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The road to enlightenment

August 3rd 2011 01:19
What’s that old saying about “The road to enlightenment?” No doubt about it, you’ll need some knowledge to travel that road. It’s how you apply the knowledge you possess that puts fish on your stringer.

Anglers are always looking for ways to expand their knowledge. We read, discuss, theorize, and sometimes even obsess over how to catch more and bigger fish. Your fishing smarts can be learned firsthand, but more often, it comes second hand from any number of sources. Little drip and drabs of “secrets” come into play before you can call the finished product “knowledge.”


These days, anglers have many sources of local knowledge—maybe too many sources. Gone are the days when you had a magazine or two and the advice of a grizzled local before hitting the water. With the advent of the Internet, you can Google “Fishing Wherever”, get umpteen links and become an apparent “expert” without even lifting a rod!

Without a doubt, the best type of knowledge for any activity is first hand, or actual, knowledge. This real knowledge is something you learned through personal observation or by actually doing the task at hand. It takes time, even years, to build this real world knowledge.

Since there are always “fishermen’s tales” out there, taking advice may be risky. Admittedly, second hand knowledge can speed up the learning curve, but it needs to be seasoned liberally with your own firsthand knowledge .

So if a bass fanatic tells you to try fishing in shallow water on a certain lake in spring, take that advice and put it with the common knowledge that bass spawn on such banks, and if you know they spawn in your area around May, you may be traveling the right road!




Remember to take the hooks outta yer pocket before ya sit down!




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Making a case for the Husky Jerk

July 27th 2011 01:49
Since this guy talked jerk baits in general, I thought it might be apropos to have a vid of him espousing the virtues of the Rapala Husky Jerk.


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Keeping and raising worms

July 21st 2011 02:09
If worms are you bait of choice, it seems like it's nearly impossible to find any before you go fishing unless you go to a bait shop. On the other hand, it's not that difficult to grow your own and have them all season.

european night crawlers
A few tricks of the trade are common to all worms and one of the most obvious is the soil. You don't want the dirt to be too dry but, you don't want it too moist either. If you notice your worms on top of the soil, it may be too wet. A good rule of thumb is to grab a handful of soil and make a fist. If the soil clumps, you're probably okay or, at least, on the right track. Each colony of worms will be different so, some trial and error will probably be in order. But, remember, you don't want to drown your worms.

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One way to tell if the guy at the bait shop knows his stuff is to buy a dozen night crawlers and ask, "Are these Canadian night crawlers or African?" If the guy selling the worms has much experience with the public, he can quickly choose one of the two answers and make it sound convincing whether it's right or wrong.

The term "night crawler" is actually a catch-all phrase denoting any large worm no matter where you find it. Since this blog originates in the Eastern United States, we won't try and snow you with regurgitations from science books but rather, tell you what has been learned from experience.

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Fishing high water

May 24th 2011 01:43
I wonder if it’s gonna stop this rainy pattern. Rain, sun, rain, sun, This kind of weather may be good for the grass but it makes fishing tough! This funky weather has made most bodies of water pretty high and muddy. Personally, when the weather is high and muddy, I like to make it easy on myself and try to hook a bass or two.

Flooding has been a problem in many areas because water in pouring into ponds, lakes, and rivers and unbelievable rates! When water gets deeper, even if you’re not going for bass, you have to adjust your tactics. If you have a pattern that usually works in an area, adjust ir for the added water. Say you’re fishing 5-10 feet, if the water has raised 5 feet, you have to allow for that and start fishing 10-15 feet.

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How to fish new water

May 9th 2011 02:10
lake
Decisions, decisions...

Whether you’re a pro, novice, or never even held a rod before, fishing new water can be intimidating. Staring at a large, unfamiliar body of water can be intimidating, but this system will help you figure out the water in no time at all.

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Prehistoric fishing tackle found

April 10th 2011 01:06
The origins of prehistoric man is filled with controversy. Now you can add one more question to the mix thanks to a discovery off the coast of California.

A team recently found a number of finely crafted stone spear heads, fishing tackle, and other tools which provided evidence of a culture relying on seafaring abilities for its livelihood.

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Although the calendar says spring, it's still pretty cold in different parts of the country. But, natural clocks are kicking in and fish are starting to move into shallow areas as the days get longer and slightly warmer (at least to them.)
You’ll have to analyze your local water to determine where fish are and how to best catch them. If I had any shortcuts to get that done, I'd tell you!

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Thoughts on finesse fishing

April 1st 2011 00:18
Finesse fishing is a tactic you hear about in bass fishing circles. It’s nothing more than a modern term for "downsizing" a particular type of bait or lure.

Generally, baits and lures are fished at a much slower rate than you usually use. Although some anglers think this is a tactic for cold weather, it works year round when fish are lethargic or inactive.

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Noisy Anglers

March 31st 2011 01:24
I’m not a big believer in common noises scaring fish. Common, every day noises probably aren’t going to scare fish and if they do, the fish will be back soon.

However, one of the biggest mistakes anglers make is they don't think about spooking fish until it’s too late. Long before they make even their first cast, they run to the water’s edge or grab their boat’s anchor and toss it out, mimicking an Olympic shot-putter. This isn’t all that common and if you decide to wait for the fish to come back, you may be in for a long wait!

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Tips for early spring fishing

March 20th 2011 01:52
fishing
After winter, most anglers are looking forward to getting on the water. Anglers can catch fish from a boat, from shore, or while wading (if they’re hardy). Even when the action isn’t all that great, it's nice just to be outside on a warm day and shake off that cabin fever. However, in all honesty, it's a lot more to catch something that just throw your line in the water. Here are some ways you can get more fish to bite right now.

Rather than follow the cliche rut of fishing while the sun is rising, afternoon is usually the best time this time of year. Fish usually bite when the water is warmest, and water is generally a little warmer in the afternoon.

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Fishing this time of year

March 8th 2011 01:06
Fishing Early Spring/Late Winter can be a tough proposition. The big thing on everyone's mind in the weather. It can be warm one day and cold the next.

Just like people, fish are going to appreciate the warm days after a long cold streak.

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Not all split shot is created equal

February 20th 2011 01:56
If you're new to angling, this is one of those little things that will drive you crazy.

When you go to the tackle shop to buy splitshot sinkers, make sure you know what you're doing because you going to find the usual, run of the mill, round splitshot sinkers and REMOVABLE splitshot.

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Some fishing basics

February 8th 2011 01:55
Fishing’s popularity is increasing every day as more and more people hit the water or shore to try their luck. Needless to say, these people are going to need a little help to get going and meet their expectations because although angling can be rewarding, it gets old really fast when you’re not catching anything!

There’s more to successful fishing besides simply having the right tackle. Knowing what areas to fish, baits, and even weather reports all are involved in the sport to some extent, but a tackle often goes undiscussed.

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Things anglers can do in the winter

February 2nd 2011 01:15
Every time I have to scrape the ice off my windshield I get jolted into reality and realize how far off fishing season is. I guess TECHNICALLY it IS fishing season but…Things would be different if I ice fished but we won’t go there.

Cabin fever??? Ha! Look it up in the dictionary and they have my name! Things have gotten to the point that I’ve even considered watching those fishing shows on TV. There are a number of things you can do with your down time that will make your fishing more productive. Some I thought up, some were suggestions by friends, and others came from books or magazines. The thing is, they ALL keep you occupied and make for better fishing when you get back out there.

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Tips for trolling

February 1st 2011 02:21
trolling

At different times of the year fish can be found in deeper parts of rivers or lakes. This may be because of water temperatures or maybe that’s just where the food is. No matter-- many species such as trout, bass, walleye , muskie , or even salmon can be caught at these deeper depths. Reaching deeper depths is sometimes called a deep drag or deep troll but the idea is to get to where the fish are. Deep dragging or deep trolling can be achieved by dropping a weighted line to a depth where fish are hanging out while you travel along the surface in a boat. Equipment can be as cheap or elaborate as your pocketbook allows.

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How to fish in winter

January 31st 2011 02:51
fish
Around here, we’re in the middle of winter. We’ve had some really cold weather and some weather that’s not so bad. Readers on the Web can be anywhere so that creates different conditions depending upon where you are.

If it gets cold where you live, this post can help your winter fishing. If you don’t worry about ice and snow…well…there’s always the next post.

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Trolling

January 9th 2011 02:27
trolling
At different times of the year fish can be found in deeper parts of rivers or lakes. This may be because of water temperatures or maybe that’s just where the food is. No matter-- many species such as trout, bass, walleye , muskie , or even salmon can be caught at these deeper depths. Reaching deeper depths is sometimes called a deep drag or deep troll but the idea is to get to where the fish are. Deep dragging or deep trolling can be achieved by dropping a weighted line to a depth where fish are hanging out while you travel along the surface in a boat. Equipment can be as cheap or elaborate as your pocketbook allows.

It’s hard to say exactly which line to use. Bait design, trolling speed, the amount of extended line and the line diameter and resistance all have an influence on line choice. The lighter the line, the less friction you’ll experience and the heavier the line, the more friction or resistance. Another thing to think about when you choose line is whether or not you think there’s much of a chance of snagging. Granted, nobody plans to hang up but, it may be better to be safe than sorry. I like to use 8 lb. line to troll but I keep another rod loaded with 12 lb. handy. If the fish are deep, it may be a little harder to set the hook so braided line is my choice because it doesn’t have the stretch of mono-filament.

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Tips to fish the weeds

January 4th 2011 02:06
Yellowstone, Antique fishing
Although it’s snowy around here, it’s warm somewhere and being able to pull big ones out of that warm water is something you can’t pass up. Big fish can often be found hanging out around thick weeds or vegetation. Knowing how to effectively fish in thick weeds without losing your lure is one of the most important lessons an angler can learn.

There are a few reasons why many different types of fish hover in weedy areas during hot months. One of the biggest attractions is the higher amounts of oxygen that are available in weedy areas. Shade is another vital aspect offered by thick weeds because it keeps the water relatively cool during the day. On top of that, any vegetation is a great hiding spot for smaller fish who are trying to avoid being a larger fish's lunch. On the other hand, predatory fish may hang out in the weeds and ambush the smaller fish. There are also plenty of natural food sources wherever you find thick weeds including insects, mollusks, grubs, minnows and frogs.

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Happy New Year

January 1st 2011 02:03
Happy New Year too all my readers and those who have been with me since this thing started!

I appreciate everyone who reads my blog and hope you get some useful knowledge from it.

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