a bad deal.

In my humble opinion, using live worms while fishing can be as much of an art form as waving flies back and forth in the air has ever been proclaimed to be. Remember, there's no substitute for spending time on the water practicing your craft, so get out there and use these tips as soon as you can. By spending time on the water you can hone your craft, which in this case is live worm fishing, into the 'art form' that I'm referring to.

The first thing to keep in mind when using live worms while fishing is that you need to pay attention to your hands. What do I mean by this? Simply that your hands need to be free of any unnatural odors, such as smoking or gasoline residue, before baiting up. These scents will transfer to your bait (worms) and cost you bites. I've personally tested this and its true my friends. The tip is this: to eliminate any unnatural odors that may be on your hands, before baiting up, grab a handful of grass or dirt and rub it into your hands. This will effectively wash any unnatural odors from your hands that could cause you issues.

The next thing to keep in mind is your hooks. When fishing with leave worms gang hooks should always be employed. Gang hooks are simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem that enable live worms to be presented in an outstretched and natural manner, the way God intended. This natural presentation makes a huge difference in bite rates. Gang hooks allow you to fish with a live worm and still have your offering look like a worm, rather than some sort of "worm ball" (which is what happens with single hooks).

Finally when using live worms for fishing, or any other bait for that matter, make sure you pay attention to the weather and moon. These two forces of Mother Nature have as much to do with you catching fish as any other factor. Once you start fishing when the fish are the most active by understanding the weather and moon, the more fish you will catch, it's as simple as that.

By Trevor Kugler

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!

Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

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Catfish Fishing Tips

I first started fishing catfish in my early childhood with my dad and though I have caught some Blue, and Flathead Catfish, Channel Catfish have always been my main target. I primarily fish them in the Snake and St.Croix Rivers and sometimes the Mississippi too. Wherever I can find a little nook and cranny where the current isn't so fast there always seem to be catfish hiding looking for some fresh bait. Catfish can also be found wherever you can find a rocky bottom to.

The best time to catch catfish is usually after dark until early morning right before the sun comes up, and they always seem to be the most active around a full moon. Catfish also like to hang out in holes where the water is a little deeper. Again, anywhere the current is a little slower and a place where food might gather is great place to find catfish.

Some other Catfish Fishing tips that I have used over the years are how I rig my pole. Now this is fairly basic. I like to use a medium sized pole about 7 to 8 feet long with about 17 to 20 pound test line. Some prefer 50 or 60 pound test but the lighter line has always worked best for me because I have found it is just easier to deal with when tying hooks or getting your line out of snags. The main reason I use a lighter line is that your catfish is much less likely to notice any friction with lighter line compared to a heavier line. I like to fight the fish a little too, with a heavier line its to easy just to drag the fish in which I believe takes the sport and excitement out of it.

As far as hooks go I have always just used a smooth, medium sized hook, with no barbells on it. Catfish have very tough skin and I rarely loose a catfish after I have hooked them so you won't need a trebble hook or any special kind of hook for Catfishing. Before I put my hook on I always just slide one slip sinker on with the size of it going by how fast the river current is, and then one clip on sinker or a swivel to keep your sinker away from your bait. I like to put the sinker about 2 feet away from the bait so your bait can float and move around in the river current.

One last Catfishing tip I will give you here is in filleting them correctly. This is very important if you want to get the best flavor out of your Catfish. I will put the Catfish on its stomach and then start with the tip of the knife right behind its head next to its spine and then slowly start slicing downwards until the fillet comes off. Then just cut your fillet off the skin. Now this part most of you probably already know as it is the same as most other fish. This is the important part. After you have your fillet in front of you there will be a yellowish strip running down the middle of the meat with a little bit of red on top of the fillet. This needs to be cut out or your Catfish will taste mushy and lose a lot of its flavor so don't forget. I also like to cut the head meat out of the larger ones usually at least 15 pounds, this is the whitest and best part of the Catfish. And prepare some homemade tartar sauce for a great meal with the whole family.

By Shane Brown

Shane Brown has spent the past 25 years fishing all kinds of freshwater and saltwater fish but Catfishing has reigned supreme in his Fishing adventures.

http://thecatfishking.com
http://thecatfishking.blogspot.com

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