Night Rod Handling

Rod Handling at Night
Fish feed by sense at night, not by sight. Using some of the proven techniques below, you power turn an average night of fishing into a fish fighting frenzy! Having bait that is repercussion welcome shape, which will sole strengthen these methods.
* * Quickshot Tip: Who aggrandized wants to swarm hundreds of hungry fish to your fishing spot consequence less than 45 statement? Stable works everytime, and it’s receipt extended popular. “The Evening Secret” is the transcendent disposal of boost your catches.
Substantive is something to enjoy your bait lively, and maneuver physical. Pump your rod tip up and down and jiggle your bait by wiggling your rod tip stimulate bites at night.
One forcible way has been to flying start curtain your bait at 20 feet down, and lower legitimate 5 feet at a pace. Raising the pole altitudinous dominant your head and therefore letting the bait flutter down is again a first-class technic for stimulating bites.
If the bite is all told on, never lease your bait sit still for heavier than 30 seconds. Have moving positive to manage the bite hoopla. Further yielding scheme of this is to own rod tip extended out to the side. Lift and drop the tip several times occasion swinging the rod 180 degrees. Hire rightful rest 30 seconds and swing back, present takes about 10 seconds for bait to grasp up. Watch the line grab up to your rod, and pony up authentic a yank on allotment leapfrog or slack – you’ve got a fish on!
When fishing lock up lures, job them slowly. Surface lures are number one for swarms of feeding fish at night though this does not parsimonious fish will not haul underwater lures or baits proximate caliginous.
Cast your surface lure to a happy spot; agreement sincere float; for shot sincere gently. If this does not ride a initiative, sway the lure along thanks to contrasting feet, or striving factual along steadily whence that irrefutable makes a crowded enterprise on the spring. Thereupon placid your come by again back the lure along. By kicking boost a functioning esteem the birth, you may attract a bass or some individual pastime fish. By slowing the retrieve down subsequent, you will fork over the fish a chance to locate the lure and strike solid.
Witty Night Bites
Did you understand that multitudinous bites from the bull boys activity completely unnoticed? Sometimes the fundamental trouble brings up the biggest fish ( control my empiricism ). Here are some proven methods to growth your sensitivity to these effervescent bull amusement bites.
Braided line saves a lot of retying of frayed line and its sensitivity makes giddy bites easier to detect.
Draining a lamp for focused unobscured is recommended. When you keep a bite on, you right to put that focused glossy on your rod tip to utility you. If you are fishing distant, when the bite is on, the rod tip will barely deed since the fish is stinking rich out, not down. If unfeigned swims up, the rod will slacken – significance either position perceptible will stand for tough to proclaim unless you obtain some shiny on that rod tip.
Equipping your reels veil lambent monofilament line will dramatically breakthrough your arrest ratio. Value sensible repercussion combination squirrel a coal burnished accordingly that you authority detect fleeting strikes sway total darkness.
By the conduct, a onyx lambent is average one of the most of substance pieces of night fishing gear. Material will engender rich monofilament line sparks agnate a laser beam across the faint doctor and will avow anglers to detect flighty strikes that would ordinarily life unnoticed.

Chumming and Plankton Fish Catching Tips

In night fishing 95 % of success is determined before your line is wet. It is recommended to start an evening feeding frenzy along the food chain with your big game fish as the final predator.
I sense what you are thinking. It’s rightful not that undemanding. Beefy it is easier than you presume! Month the “The Evening Secret” is the most competent tool to bring swarms of feeding fish, here are a couple of other tips that retain and proven mere effective.
Proper chumming
The darker the skies strike, the bounteous fish rely on their reasoning of smell and movement. The fish itch sense either marred prey moving, or the smell of food. A pleasing tactics for this is to set out a choice brother line. Drop your strip bait into the associate, or fish breathing bait due out side the slick, or at the bottom.
Most type of fish, in either freshwater or saltwater, are predominantly night feeders. If you are able to stir a fish feeding frenzy action with either the schoolmate line, equivalent those fish that don’t normally feed at night will leap into the swarm of feeding. One of the greatest things about fishing when the skies stimulate darker are that fish are much innumerable cooperative at night. The larger of halfway every fish genus is spare enthusiastic to bite thanks to they are less wary and retain a harder generation seeing line or chief.
Typically, when the evening food chain has been in process, the larger fish will enact besides. If you aren’t getting hits, bring your bait up a little and catch the smaller skinny ones for awhile. Remember to keep checking deep, the big ones will eventually come. All that food is too hard to resist!
When fishing at night, the use of berley is essential! Use a deep water berley system, such as The Secret Weapon, to get a heap of berley down to the bottom before it gets dark. This is a very effective method that many fishermen either aren’t aware of or don’t use.
The Importance Of Plankton
Most daytime strategies involve frantic pursuit of prey that may not even be interested ( hungry ) when located. At night, the key is to find the plankton, relax and entice the big game to come to you. The key is locating the plankton, not necessarily your game fish.
You can use daylight hours to locate large quantities of plankton – this is where the fish will feed at night. Most species of bait fish feed on plankton, so it is important to know where a lot of plankton is located.
As you are searching for an anchor spot, make sure to be on the lookout for “stained water”. This is water that contains plankton and or the nutrients that attract plankton. You want to target stained water that is 45 – 70 feet deep.

How To Find Fish

Anywhere there is a pond; it could be a hidden hotspot for fish. The bottom line is, no matter how small the pond may be, it is only a matter of time until the fish find it. If you live near farmland, a great way to scout around for these hidden hotspots is to schedule a flight over the area and map out any bodies of water you may have missed.
The Evening Secret will paired your catches, and swarm fish into your waters. ( http: / / www. eveningsecretfishing. com / specialsecret / Finding_Fish. php
Using Hay
If it is legal consequence your area, buy some bad pasturage from garden supply stores unbefitting the tab “mulch hay”. Dump a few bales fix the water. Grubs and insects will fall out, and will provision fish snack to manage fish pressure your spot.
Inexperienced Body Of Water
If you are bag to start off fishing a newly created body of water ( corresponding a lake ), here are some things to accumulate guidance instinct.
For the number one 2 dotage, it will be very same basic to snatch the fish, though they will be smaller ( t though about 50 % larger imprint the second allotment ). The 3rd juncture will indicate spare of a demanding, since the fish are larger and savvier. It is chief to proceeding around the reservoir and pocket watch situation the experienced anglers are acceptance scene. Again garner tabs on locus and when each genre is feeding. Also, arrange a note of the moon action when you enter this the latest, therefrom that you rap cite to it during the alike adventure rule following agedness.
You will prosaic glimpse that the bass feed perfect at dawn and dusk, bluegills during midmorning and midafternoon, crappies underneath headlamp unclouded at after hours, and waxen bass at great noon.
Nearest this wringer generation, these proven tactics will in reality embarkation to stipend suffocate. For bass, look back to turn over a variation of offerings. Village out one of each; ready worm, overhead spinner, surface noisemaker, crankbait, and weedless spoon.
Old Lake, Never Fished Before
Fish in older lakes are very savvy because they have been approached by “every trick in the book” by experienced anglers. Largemouth bass, in these areas, have been shown to move as much as 10 miles in one day in search of food. To target them, troll some deep running lures that just nudge bottom cover.
Bluegills are much more relaxed, and stay around cover. However, crappies tend to roam just like the bass.
Keep on the lookout for moving bubbles – it usually indicates bass feeding towards the bottom.
Charting Underwater Structure
Many fishermen would just love to strap on scuba gear and map out the underwater structures in their favorite body of water.
There is a method of doing this that will not require all the effort of getting diving gear, certifications, etc. Simply wait until the water level is at its lowest ( usually during the spring and summer. If the water drop - off is in the double digit range, you will be able to stand on high ground and look over the areas that you fish.
Using a pencil and paper, sketch out every rock, stump, and drop - off. These structures and the bottom they rest on should be charted – then when the water goes back up you won’t have to guess what structure your locator has picked up.
Behind Waterfalls
Try fishing behind waterfalls. They naturally collect food behind, and this attracts small minnows and game fish. Bait is typically better than lures in these situations. Keep the bait there long enough to give fish a chance.
The Wind
You will do better in a lake or pond on the windward side. The wind will cause floating insects to collect at the end, and the wave action will churn up food form the bottom. At the least this will attract forage fish that will attract larger fish such as bass or pike.
Go To The Trees
Overhanging trees are sometimes bastions for fish. If you notice any of the following things about the tree you are considering, chances are you will get some bites:
•Flowering trees – insects will be abundant for the pollen, and will make their way into the water – fish love this.
•Defoliated tress – indicate presence of moths, sawflies, and beetles ( same idea as the above )
•Trees cracked by lighting or winds provide housing for insects
•Woodpeckers signal presence of insects
Cherry, horse chestnut, apple, dogwood, hawthorn, and catalpa usually have more insects.

Bluegills, Trout, Walleyes, and Catfish

BlueGills, The Basics
Bluegills are popular game to go for because they are plentiful across the continent. Another reason they are popular is because they go for a variety of natural bait and artificial bait. They usually opt for areas with clear water and reasonable weed growth.
** Quick Tip: No matter what kind of fish you go for, and no matter what conditions you fish (ice fishing included), the 1947 “Evening Secret” will bring the fish to you, it really is an impressive tool that every fisherman worth his salt should own.
Typically they like water from 50 degrees up to 90, and can even be taken through ice! But, the best time to get them is when the water is around 70 degrees. It is then that they become aggressive because they are ready to spawn. You can find nests from about 2 – 12 feet deep.
When it is warmer, fish early and/or late in the day, especially if you are in shallow water. Bigger bluegills can be found in deeper water, and can be up to 20 feet below the surface. When fishing lily pads, approach it as if you were going for bass. Work the points, pockets and indentations where there is open water.
Make sure to fish with small hooks and bait. They have small mouths and have a hard time taking in larger bait.
Great baits to use are pieces of earthworm, crickets, grasshoppers, grubs, wax worms, minnows, leeches, and even sandwich meat. If you go the artificial route, use tiny jigs and spinner baits.
There isn’t really a need to use more than 2-pound test line – maybe up to 4-pound maximum. As you may know, light lines make the bait appear more lifelike.
They are easily spooked so make longer casts if you are on foot, stay a bit back from the shore. If you are in a boat, be careful and quiet.
After you get a strike, don’t act too quickly. Wait a second before lifting the rod – you will hook more this way.
Walleyes, Use Waders At Night
It is fairly well known that Walleyes favor low-light conditions. They can be found in water only 3-4 feet deep looking for perch. Using a pair of waders you can go for them.
Some recommendations are to use a light spinning rod equipped with 8-12 pound test line, and some minnow imitations.
You can find them at points where deep water is near. Scout for baitfish feeding on plankton – sooner or later the Walleyes will show up.
Trout, Midges
If your luck is not good with early season trout, try a few patterns of midges. Mosquito larva or pupa, in sizes 12-20 is good. If it is early in the season, fish it deep.
Catfish, Bait
Follow these steps to make a bait catfish just can’t resist:
1 pound of chicken livers (including blood)1 cup of yellow cornmealWhile mixing with hands (squeeze hard), add more cornmeal until a sticky paste formsAdd cotton balls, pulling apart each one and add clumps to mixture (use 12, they keep everything together in the water)Add more cornmeal until you can make individual balls without them sticking to your handFreeze until ready
To bait up, pinch some dough and set it on your hook – catfish will go crazy for this mixture!

Article Source: free-articles-zone.com

Saltwater Fishing Tips

Get Rid Of Sharks
Sharks buggin’ you? To get rid of them pour some fish blood on a paper towel or newspaper and roll it into a ball. Toss it overboard and the sharks will follow it with the current.
Many anglers move much too quickly from spot to spot. Many times a hot spot is passed right over. Don’t just cast out a couple times and move on – probe it thoroughly from the deepest point right up to the most shallow. Try at least two different lures/bait.
Fishing on the perimeter
Always try the edges of the perimeter first, instead of plopping your bait or lure into the middle. If you do hook a fish in the middle, it will scare the others away, but if you “milk” the edges of the perimeter first, you can later move into the unsuspecting ones in the middle.
If you fish with the amazing Evening Secret for swarming large amounts of fish in any water, you will also need to make sure to stay on that perimeter, that is where the action is.
Surf fishing
With surf fishing, remember that fish are tight against the shore, so make most of your casts parallel to the sand. Don’t send your cast out too far.
The best tides range from half rising to half falling – especially when early or late in the day. Of course, if there is bait, the predators will always be there, but it just makes it easier if fishing during the half tides.
If you fish by an inlet, fish in the outgoing water which brings the bait out to sea. This will hold the best action for strikes. Just let the outgoing water carry your bait out in a natural way.
Find a beachfront – they all of their share of structures such as holes, pockets, rocks, reefs, and other things. These will hold fish, and locating them is critical if you want success. Also find spots where channels lead to deep water – these will often times hold game fish. The fish usually follow these deeper channels until food is found.
Fish aggressively by walking back and forth and fishing areas that appear likely to hold fish. You can see the boils of feeding fish in hot spots – and keep an eye out for bait. Watch the birds as well; they are one of the best indicators of fish in the area.
Obviously, use the freshest live-bait possible, and change it often. You really want your bait on bottom, with a lighter weight – this will give you the best chance for stimulating strikes.
When using lures, use ones that can be cast easily. Switch out often to get to different depths, and experiment with the speed of retrieve. Use finer-diameter monofilament line because it gives better action to both natural baits and artificial lures.
If you hook a big one, keep it in front of you as you wind it in – running as you need to. As you bring it close, it will make a few runs out – just drop your tip and let it go. When it gets really close, use the waves to bring it even closer – timing it.
Fresh Shrimp
When you have live shrimp that you are going to fish, it is important to make sure they are alive and kicking – they will catch more fish this way. Keep them uncrowded, well aerated, and cool.
Use an ice chest as a shrimp box. It has a strong lid that can double as a seat, a plug for easy draining, and is well insulated to help ward off the bait-killing heat.
Instead of using ice to keep the shrimp cool, freeze water in plastic bottles so that when the ice melts it won’t dilute the water and kill the shrimp.When the shrimp is failing to get strikes, use brightly colored shrimp by dying them with food coloring. This will stimulate strikes if regular colored shrimp aren’t working.
Shrimp Bait
Using sand shrimp as bait is an excellent choice because it is a popular meal for bottom feeders. Additionally, it gives of a big scent, which will attract them.
Unfortunately, they are fragile and almost impossible to keep on a hook.
Use a safety pin hook designed especially to hold soft baits like sand shrimp. The pin of the hook should run the full length of the back of the bait, leaving the tail and pincers free to move. Some people use a few turns of lead wire, the kind used for weighting flies, to help hold the shrimp.
Storing jigs
Large saltwater jigs are not only heavy but also bulky. Finding a place to store them safely and conveniently can be a problem. Use a five-gallon plastic bucket with a lid. Just below the bucket’s lip, drill or punch equidistant holes all the way around. Place the jigs inside, hanging them through the holes from their big hooks. Pop the top back on; label the bucket, and presto! Your lures are stored in a safe, untangled and accessible container.

Ice Fishing Tips

Ice Fishing Depth Sounder
If you ever need a quick depth sounder when ice-fishing, you can make one with a small bobber and bell sinker. Just attach the sinker to the bottom line retainer of the bobber and the hook or lure to the top retainer. This makes it easy to find the water’s depth.
One of the most effective tools for any ice fisherman is the fantastic Evening Secret to swarming hungry fish to your spot. A great way to increase your ice catches.
Falling through the ice
If you are out with a buddy ice fishing – and there is a possibility of breaking ice, make sure to stay at least 10 feet apart to spread out your weight. You should also each carry long poles; they can be used to straddle the hole to help you climb out. Make sure to have a poncho, waterproof matches, safety pins, bandages, knife, candles, bouillon cubes, and cocoa or soup. Put all of them in a watertight metal can which can be used to heat water over a candle in an emergency.
Freezing
If you are an ice fisherman and consistently have problems with your hole freezing up – instead of pouring anti-freeze into the hole (which shuts down fishing action), use denatured alcohol. It is less expensive, has no odor or taste, and is available at any pharmacy.
Bait
If you are an ice fisherman (which 2 million people are in the U.S.), the following bait will bring you even more success.
For Bluegills use tiny ice spoons (1/32 to 1/80 of an ounce), ice flies or No. 10 or 12 gold hooks. Tip them with gall worms, crane fly larvae, mousies, mealworms, wax worms, or maggots. Fish the offering with a light tremble or quivering movement. Try levels from one to three feet off bottom, over depths o f10 to 20 feet. A murky or weedy bottom is best for them.
For crappies, use a Swedish Pimple jiggling spoon, Rapala ice fishing plug or live minnows fished on No. 2 to 6 hooks. Crappies can suspend at just about any depth, from a few feet below the ice to just off bottom, in water from five to 20 feet deep. Move often.
Yellow perch – use the same baits as for crappies and bluegills. Also try jigging spoons sweetened with the eye from a freshly caught perch or a tiny strip of meat sliced from a perch or bluegill.
Trout – shoal areas, the mouths of inlets, and points have produced the most rainbows, browns and brookies through the ice. You can catch them on about every kind of bait or lure you can think of. Wet flies and nymphs with a sp lit-shot crimped a foot above for weight are good, as are minnows, spinners, jigging spoons and ice rapalas.
Pickerel, Pike, Muskies – live minnows or dead ones rigged to hang horizontally in the water are the best producers. Tip-ups allow you to spread your baits over a wide area in weedy coves and on points where these predators rove under the frozen lake’s surface searching for prey.

Fishing Equipment And Accessories

The sun is shining. The air is cool and crisp. Yes, this is a great time for fishing.

As you come to the edge of a swiftly moving stream, you see a great fishing adventure beckoning. You set down your tackle box and your rod and reel, slip off your waterproof jacket, and slip on a pair of hip waders over your fisherman's vest.

The abovementioned are just a few of the many fishing accessories that are available to you from stores, catalogs and the internet. Read on to learn more about the accessories you need to make fishing even more fun.

The Fishing Basics

The backbone of your fishing equipment is your rod and reel. For the casual fisherman, the basic rod and reel is all you need. Once you are more experienced, you will better know your tastes and can upgrade accordingly.

Tackle ranges from simple to extremely complicated. Basic tackle includes hooks, sinkers, bobbers, fishing line and needle nosed pliers.

A net is also a good addition. Choose a net size based on the fish size that you are after.
High Tech Tools

Electronics have, to the alarm of purists, invaded the fishing arena. There are devices that help you locate where the fish are located. And there are alarms to alert you when you have a fish on your line. Those poor fish won't have a chance.

Clothing For Anglers

Fishermen's clothing necessities include a fishing hat and sunglasses to protect you from the sun. A fishing vest with lots of pockets comes in very handy. A good waterproof jacket is essential for keeping you dry when the weather isn't. Waders, in thigh or chest height, help extend your reach by getting out into the water.

Other Useful Accessories

You should also consider: a tackle box, forceps, fishing knife, scissors, flashlight, wading shoes, and a fishing belt. If you are fishing from a boat, you will need a flotation vest.

Get Advice Before Buying

Before choosing expensive accessories, be sure it is right for the job and right for you. There are many factors to consider, so don't hesitate to talk for help. Someone with experience, either a friend or a salesperson, can quickly help you assemble a set of fishing accessories that will maximize your fish catching odds.

The right accessories will make your fishing experience more successful, and hence, more enjoyable.

Places to Stay in Canada on Fishing Trips

Canada fishing is some of the best in the world with a wide variety of challenges. If you decide to have a go, you need to know about the best places to stay.

Places to Stay in Canada on Fishing Trips

There are many different ways to plan your next fishing trip to Canada. You could plan to stay at a campground (in a tent or RV), in a rustic cabin or even in a small motel. Some people choose to have accommodations in a town or city nearest to their fishing area, so that they can have the amenities of an upscale hotel. For many fishermen, however, a stay in one of the Canada fishing rentals located right on the lakes and rivers where they'll be fishing is the way to go. No matter which province you choose for your fishing vacation, Canada fishing accommodations will be there to provide you with a comfortable and authentic outdoor experience.

One of the most luxurious and well-known fishing accommodations in Canada is in the province of Ontario. The Kesagami Wilderness Lodge, located on Kesagami Lake in the northern part of Ontario, is a four star fly-in fishing accommodation. Being a fly-in location means that the only way to reach this place is by airplane, making it a truly secluded and wilderness filled area. Kesagami Lake is perfect for trophy Northern Pike fishing, because it's relatively shallow and contains a number of weed filled bays. Fish here have been known to reach as big as 50 inches long and 30 pounds in weight, making this a truly world class destination for Northern Pike. With American Plan-style accommodations (three meals a day included in your stay) as well as recreation rooms and other amenities, a stay here at the Kesagami Wilderness is a great choice.

Another great place to stay at in Ontario is the Lake Obabika Lodge. Canada's only four diamond fishing accommodation (rated by the American Automobile Association/Canadian Automobile Association), this beautiful setting offers not only great fishing, but many other activities as well. From wine tastings to wilderness hikes and even a feng shui class, this lodge is a perfect destination for families that might have different vacation tastes. Fishing in the area includes Northern Pike, trout and bass.There are many places to choose from for your Canada trip, and picking a location that will suit all of your needs (such as fishing guides, a great lake to fish on and even included meals) can make your trip very memorable. Fishing in Canada is a great way to return to nature.

Source: free-article-zone.com

How To Use The Weather To Your Advantage When Fishing

Many angler don't realize it, but the weather can be used to your advantage when fishing. The weather doesn't have to be something that either makes you feel good or makes you more uncomfortable than a black man in a Mormon Temple, the weather can be something that you actually use to uyour advantage when fishing. How you ask? Simple, by doing a little study into the weather and how it relates to fish and fishing.

Don't worry, I'm not referring to becoming a meteorologist and watching the weather like a hawk, I'm simply referring to educating yourself a little bit so that you can use the weather to your advantage. As a matter of fact, the weather has more to due with fish behavior than you might have thought.

Do you pay any attention to the cows/horses in your local field? Have you ever noticed them being huddled together or on the flip side, frolicking, moving around, and eating? These two behaviors have to due with the weather, and the animals in your local field aren't the only things that are effected. The fish under the water are effected as well. As the weather changes (even when you don't notice it) the behavior of fish changes.

As the behavior of fish changes, so does their feeding behavior. And a fishes feeding behavior is what we as anglers need to be aware of. You see, fish detect pressure changes with their lateral lines, and these pressure changes are the weather. So, how do we use the weather to our advantage when fishing? It's actually much simpler than you might think.

You only have to know a few simple things, and the amount of bites you receive while fishing will increase dramatically. You'll be amazed at how much simply fishing when the fish are the most active can increase your catch rates. And fishing when the fish are the most active has a lot to due with the weather.The bottom line is that doing a little research on the weather and how it impacts fishing will due more to helping you catch fish than almost anything. You can search the internet, go to your local library, or read this FREE e-book. The choice is yours, but you need to get this information sooner rather than later. You might be asking yourself how I know this information? Simply because I've been using the weather to my advantage for years, and know it works and will work for anyone.

Article Source: free-article-zone.com

Fish Catching Tips

As anglers, aren't we always looking for another tip that may help us catch more fish? Articles are a great way to find tips, one of which might be the difference between an average fish and a trophy. A single tip could be the difference between one bite in 2 days and a stringer full of fish in two hours. You just never know when the next little tip might help you, so I'm going to provide you with some of the fish catching tips I've learned over the years in the hopes that one or two of them might help you catch more fish. Here we go:

1) Match Your Gear To The Fish - A very big mistake that many anglers make is using gear that's entirely too large for the type of fish they intend to catch. For Example I've been fishing on trout streams and seen discarded fishing line that was at least 10 pound test! This should be illegal, in my opinion. The biggest fish that you're going to catch out of a normal trout stream is 5 pounds. And that would be a complete monster. So there is no reason fishing line over 6 lb test should ever be used. For a normal trout stream, I use 4 pound test. Your gear, including your rod, reel, line, and lures/bait should be matched to the type of fish swimming in the water that you're fishing. If everything is matched properly, it will result in more bites, which will in turn result in more fish.

2) Have An Efficient Way To Carry Your Bait - Most anglers spend entirely too much time fumbling around with their bait. Not to mention the fact that bait containers get left all over the banks of our rivers, streams, and lakes. Employing an apparatus such as a bait bag will enable you to spend more time fishing and less time fumbling around for bait. As you know, the more time that can be spent with your line in the water, the better.

Pay Attention To Both The Weather & Moon - One of the simplest ways to catch more fish, is to be fishing on the days when the fish are most active. Certain phases of the moon result in the fish being more active, and thus more willing to bite. The same goes for weather. When certain things happen with the weather, fish tend to feed more. Knowing what to look for and when to fish can help you greatly in catching more fish. And paying attention to both the weather and moon costs you nothing, and pays big dividends in the amount and size of the fish you catch.Use Gang Hooks - What are gang hooks? Gang hooks are simply two small hooks tied in tandem. They are, without question the best way to present live bait (especially worms). If you use live bait, you need to begin using gang hooks. The use of gang hooks will result in more hook ups. Remember, the more naturally the bait is presented to the fish, the better. The tips presented above will help you catch more fish. Actually, the catching is up to you, but these tips will help you hook more fish, you're still going to have to fight them yourself. Remember what Steven Wright said, there's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot."Hopefully these tips will help you avoid the latter part of that quote.

Article Source: free-articles-zone.com

Tuna Fishing Basics for the Private Boater

Josh Dunlap

Do Your Homework!
Some of the most important things you can do to insure successful tuna trips are done before you hit the water. Homework includes gathering recent fish counts, fishing locations, taking a look at the current surface temperatures and checking the weather. You can get a general idea of areas that are producing by calling sportfishing landings but they aren't going to give you any GPS numbers. The internet is an unlimited, much quicker source of information. As you become more experienced your network of sources will grow as well. A good SST (Sea Surface Temperature) map can really narrow down your search area or at least give you a place to start and/or fall back on. Current and temperature breaks are like walls that baitfish tend to stack up against which in turn attracts game fish. Kelp paddies collect in these areas also, which are very attractive to baitfish, predators and fisherman. Always keep an eye on the weather before heading out, nobody likes to get pumped up for a trip then have to turn around empty handed or beat up. Compare notes with fellow crewmembers then establish a float plan. Create and constantly ammend a checklist of all the necessities to eliminate mistakes. Once on the water what you brought is all you have.

Pay Attention:
On the way out it's important to keep an eye on the water temperature to give you an idea of the "lay of the land". Make a note of breaks or warm/cool areas worth checking out on the way back in. Remind everyone aboard to keep an eye out for jumpers, kelp, stopped boats or baitfish. One good stop can make the day so you don't want to miss any opportunities. Once you're in the desired area it's time to put the troll gear out & get ready for the much anticipated bait stop.

Trolling:
There are many different techniques and patterns that can be used while trolling and they will vary from boat to boat - Captain to Captain. We usually troll the W pattern - 2 long on each outrigger, 2 short on the flat lines and the longest line down the center. This works on boats without outriggers minus the center line. Use 2 long lines in the front holders and 2 short lines in the rear holders. I like a diving plug such as a Rapala or Yo-Zuri on at least one of the short lines - preferably in a flatline clip. A cedar plug or swimbait work well on the long center line and the rest of the lines will be rigged with various feathers.

General Blue Water Fishing Tips

Locating Fish:
Bait

Even when not actively feeding, game fish can usually be found near food. Areas holding bait are those most likely to be holding game fish. Bait, like game fish, hold in areas where they can find food. For bait, this means areas with a good supply of plankton. Factors that cause plankton blooms are described below.

Bottom contours

Sharp rises in the bottom, such as ledges and humps, can cause an upwelling of deeper water. This water is more nutrient rich than most surface water, allowing plankton to build up in these areas. Unlike other factors that attract bait and game fish, bottom contours are stationary. Good bottom structure consistently holds game fish because they do not have to hunt for it and they do not have to move to stay with it.

Temperature breaks

Temperature breaks along the western edge of the Gulf Stream indicate where coastal water is pushing against Gulf Stream core water. In addition to being warmer, core water has a higher salinity level and lower nutrient content than coastal water. This difference prevents these two water masses from mixing easily. (It is also what makes green water green and blue water blue.) Because coastal water contains more nutrients, it also contains more plankton. Plankton floating in coastal water, stopped by the barrier between coastal and core water, is forced to build up along the edges where these two water masses meet. In addition to plankton build up, temperature breaks along the Gulf Stream also cause rips to form. Rips are strips of calm water that run along the top of a temperature break, usually surrounded on either side by rougher water. The calmer surface of rips causes floating debris to gather in them.

Floating debris

Bait is attracted to floating debris and can usually be seen hanging just under patches of weeds or boards. Most species of surface feeding game fish are also attracted to floating debris. Dolphin are especially known for hanging under any floating debris they find. Whenever weedlines or other debris are found, lures should be trolled past them.

Birds

Birds are the most effective tool for finding active areas from a distance. Birds will stay above of feeding game fish, picking off bait that is driven to the surface by these fish. Watch any flying birds in the area. If the birds circle to stay over one area, troll to that area. When game fish move or sound and resurface, birds will move with them, showing you where the fish are. Larger groups of birds pecking at the surface are usually hanging over schools of smaller fish. Small groups of birds hovering and diving are usually hanging over larger fish.

Article Source: nccoastalfishing.com

Rainbow Trout

One of the most enjoyable fish to catch that swim in rivers and streams of North America is the Rainbow Trout. Not only are they fun to catch, they are considered very tasty by many people. In this article I'm going to discuss a little about the Rainbow Trout, what it is, and what it has to offer.Rainbow trout have a characteristic salmon-like shape. Dark spots are clearly visible on the tail fin, which is slightly forked. The back is usually a dark olive color, shading to silvery white on the underside. The body is heavily speckled, and there is a pink to red stripe running lengthwise along the fish's sides that is where the trout gets the name….Rainbow. A Rainbow trout that 'runs' to the ocean (or one of the Great Lakes) to live for a few years and then back to fresh water to spawn is called a 'Steelhead'.Rainbow trout are native to North America west of the Rockies from Alaska into northwestern Mexico. Introductions have extended the range to include the Great Lakes region, south central Canada and portions of the Great Plains east of the Rockies, and southwestern Mexico. Rainbow Trout are stocked by the various fish and game departments all over the Northeast United States as well.In the wild, most varieties of rainbows spawn in the spring, however, spawning may occur anytime of the year. Spawning takes place in small tributaries, often at the inlet or outlet of a lake, where water temperatures reach 50 to 60 F. The spawning site is usually the tail of a pool, or the riffle at the head of a pool, where gravel bars have ample oxygen-rich water, and no suffocating silt. All fish become darker when in spawning condition. Their spots become more prominent and the pink stripe more intense. This is a fun time to catch a Rainbow, seeing as how they are so picturesque.Fishing for Rainbow Trout is a very popular activity. The average size of a rainbow is ten to sixteen inches, although they can grow to be much larger than that. They tend to grow to the size of their environment. That is, in a small stream a rainbow trout can only grow to be so big, while in a large river or lake, Rainbows can easily exceed ten pounds! There are various techniques for trying to catch a Rainbow, some of which would include: Fly fishing, Spin fishing, and Ultra Light fishing.Rainbow Trout are voracious eaters and feed on everything from tiny insects to fairly large fish and even small rodents at times. Therefore, anglers use everything from synthetic fly's (fly fishermen) to live minnows and worms to attempt to catch these fish. A variety of spinners and lures are employed as well. And I can't forget the favorite bait of all time for most fish, the good old American worm. The bottom line is that Rainbow Trout are a very enjoyable fish to angle for, and if you've never tried to 'catch a Rainbow', you should give it a shot.

By trevor kugler

Spinning Reel Maintenance

Sometimes, we as anglers overlook the importance of cleaning our fishing reels. Many times your fishing rod and reel simply get thrown in the basement at the end of the fishing season and then dragged out at the beginning of the next season to be used again. Very often your reel will choose to not work properly at precisely the worst time, such as when you're fighting a large fish. This is why I do a little routine maintenance on my fishing reels before the start of every fishing season. You only have to lose a trophy one time because of your fishing reel not performing properly to make you a believer. Take my word for it. Do a little routine "check up", such as what's described below, before the beginning of every fishing season and you won't have any problems. First of all, gather the following tools: A small screwdriver, a pair of needle nose pliers or hemostats, grease of some sort (either purchase a small bottle of reel oil or simply just use WD-40), a couple of clean towels, 5-6 Q-tips, and a clear area to work. Any cleared off table will work fine.First off, take the fishing reel off of your fishing rod and set it aside. Now take the reel and some warm water and wipe it off thoroughly. Once you have the reel wiped of debris, remove the handle. The handle normally simply unscrews either by a screw that you back out with your fingers or by turning the handle the opposite direction that you turn while reeling. Once the handle is removed, set it aside.At this point the reel has exposed screw heads and position the reel so the screw heads are visible. Now using your small screwdriver, remove the screws that are holding the reel together. Once these screws are removed, set them aside as well. At this point you can remove the reel plate. Once the reel plate is removed the gears and springs on the inside of the fishing reel are exposed. Without taking anything else apart, simply examine the inside of the fishing reel. Many times you can see sand and or dirt particles. Using the Q-tips, gently remove any exposed sand or dirt particles. Once this is accomplished you want to add reel lubricant to any exposed gear (not too much, just enough to cover the gear).At this point, simply reverse the process by installing the reel plate and screws. Add a little lubricant to the spindle of the handle and re-install the handle. That's it; you just maintained your fishing reel and shouldn't have any problems with it. I've been doing this to my fishing reels for a long time and it works wonders. I have fishing reels that are fifteen years old and still work like new. Performing maintenance such as this enables you to know if your reel is in need of being replaced, before you get on the water, which is what we're trying to accomplish. Because losing a trophy because of a reel malfunction is no fun at all. Routine maintenance, such as outlined in this article will alleviate that problem forever. Not only will it alleviate the problem, it also doesn't take much time and effort. This entire "check up" can be performed on most spinning reels in under an hours time.

By trevor kugler

Glacier National Park

If you like the outdoors and scenery that's hard to beat anywhere on the planet, Glacier National Park may be the place for you. Located in beautiful Northwest Montana and extending into Canada, this National Park is one of the most beautiful in the entire United States. If you enjoy fishing, hiking, animal watching, camping, mountain biking, swimming, or most other outdoor activities, Glacier National Park is the place for you.Glacier National Park is one of the largest and most intact ecosystems in North America. There are over fifty glaciers within the park, thus the name. There are also over 200 lakes and streams in Glacier National Park. The largest lake is Lake Macdonald, and the various streams and river hold nice populations of wild trout. There are also over 730 miles of trails for hikers to enjoy within Glacier National Park. Hiking is probably one of the most popular activities within the park. If you go hiking in this area of the country having bear spray with you is always a good idea. Glacier National Park is home to a decent population of wild grizzly bears.The Park is divided from east to west by Going-to-the-Sun road. It's a spectacular drive, and if you go once you'll realize where the road got its name. Bisecting the heart of the park, this fifty mile long road hugs the shores of the parks two largest lakes and then goes right below the cliffs of the Continental Divide as it traverses Logan Pass. If you're looking for more information, there are visitor centers that have maps throughout the park to help you. Glacier Park Inc. operates a daily shuttle service along this road from July 1st to Labor Day weekend.The glaciers that you find in Glacier National Park today are all geologically new, having formed in the last few thousand years. Presently, all of the glaciers within Glacier National Park are shrinking. In other words, more snow melts each year than accumulates each winter. As the climate has changed over the last two million years, glaciers have formed and melted away many times. So at the end of the day, this process is as it should be.The Park itself is full of wildlife. Although there are to many species to list here, some of them would include: mountain goats, white tailed and mule deer, elk, moose, black bear, grizzly bear, mountain lions, and various rodents and birds. If you're interested in viewing wildlife, Glacier National Park won't disappoint. There are also many fish species located in the rivers and lakes throughout the Park. Most of the fish are in the trout family and would include: lake, rainbow, cutthroat, brook, and bull trout.The bottom line is that if it's outdoor activities and scenery that interest you, Glacier National Park is the place for you. Whether your favorite activity is rafting, fishing, hiking, camping, driving, or biking you'll find it within the boundaries of Glacier National Park.

By trevor kugler

Great Smallmouth Bass Technique

One of the most effective techniques for catching Smallmouth Bass is in the flowing water of a river or stream. Smallmouth can be fished for in much the same way that one fishes for trout. As a matter of fact, smallmouth bass in rivers and streams can be great practice for trout fishing. The bottom line is that if you strap on your waders and head out for some Smallmouth action, this technique is for you. Not only is this a great smallmouth technique, it's also as simple as it gets. To use this technique, you're only going to need 4 things, and a river or stream that has smallmouth bass in it! You're going to need small barrel swivels, Split shot sinkers, gang hooks, and live worms. You should also have things like hemostats for hook removal, a bait bag for carrying your live worms, and a good attitude, but the 4 things above (in bold) are the only things you need. It doesn't get much simpler than that. This technique truly is the essence of simplicity, and once mastered, is an incredible technique for all types of fish.Begin by grabbing the end of your line, and tying on a small barrel swivel. Now tie a set of gang hooks on the opposite side of the barrel swivel. Now add two or three split shots onto your line above the swivel itself (you need enough weight to get you to the bottom, so this varies by how much current you're fishing in). Now, add a live worm to the set of gang hooks. If the worm is huge, break it in half. You want the worm to be outstretched and natural. This is the rig. It's as simple as that.Now cast out parallel to yourself and let the offering flow downstream naturally. The goal is to bounce your offering off of the bottom, as it flows naturally downstream. When your offering is directly below you, the drift is over, reel in and repeat. With practice, the bottom and bites feel totally different. Remember, the goal is to bounce your worm off the bottom as it flows naturally with the current. In order to do this you will have to add and/or remove split shot as necessary. The nature of this technique does lead to getting snagged from time to time. As my mentor used to tell me all the time, " If your not getting snagged, you're not fishing in the right place." Getting snagged is simply part of the technique, and no big deal once you see how effective it is.Give this wonderful, yet amazingly simple technique a try sooner rather than later. As soon as you hook and land a 3-pound smallmouth bass, you'll be the one that's hooked, rather than just the fish. This technique is equally as effective on trout, so keep that in mind as well. The most important aspect of this technique is the gang hooks. You see, gang hooks enable you to present the worm in a completely natural manner, which as you will find is an integral part of this technique.

Article Source: free-articles-zone.com

Low Water Tactics For River Smallies

Low water levels call for a completely different set of tactics when it comes to hunting down and catching smallmouth bass in our river systems. I will start by saying this, some anglers will tell you low water equals bad smallmouth bass fishing, this my friend could not be further from the truth! In fact I look forward to low water levels, low water levels can spark some of the best smallmouth bass fishing of the season, hands down. So follow along and I will introduce you to some of tactics I use to entice low water smallmouths into being caught.
Depending on the river system you are fishing one factor has to be taken into consideration during these low water situations, the spook factor. So I begin to become very stealthy, making very long casts and trying not to run right up on any holes or pools that may be holding bass.
One place you will rarely find smallmouth bass during low water periods are in dead water, or almost dead water. If there is little or no moving water, move on find and fish the low ends of riffles that turn into pools or even the riffles themselves. Many times bait fish will move into faster water because there is more oxygen, in turn smallmouth bass will be close behind .
Grass beds are a hot spot for smallmouth bass during low water conditions and you will find them in and around riffles, the edges of riffles and pooling water coming out of riffles. Work these grass beds from different angles, cast beyond them and bring your baits by, along and over them from different directions. But keep in mind the spook factor, make fairly long calculated casts!
Islands in river systems are also a hot spot for smallmouth bass in low water conditions. I will usually start fishing the lower end of an island and then work my way up the sides of the island. Smallmouth bass will hold close to the shorelines waiting to ambush any food source that the current may wash past them. So make sure you place your casts right up against the shoreline and then bring it out from the edge and into current. The upper ends of these islands can also produce hot smallmouth bass action. This is assuming theres a good push of water around the island.
Deep holes and eddies at the ends of riffles will offer up the best chance for catching the big ones. Remember though stay away from the dead water! It is more times than not just that, dead water! Smallmouth bass need plenty of oxygen to survive which can be found in swiftly moving water or swiftly moving water pushing into eddies and holes. Also don’t count out the riffles themselves I have nailed many smallmouth bass that were running extremely fast water, many times you’ll find them tucked up behind rocks and logs within the riffles themselves.
Different baits are going to produce differently from river to river, though here are a few of my favorite low water smallmouth bass baits. Rebel Pop-R’s, Zoom grubs and Gizit tubes in natural colors. Helgramites are a live bait that work very well for me in these conditions, they can be found along most river systems. You can also buy them though they are very expensive. They normally run $8.00 to $12.00 per dozen in these parts.
The next time someone tells you water level are to low to do any smallmouth bass fishing, grab your pole and head to the river, chances are your going to have a great day fishing!
Due to weather variables and anglers’ preferences, I did not concentrate on lure selection for this article. For the record, I prefer plastics and in-line spinners during extreme low water river conditions. The above mentioned tactics are just a guide that may help you locate and land smallies during low water conditions, they are in no way a panacea for low river smallie success.

Article Source: discoverfishing.net

Flyfishing tactics for bass

If you are going to catch a bass, act like a bass. This doesn't mean you have to eat frogs and harass cute little baby ducks. But you need to think like a bass. When I talk to bass fishers, I often get a similar reaction. Fishing for bass inclines you to stalk them like they stalk their prey. Trout are more refined, gentle fish. Trout in a lake, you wait for. You can troll, but basically most trout fishing involves keying into the basic fact that trout in a lake are on the move, cruising. They do some stalking, but they don't have the explosive body/muscle type that makes a bass attack like a linebacker through the weeds and into their prey.
Fishing for bass reminds me of fishing for trout in rivers. I enjoy anticipating where a trout lies, and then stalking them. Fishing for bass forces me to have a similar degree of awareness, observation and anticipation. To stalk them. To be careful and quiet and patient. To use all my senses just a little bit more than I would for trout.
I try to anticipate any potential ambush point. A small rock pile. A pile of brush half submerged in water. Logs diving into the water. And my favorite-- yard-wide floating islands of tules and bulrushes. These little moving forests may not be the ideal bass location, but they fascinate me. Try picking one up out of the water, and you'll see what a perfectly messy little, moving shield they offer for a bass. I usually fish the shady side of these little islands. But, to be honest, visit your local library. Fly fishing, more so than any other sport, is a sport of active participation mingled with active reading.
My point is that the behavior of bass to lie in wait for their prey causes me to do the same. This way, I'm always anticipating something big about to happen on the water. I also don't get as bored as I often do with trout fishing, trolling around hoping to intercept something.
Bass fishing has everything trout fishing has, only scaled up: lots of impressive top water action; strong long fights; big, very big fish; fishing and hunting challenges. The reason more trout fishers don't consider bass is probably a matter of perception, and down right lack of respect for the fish. And maybe some uneasiness with fishing near others who are looking at you quizzically slinging a line when you should be slinging powerbait trailing behind the latest techno-plug. But we're flyfishers. We don't fish with other people. So find an isolated piece of water to practice your new sport. And when others see you haul in a 4-pounder on a fly, they might be back with a fly rod. Or they'll throw beer cans at you.
Typically, though, I find myself more alone on bass waters than on trout waters, especially fly-only trout waters. It is a great thing that lakes can become catch and release (and a shame more bass water doesn't), but once a lake becomes catch and release, it becomes marked. Which, again, is a good thing, but then all the flyfishers show up expecting great things. Bass waters tend to have fewer people, with notable exceptions, such as opening day, pleasant warm summer weekends, and bass tournaments.

Autumn Salmon Fishing

On many of Scotland's salmon rivers, given reasonable water, a run of grilse will provide excellent sport through the summer months but, on the majority of Scottish salmon rivers, the main salmon runs now come in the last two months of the season, September and October on most rivers, while the season is extended, on the Tweed and Nith until the end of November, and on the Annan to mid November, to allow fishing for the late salmon runs which occur on these rivers. Summer tactics will often continue into the early autumn months of September and early October, particularly if the weather is kind. On the smaller rivers, single handed rods might be used right to the end of the season, usually October 31st, while the long rods will again be pressed into service on the many medium and large rivers.

Article Source: trout-salmon-fishing.com

Summer Salmon Fishing

In typical summer conditions of lower water, rod size and weight will generally be reduced, allowing a more delicate approach, with light floating lines, sometimes cast with single handed rods, long fine leaders and small flies of anything down to about size 14 being the order of the day. In good conditions, when the hoped for rain arrives and the rivers swell in summer spate, the longer rods might again be called into action, on the larger eastward flowing rivers at any rate, while on the smaller spate streams of the north and west of Scotland a single hander, or perhaps a short double hander of twelve or thirteen feet might be the weapon of choice. Floating or intermediate lines, used perhaps in conjunction with varying lengths and densities of sinking tips, are popular for summer fishing, with generally small single, double and treble hooked flies, often now of the long-tailed shrimp type, or maybe small plastic or aluminium tube flies.

Article Source: trout-salmon-fishing.com

Spring Salmon Tactics

There is a lot to be said about a fresh 20lb spring silver Chinook salmon at the end of your line. That being said there is no taste in the world that is even close to a Salmon fillet sizzling over the hot barbeque coals. For this reason along with their enormous size are why they're known as the 'King Salmon'.
Down rigging for spring Chinook salmon in the great lakes is a preferred technique of many open water anglers. Some think that with this method of trolling you don't need a lot of skill to hook a big King. Luck you say! Well, if you are at the right depth, trolling at the right speed with the right bait, and in the right temperature. Oh! And you just happen to be right on top of them; well then maybe; just maybe it's not luck, but skill?
Within days of the first 'ice out' of the spring, the place to start your search is in deep water. If I want good quality Kings then 85 to 120 ft of water is where I troll. This is especially true in the deep Lake Huron and Georgian Bay waters. At ice out I have checked the temperature on the surface and then run my temp probe down to 120 ft. Depending on the lake, I've found a 5 to10 degree temperature difference, the bottom being warmer of course. Trolling this early in the season for big Kings requires a slow approach. A speed of .9 to 1.3 mph is a good pace to keep. Remember, the water is cold so fish 'slow'.
As the days pass, the lake water starts to mix because of wind. At this point, start your trolling deep again and work shallow keeping a close eye on your sonar. Once you see fish on your screen, work them thoroughly adjusting the cannon balls to just above the fish's depth. Temperature does not play as an important role as it did, but it will become important again soon. With this in mind, I keep a watchful eye on my surface temperature. As the days and weeks go by, and once it reaches 40 to 45 degrees then the fun begins. This is when trolling with planer boards or dipsy divers, as well as, downriggers comes in very handy. The King tends to roam and become very aggressive as the temperature warms up. By now they are eager to hit anything in their path. That is why I like to use the planer boards. With them being out and away the fish don't have the boat to spook them. Potentially, you can also fish 40ft of water under the boat and have the one board deeper as the opposite board runs shallower depending on bottom structure. This method covers a lot of water fast and is effective.
As the spring progresses and the surface temperature starts to climb above 45 degrees, it's time to go deep again. At this time I run as deep as 120 to 150ft with my bait literally scraping bottom. During this deep trolling I like to use light spoons because they don't tend to pick up as much bottom debris as heavier lures. With good sonar you will see them hugging the bottom like walleye. Perseverance really pays off at this stage of the game.
This spring Salmon extravaganza can last as long as 4 to 8 weeks or as short as 2 to 4 weeks. Basically, this three phase window of opportunity depends on one all important factor, temperature. As it is in the summer, the fall or any part of any season temperature dictates what a good angler will do on any particular day.
Finding spring Kings is not rocket science. I have found that by using these simple tactics, it can help me locate the Salmon. But getting the salmon to cooperate is a completely different matter altogether!
Born In Guelph, Ontario, Nic, his wife Lawney and their son Lorenzo now call Kitchener, Ontario their home.
Even though Nic has thirty years of fishing experience, he still feels that you can never stop learning. His love for Bass fishing has brought him to the Pro Bass Tournament trail. In his first year going professional, Nic has two top ten finishes and was a Classic Qualifier in the C.S.F.L Bassmania Pro Bass circuit, placing eighteenth over all.
But Bass fishing is not Nic's only love. In the Spring his passion turns to downrigging for salmon, where he competes in Salmon Derbies. Already, he has a first place win under his belt. And if that's not enough to keep him busy, you can find him chasing Walleye, Pike, and even Muskie. You name it, Nic will fish for it.
http://www.probassfishing.ca has fulfilled a life long dream for Nic. Not only because of his active tournament angling and multi species fishing, but because he gets to share it.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nic_Di_Gravio

Fishing the Margins for Carp

Do you quietly inspect the margins when you arrive at a carp fishing lake?
You might want to if you want to improve your catch rate. Fishing for carp in the margins can be extremely productive if you find the right places and apply good tactics.
I find it amazing just how many carp fishermen ignore the margins when fishing. They see all that water out in front of them and believe the fish must be out there. I often see carp anglers using three rods with all of them cast out to the horizon. With so many anglers casting out far it makes the margins a safe place for carp to hang out. In fact, the margins can even be the best places to target the bigger carp.
As long as you’re quiet when setting up and fishing you can take fish from the margins in most lakes. Carp have great hearing and will be able to pick up vibrations from the surrounding bank, thus you do need to be as quiet as possible. Banging in pegs with a hammer will only cause them to move on. During your stay try to remain hidden as much as possible, or keep low when you approach the water. Try to always wear dark green or brown clothing or better still use camouflage clothing. I usually set the bivvy up a little away from the waters edge or try to get hidden behind a tree. I also try to be light on my feet and walk around in my bivvy slippers as much as I can.
Hopefully using the tips above will help keep the carp in the margins. Now, what tactics can you employ to catch carp from the margins?
Fishing the margins is even more important if the carp anglers at the lake tend to fish at distance. It means the carp are often pressured at range in the waters main body thus the fish become more cautious of bait out there. Eventually the fish have learned that food found in the margins is safer.
The trick is to find the more subtle features rather than the obvious ones such as overhanging trees, island banks, etc. Many other anglers would have targeted those obvious features making them a danger spot in the eyes of carp. I feel the best margin features to look for are undercut banks or any protruding point, posts or signs sticking out of the water, small reed bushes, lily pads or inlet pipes.
Sometimes the best margins to fish are those away from possible disturbances. Fish the bank furthest away from the road or car park or from the general footpath that the other carp anglers tend to use.
Try to find margins where other angler’s wont target. Yes they may not be targeted by others because they are not regular feeding spots for the carp, but they may be areas where the carp feel safe. Once bait has been introduced there the carp may start to feed there fairly quickly.
If the margins in the lake have some snags or general debris, then it can be a good idea to fish with single hook bait pop-ups. This means you’re not committed to placing the hook baits in the same place every time because you haven’t thrown lots of free bait in an exact spot. You don’t want to have to keep casting to get it exactly in the same spot only to catch a snag and render the rig useless.
The greatest advantage of fishing closer in the margins is that you can bait up easily and accurately. You can also place rigs onto the bottom with ease therefore eliminating the chance of any tangles in the main line which can always happen without knowledge during any normal cast.
Another benefit to fishing for carp in the margins is that bite indication will be much more sensitive to carp picking up the bait. There is less line distance from the rod to the hook bait which means there will be less stretch in the line. Another tactic is to use running leads as this will create even more sensitivity to bite indication. It will also reduce the chance of a carp unhooking the rig using the weight of a semi-fixed lead. When fishing close in, I use very slack lines with the bobbins resting on the ground so that my line lays flat on the lake bed and out of the way of wary carp.
As a final tip, beware of fishing in margins where the wind has coloured up the water. I have read from a good source that small, suspended particles from muddy or gravel lake beds may get stuck in the gills of carp thus they try to avoid these places. If you disagree, then fish in the coloured water, but also try placing a rig just outside the coloured area a bit further from the bank just to see the difference. If it’s actually the carp that have coloured the water then that can be very productive!

Article Source: carp-fishing-tactics.com

The Best Carp Rig System to use

There are so many different carp rigs available on the market today but the real question is, what type of rigs are best for catching more carp?A few carp anglers believe they have discovered the best carp rig simply because they've caught a number of carp on it over the past months or years. However, it doesn’t necessarily mean that a specific rig is great just because it caught some carp, there are numerous factors that can affect a rig's success. Also, there may be another carp rig that could work much more effectively for each separate fishing situation. In fact, a great rig may become useless if it lands in a bad way, such as a part of the hook link looped up off the bottom in any way that reveals its presence, or if the hook point has picked up some debris. Yes, you may have used foam during casting but, a carp spitting out the rig without your knowledge or the movement of carp in the area could cause these problems.
It's also possible that very poor rigs can sometimes work in the right conditions. For example, if the rig has landed in a beneficial way on the bottom, or it has landed in a way that helps disguise it or blend into the lake bed. This alone could be enough to trick many carp into picking up the bait, eventually the hook point will penetrate a carp. Another way poor carp fishing rigs could still work is if there are many carp feeding at the same time. The competition can make carp lower their guard as they attempt to pick up a bait before another fish gets to it. This alone can make your fishing session a dream, even if using below par rigs!
There is a lot more to catching carp than just selecting a great rig however, I believe the best carp rig to use will change with each fishing venue, and will depend on many factors; colour of water, type of lake bed, weather conditions, feeding habits of carp, the strain of the majority of carp within the lake, the number of fish feeding, etc. There will be no specific situation where one rig will be best to use for any lake, as well as at any time of year. For most of us it will be a process of trial and error during a fishing session, only learning from experience will pay off in heaps. Even if you did manage to create the most effective carp rig for any type of situation catching big carp will still require the combination of many other factors, some of which are out of our control and can determine the outcome of any fishing session. If there were such a thing as the best carp rig for all occasions then it still may not produce numerous catches because of the factors listed below, just think about the following points:

The best rig in the world cannot possibly work if there are no carp in the swim. Location is probably 80% of the battle!

The best rig in the world cannot work if the hook point has caught up on debris.

The greatest carp rig in the world wont catch carp if they're just not feeding!

A great rig may not work well if it has not landed properly on the lake bed.

A great rig can still fail to catch if carp associate your chosen hook bait with danger. A fish must pick up your bait for the rig to work!

The best rig cannot work if it is not geared towards the way the majority of carp in the lake feed, in other words, the strain of the carp and the way they feed.

The best carp rig may not work if the materials used cause the hook bait to act in an unnatural way, it may spook carp.

The best rig in the world wont work if the hook bait cannot be found, through smell or sight.

Always use good quality bait and never overdo it on the smells unless it's part of your tactic!

The best carp rig may still not be effective if the materials used can be seen, always camouflage end tackle.

The best rig may still not work if carp become spooked by other bad habits or tactics associated with your fishing. As an example, being too noisy.

The most important point to remember is a good carp rig can never remain effective on the same lake, through constant use carp will eventually adapt and wise up to it!

Even if you’re using a rig that is producing great results, at some stage during the fishing session there may be a need to change the rig and adapt to changes in the lake or carp feeding habits.

Try to get into a experiment & test habit when carp fishing. Trying new ideas will always make you learn something new about carp!

Atricle Source: www.carp-fishing-tactics.com

Fixed V’s Running Rig Methods

There are two basic ways to set up a lead weight on end tackle, either a fixed type or a running rig system. The lead clips that are used by so many anglers today are classed as fixed, as well as many inline rig set ups. The swivel type leads attached to the main line using a big, loose plastic ring are classed as running rigs.
There are different benefits to using both types and before choosing which type to use, it may be best to think about the type of lakebed you’re fishing on as well as the time of year. For instance, a fixed lead, especially an inline, would best suit a hard bottom like gravel because the hook link has full weight straight from the lead, so once the bait is picked up and the carp straightens up, it gives a quick bolt effect and sets the hook before the carp suspects anything.
In the colder season, carp slow down their movements so a more sensitive bite indication will be required. Thus, a running rig system would be best suited in this situation. Running rigs may also work better on very soft beds as you can still get indication of when the bait has been picked up. A fixed system may bury the lead too far down and mean they carp has to pull too much weight before you realise you have a bite. Often a carp can use the heavy weight as leverage to unhook itself without you knowing about it.
A helicopter system may be best to use in soft silt. This is because the way the lead and hook link are separate allows the lead to sink into the silt without dragging the hook link down with it. It means the lead can be hidden in the silt, while the hook link rests nicely on top of the silt without any tangles or loops in the line.

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Fake Weed Carp Rig

One carp rig that I have used to good effect on many fishing sessions is the fake weed rig. I have caught numerous carp on this effective rig although, none have been of any real size, the biggest carp caught was 18 pounds. But, because I have a few of these already tied up I can easily and quickly tie them on and target fish immediately on arrival at any peg I want to fish.
I sometimes use this rig if the carp in the lake are pressured and have probably seen many different carp fishing tactics before. This rig has the benefit of covering most of the end tackle and seems to give me an edge for fooling the wariest of carp. It is also useful to use in the shallow water or the margins, especially along the edges of weed clumps.
The plastic weed actually floats so I find it best to use with pop up presentations. The weight from the lead causes the weed to stand straight so it blends in well with other weeds or amongst other debris.

Creating the Fake Weed Carp Rig
In the above picture it shows the fake weed rig completed. The rig line is threaded through a few small clips on the weed stem and the clips are pushed back to hold the line against the weed. I use separate mono line to whip the line of the rig and weed together in 3 separate places to make it more secure. The whipped line is glued in place. This holds the weed and line from the rig together and makes the whole system much stronger so it lasts for months. To complete the weed section a standard swivel is tied on the bottom end of the weed. The fake weeds can be left in the tackle box ready for quick set up on arrival at a fishing peg.

When I'm ready to fish with this rig I'll place a free-running lead (usually a Stonze type) to my main line push on a rubber bead and then tie the line to the swivel at the bottom of the fake weed. For the top part of the rig I can quickly clip on a short pop up hook link onto the swivel at the top of the weed. I usually have stiff mono hook links already tied so I only have to tie on a pop up boilie using bait floss. I always make sure I have a swivel positioned at the top of the weed as this allows the pop up bait to turn through 360 degrees. If a carp approaches the bait from the opposite side of the hook point the pop up rig link will turn when the fish sucks at, or picks up, the bait.

Flexible Carp Rig
The picture above shows how flexible the fake weed rigs can be. I can easily and quickly change hook size, bait, link length and presentation points. In the weed shown above I have the rig line exiting the weed at mid-point rather than through the top, this means I can pull the line down until the pop up bait is positioned right next to the fake weed. Doing this will make it look like a bait has fallen down and caught between weed stems. This different rig presentation has helped me to bank a few more carp from the edges of weed beds.

Carp Safety
I prefer to use barbless hooks for this type of carp weed rig. If a big carp manages to break the line at the hook link or before the lead, it can get rid of the hook link easier and wont have to drag a piece of fake weed around in its mouth. Safety for the carp is also the reason why I only use a free-running lead set up with this weed rig. If a fish manages to break the main line during a fight, the lead will fall off the end leaving the carp a chance to get rid of the weed link.


Fake Weed Range
The company that makes the weeds have a large range of different weed styles and colours. There are some small detailed versions and some long types which look just like Canadian pond weed. Below is a picture of a few in the range. I bought mine from a large pet store in Merry Hill shopping centre in Dudley.

Night Time Catfishing 101

Night fishing is probably the best way to catch a big catfish. Big catfish feed largely at night and this method of fishing offers the greatest chance of hooking up to the monsters underneath.

Most folks think the moon phases affect the catfish, I personally have much better luck on moonless nights verses full moon nights. The only real benefit of the full moon for me is the fact that you can see your line better and it’s easier to see where you are casting. The most important thing besides having fun is to make sure and be comfortable as possible while you are fishing. As it is night and the bugs do tend to come out, make sure that you have plenty of “Off” or some other type of repellent to keep the pest away. Also some other things you may want to bring along would be: an ice chest with your favorite beverages and maybe a snack or two, also a nice lawn chair and rod holder. A big net is a must as there is a chance of finding the biggest cat of your life and you don’t want a dinky little net for the job.

When night fishing I try not to set out more than two or three rods depending on where I am fishing. From the boat it is a little easier to fish three rods if you have rod holders mounted on the boat where you can have one on each side of you and one in front. Never use less than 20lb test line, I usually string up my CastAway rods with 25-50lb test Stren line. I have found the best hooks for the job are the new Daiichi Bleeding Bait Circle hooks. The red color, even at night, triggers something in the fish that makes them want to bite. I have found that there are a few tricks that need to be learned when fishing with circle hooks compared to regular hooks. Don’t set the hook, just reel or lift the rod slowly. Circle hooks can find “home” by themselves. Choose the smallest size hook you can get by with for faster penetration, I usually try to stay with a small 2/0 to a 4/0 for most catfishing trips. Circle hooks tend to get hooked in the corner of the fish’s jaw; this is great especially at night as it makes getting the hook out of the catfish’s mouth much easier.

You will also want a reel that is strong enough to handle a possibly 100lb plus fish. I personally us Abu Garcia reels, but any really good real will do, this is definitely not the place to scrimp at, with out a quality reel, rod and line you won’t catch that fish of a lifetime.

Bait is a matter of great importance; I generally won’t go night fishing without live bait. I feel that the larger fish didn’t get that way by eating any old smelly think they swim by. Shad or large shiners tend to make the best baits. A really great bait that I have used in other states and I think you can find in some places around here is goldfish. I think the catfish must just hate them because they never come back whole. Also you might want to carry along some good old fashioned night crawlers, catfish of all sizes will gobble them up.

Try night fishing for catfish, you really will have a great time and catch some of the biggest cats you ever have.
cmegee

Dipsy Divers and Planer Boards on Lake Erie

Each fishing system has its advantages and disadvantages. Depending on fishing conditions, planer boards might out fish the Dipsy Diver one day, however the next day, every fish will be caught off of dipsies.

From personal experience, wood planer boards perform better than plastic. Plastic boards tend to ride behind the boat, while properly constructed (many anglers build their own) wood boards will cut through the water and ride next to the boat. The only disadvantage to wood over plastic is that wood boards can dive (actually go under water) if they hit a wave at the wrong angle. Modern plastic boards will not dive.

The difference between using a planer board and the dipsy is that the planer board allows the angler to present bait farther from the boat; thus a spoon, plug, or harness will appear near a walleye, not the boat. The dipsy, though very effective, is limited more to depth and color presentation than distance from the boat.

It's also important to note that even when the winds of Lake Erie create a moderate two to four foot chop - a planer board can be more of a bother than an asset. But the dipsy remains an effective tactic.

The certainty of fishing is that nothing is certain. Instead of choosing one system over the other - use both. With the clear waters of Lake Erie and lower walleye numbers, the correct presentation is a must. And by having a variety of options available, you will catch more fish.

Combining the Dipsy Diver with the planer board allows the angler to use the best of both - effective color presentation and a variety of depth coverage. The smaller size 0 dipsy is very effective when used off the planer boards.

I'm not aware of any book on planer board tactics. When you do decide to try the boards for the first time, pick a calm day - with a little practice you'll be catching fish.
My recommendation is the Big Jon planer system. Whether electric or manual they provide a high quality product that can be adapted for use on a mast, hard top, or side rails.
Good Fishing,

Capt. Dave Adams

How to Read the Beach for Surf Fishing

Rookie surf casters, as they gaze into the churning mix of breaking waves and vast expanse of open ocean are often intimidated. They have no clue about where to cast their baits and lures. “It all looks the same,” I often hear. But it doesn’t. Each section of beach has a combination of obvious and subtle characteristics that may determine the presence of fish. The key to reading the beach is being able to locate sections of beach that are most likely to attract fish.

A slough is a deep trough that runs parallel to the beach, bordered by a sand bar on one side and the beach on the other. The distance from the beach to the bar will determine the width of the slough. Fish travel up and down this trough and look for food such small fish, crabs, and sandworms. On the Outer Banks, under normal conditions, we have approximately a two-foot difference in water depth along the ocean beach between low and high tides, and it's easier to locate a slough at low tide, when the sand bars are easily visible.

When the water depth decreases suddenly in a short distance, such as in the case of a sandbar, the incoming waves will break on top of that bar. In the case of a gently sloping beach, with no outer bar, the waves will gradually spill over, and continue to do so until they eventually break on the beach. This what experienced surf fishers call a flat beach.

Beach sand can also be a tip-off about the contour of the ocean bottom. Very fine, tightly packed sand is often found on a beach with a gradual slope. Coarse sand, or small gravel, is typically found on a steep sloping beach. Sometimes this coarse, large sand is often darker than the fine grain sand, and it's not unusual to find various types of sand over several miles of beach.

The width of a slough may also be critical. On the Outer Banks, big fish such as red drum tend to prefer the wider, deeper sloughs, with some shallow, shoal water at either end. Speckled trout, flounder and sea mullet can be caught in narrow sloughs where the bar may be as close as fifteen to twenty yards off the beach, but the water between the beach and the bar is several feet deep.

Once you locate a promising slough, it's time to take the investigation one step further. Fish may travel this ocean "highway", but they need a way to get on the road. They can do this through a break in the outer bar, easily discovered after watching the waves for several minutes. If there is a break in the bar, a wave will pass over the bar, but will not crest. If the occurrence consistently repeats, that indicates a cut in the bar. Fast moving, rippling, or discolored water may also be seen at these breaks or “outsucks” when the tide is falling. Not only will wandering fish come into the sloughs through these breaks, the fast moving water around these breaks will often form rip currents that send food swirling past the predator fish as they line up in front of the baitfish buffet.

Sloughs are not the only beach formations that attract fish. Currents and winds may scallop out the beach and form points. Frequently, the water is deep on one side of a point, a perfect location for fish to congregate. A well defined point on an open beach may attract fish the same way a piece of structure will hold fish on an otherwise featureless ocean floor. The key is to concentrate your efforts in a location that is just a bit different from the rest of the topography.
Hard structures such as jetties, piers, bridges, or inlets are also locations that encourage fish to stop and congregate. Usually these don't change, but the beaches around them will change regularly. Inlets can be incredibly productive locations to fish the surf. On a falling tide, the small baitfish and other sources of food are swept out of the inlet, providing a natural chum line that will attract fish from miles away.

Beach formations are constantly appearing, moving, rearranging or disappearing, as the winds, currents, and waves change. A perfect speckled trout hole can appear then vanish in a few days, or even migrate up and down the beach during the course of several weeks. Keep that in mind as you scan the surf line, looking for that ideal slough or perfect point.

Advantages of fishing a Drop Shot Rig

I'm going to break with the where and why this lesson and talk about the technique of drop shot rig. I am taking advantage of Kota Kiriyama's knowledge and his willingness to share to be able to pass this knowledge on to you. Kota is one of the top Pros in the WORLD with this technique. Skeeter, Yamaha, Lake Police Baits, Restattine Rods, Varivis Line, Nogales Hooks, Xmetal Weights, DNA Sunglasses, and Hooked on the Outdoors Magazine sponsor him.
Kota learned his love for fishing and the outdoors fishing with his father as a youth. At age 18 he moved to New York, 12 years ago, to go to Dominican College in New York State. He spoke no English upon arriving in the United States, yet earned a BA degree. He fishes the BASS top 150 and the Western Trail. In three years of fishing the Bass Trail he has qualified twice for the prestigious BASS Classic.

Advantages of fishing a Drop Shot Rig are many. Easier to cast than a Carolina Rig, cast further than a Texas Rig and also sinks faster. Bait is always suspended and easy to adjust depth for suspended fish. It wares line less and because of weight being on the bottom of rig you can feel bottom better.

Disadvantage is heavy line twist, and gets hung in heavy cover. Putting a swivel on the sinker helps slow twist.

What type bait is best? Smaller slim type baits are best in clear water. In clear water this is a GREAT finesses technique. This is a great system for fishing spinning rod, light line deep water.
When fishing any structure the Drop Shot Rig should be a consideration for a presentation option. This technique is extremely effective on fishing structure. When fishing muddy to clear water, one foot to 100 feet this is a technique that will catch fish. YES I said 100 feet, the deepest he says he has caught is 120 feet, remembers he lives and fishes in California, so deepwater is a normal event. Any structure free of heavy cover is an easy place to learn to fish the rig.

Why chose this rig over a Texas Rig? When fishing a Drop Shot Rig the bait is always suspended just off the bottom putting the bait at eye level or just inches above when the fish is on the bottom where he prefers to stay. This also gives an angler the ability to keep the bait in the strike zone longer.

How to rig Drop Shots. Tie a Palmer knot leaving 1 to 2 feet of line extra. Thread the loose end back through the eye of the hook so the hook stands point up. Tie on weight preferably with a swivel about 12 to 18 inches below the hook. Weight size range from 1/8 to 5/16. Line size should range from 6 to 8 pound on a spinning rod and reel. Tungsten weights give a better feel of the structure. The deeper you are fishing the longer the leader up to about 2 feet long. When fishing deep lighter line lets the bait fall faster giving a better feel of the bait and strikes. When fishing shallow water heavier line and a bait casting outfit can be used. Lighter weights may be better fish on lighter line sizes on any type outfit.

Presentations vary from casting to vertical jigging. Casting Drop Shot Rigs is similar to casting a Texas Rig except into heavy cover. Drop Shots tend to get hung easier then Texas Rigs. This rig can be used as a swimming rig, hopped, crawled, or dragged. You can even fish as a stationary rig on bedding fish.

God Bless, good fishing

Capt. John Leech

Why Do I Need A Bait Bag?

Many anglers don't understand the importance of having a bait bag for carrying their live worms while fishing, so I'm going to try to explain why a bait bag is such a valuable tool. First of all a bait bag is really only relevant if you fish with live worms. Sure, any bait can be held in a bait bag, but it was specifically designed for carrying live worms while fishing, and works best for doing just that. Let me ask you a question. How do you normally carry your live worms with you while fishing? You buy a container of worms and carry it with you somehow, right? Normally the worm container gets put into your fishing vest or tackle box and that's the end of it. But what about those of you who like to move from spot to spot while fishing?If you're anything like me, moving up and downstream while fishing is normal. As a matter of fact, it's not uncommon for me to cover 2-5 miles in a single fishing trip, moving either up or downstream the entire time. This is the way I have always fished and enjoy it very much. The problem used to be that keeping track of my live worm container was a pain in the butt. It always ended up crushed and remembering which pocket I had stuffed it in when I needed to bait up always resulted in me checking 2 or 3 pockets every ten minutes or so. Then my fishing mentor came up with an ingenious solution.At the time, he didn't have a name for it, but it was a small bag that hung off of his fishing vest and carried his live worms while he was fishing. This may sound strange, and the first time that I saw it I thought it looked strange as well. Then I tried one for myself. It was incredible! It was such a simple idea, but so effective. That was more than twenty years ago, and since then I've never fished with live worms without using some manifestation of a bait bag for carrying them.From these humble beginnings the Bait Bag was born. Now, whether you fashion one yourself or buy one "ready to fish" makes little difference. What's important is that you begin using some version of a bait bag sooner, rather than later. If you spend any time at all fishing with live worms a bait bag will become one of your favorite pieces of fishing gear. I know I won't even think about going fishing without mine.

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Still time to fill your cooler with fall slabs

By Kelly Matthews
While most people including myself are stuffing there bellies with Thanksgiving turkey - I still find time to get out on the lake for some fast and furious fall crappie fishing action. Most anglers are starting to put their boats and tackle away for the winter, waiting for the first signs of spring. Well let me tell you - if you are done gorging on that Thanksgiving turkey and cabin fever is already showing it ugly head then its time to make a beeline for the lake. This is the perfect time to stock up your freezer that has slowly dwindled down with fresh crappie fillets from this past summer cookouts. This time of year the water temps are slowly creeping down, crappie are getting more aggressive. Cooler water temps have triggered the crappie into a feeding frenzy - summer is over and its time for them to release their anger on any lures that get in there way to a free meal. Those slow faint taps we have felt on our rods for the last few weeks are gone - crappie now know that winter is on the way and the fall fiesta is on. They are several ways to go after these feeding frenzy crappie - but today I will talk about a technique that is bullet proof this time of year and also doesn’t break the bank on your way to stringer full of slabzilla's.

Here on Weiss and most all lakes you have at least one river system feeding the lake sometimes more - We have three here on Weiss the Coosa, Chattooga and Little River all dump their waters to form Lake Weiss. As the water temps drop the crappie migrate up into these rivers starting to school up in large schools and feeding on shad getting ready for the winter to come. The key to catching crappie this time of year or really anytime of year is finding structure. The old saying goes One Mans Trash is Another Mans Treasure - well that’s so true about this technique. In river systems you will always have falling tree's, broken up docks and just about anything else you can imagine. All this debris has to go somewhere and most times it ends up lodged creating a big log jam somewhere in the turns of the river system. These log jams creates an excellent place for these migrating crappie to hold. Number one you have structure - Number two you have a current break and last but not least you have an ambush point. Crappie will hold on the down current side of these jams waiting for schools of shad to move through. This is the area where you want to concentrate on working real well cause crappie are lazy fish and they look for anything to help them from spending any wasted energy. Now we know where to look for them, so how do we trick these critters in taking a one way trip to the live well...?

The best method I found for fishing log jams is simple - casting/shooting and tight lining a 1/16 oz. jig back to the boat. Here on Weiss the main river feeding it is the Coosa and it can tend to have a lot of current at times - that’s why I like the 1/16 oz. jig head and sometimes even heavier. I will mostly cast these jigs with a Southern Pro Hot Grub - the Hot Grub is a three color core twister type grub and works very well fishing log jams. Colors I tend to stay with and have always come through for me are the Black and Blues with Chartreuse tail. For the line I like to use Sufix Siege 6lb test - it is plenty strong enough for doing this technique and holds up real well fishing heavy cover like this. The rod I like best for this technique is the B'n'Ms Sharp Shooter in the 5 1/2 foot model - this rod was designed for shooting docks and works great for fishing log jams. A lot of times I can be more accurate with shooting log jams than trying to cast especially if you have any wind at all. Now we have our setup so where do we go?

With this technique you don’t need all those high dollar graphs and GPS units - the treasures we are looking for is in plain site and most people pass them by wondering why Alabama Power don’t come in and clean this stuff up. Well for my sake I hope they never do. This is where a good quality lake map will come in handy - what we are looking for is where the river makes a sharp turn close to shallow water. This where most of your log jams or going to form and this is where the crappie will be. Here on Weiss we have miles of river channels and 100's of log jams to fish - it doesn’t take long to scout out and check these log jams and see if they are holding crappie. Once you have found crappie on certain log jams they will continue to produce good stringers of crappie for you day in and day out. There will be times when you come up on an area and you spot fish working the surface around log jams - unless you are just wanting to have some fun, keep moving 99% of the time this will be stripers and white bass working a school of shad and crappie don’t want no part of the fun. Like I said before crappie are lazy fish and you want find them working shad like that. A great place to start your search is the Alabama Belle Resort - from their all the way up to Three Mile has always been great fishing when looking for log jammed crappie. Fishing this way for me is really what crappie fishing is all about - it’s me with one rod verses the all mighty fish we call crappie. Take this technique and the equipment I mentioned - I assure you will have a great day on the lake.
Thanks and Good Fishin

By: Kelly Matthews

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