Recreation and Sports Info

Archive for the ‘Fishing’ Category

Bass fisherman have discovered that fishing from the shore is one of the greatest ways to catch bass. You have the distinct advantage of fishing from tighter locations, that boats can not possible reach.

Use this checklist to start fishing from the shore like a pro:

1. Preparation – the key to successfully fishing from the shore like a pro is to be prepared. You will often be trekking through some thick brush and mucky areas. Wear appropriate clothing that can stand up to the abuse, and leave your feet dry when you arrive at the shore.
2. Rod Length – choose a rod no longer than six feet. It helps when you are fishing around trees, and decreases the chances of getting your line snagged up on a branch when you cast.
3. Scouting – before you cast your first line, scout the area for locations along the shore that have the least amount of human disturbance. Look for a spot that is away from houses, and doesn’t have many people around.
4. Vegetation – a great indicator of where bass fish are swimming around is the vegetation. Look for areas that contain lily pads, water hyacinths, reeds and coontail moss. When fishing in a location with lots of vegetation, choose a weedless soft plastic lure. Pull it through the vegetation, and in the general area surrounding the plants.
5. Fallen Trees – be on the lookout for trees that have toppled into the water and stumps rising out of the water. You should be using crankbaits, spinnerbaits and jigs in these ideal bass locations.
6. Water Breaks – if you are fishing in moving water, look up and down the the water surface for boils and breaks. They will generally indicate that some type of underwater structure is preventing the current from flowing naturally.

For someone who’s never had to punch a hole through thick ice to find fish, it might be a challenge to know what type of gear you should use, unless you’ve lived your entire life in the colder climate. Properly gearing up for the icy weather is the most important rule to follow when ice fishing, along with the proper equipment and shelter.

Without going into details, the clothing that you chose to wear should be comfortable, wind resistant and waterproof. There must be insulation between the soles of your feet and the ice. If the boots you have are not warm enough, add an insulating insole.

In the olden days, one simply created a hole in the ice with an axe. These days, you can use a power auger. The newer models are light enough and powerful to drill through the blackest ice.

Next consideration – jigging rods, and terminal tackle! When choosing jigging rods consider how often they are used if you fish from inside a shelter or outside. The length may not be that important since there is virtually no casting involved. However, long rods can get stuck down in the hole when fighting with big fish through the thick ice.

Fish hit very lightly during winter, so rod material can be important. You may not feel the fish when it hits if you have gloves on, even if you’ve used the finest graphite rod. It helps to use a spring bobber.

When fishing without shelter, your jigging rods should have a minimum number of larger diameter guides to minimize icing, though, it’s not that important when you are fishing inside a warm shelter. Ice anglers use tough, inexpensive reels as the demands on them are not as great as they would be on the open water. Good drag is just as important as it is for any other time.

Ice fishermen have to use lubricants on the lines to ensure that they don’t stiffen, but not all lubricants work well in cold weather. There are newer lines on the market for ice fishing. Things go slower in cold weather even the fish so it helps to a low visibility leader to lines. Fish also tend to gather in schools under ice it helps to invest in a good sonar unit it can save you time.

Fishing in constant weather is highly advantageous as you know what to expect and how to prepare for the particular weather. In most cases though this is hardly the case and you have to deal with weather variables. Here are some of the most common weather conditions you are likely to encounter when fishing and what they mean.

Storms
Expect to catch little or no fish during and shortly after a storm. Fish know when a cold spell is approaching, including a storm, and will feed highly just before it hits then go under to shelter in the calmer waters.

Hard rains
When it rains hard, the water becomes muddy so it’s not easy to use baits or lures. Hard rain leads to high water currents, rapids and waves. All these are dangerous conditions to fish in. It is also highly unlikely that you will catch any fish as the fish cannot settle in comfortably.

Light rains
Light rains are an excellent weather condition to fish in especially if they occur in the summer or spring. For one, the rains will provide a cover for you wherever you are fishing from – on a boat, on the shore or if wade fishing. Light rain washes bait and other insects in the water, making it easy for fish to go on a feeding spree. The warm water and plenty food supply are favorable for fishing.

Wind
Wind has a positive influence on fishing. It pushes bait from the shore to where game fish are likely to see it. Always aim to cast to the wind whether fishing from the shore or a boat.

Cloudiness
Fishing in cloudy weather is advantageous as the clouds prevent direct light penetration. The fish can move freely, unlike in bright weather when they hide in underwater structures.

Lightning

Get out of the water as soon as you notice lightning. It is dangerous for you and can be fatal. Additionally, given the turbulent situation, you won’t catch any fish.

You should learn a few recommended bass fishing techniques to increase your chances of catching a bass. A light colored spoon, for example, is not as useful as a dark colored one. Your crank-bait or spinners should also be dark in color when you are trying your luck to hunt some bass fish in clear water. Bass cannot see your light colored bait in clear water. Without attracting the attention of a bass you cannot expect them to come and get caught. Dark colored bait is far more attractive to bass fish and it increases your chances of success.

Look out for schools of bait fish when you are out for fishing on a large river bank or lake. If you find any of these schools of bait fish, you can safely assume that your target bass is lurking somewhere close. These fish will stay close to their food and that’s what you have to remember. It’s one of the simple things that can help you from effortless wanderings often leading to repeated failures in catching bass fish.

You should use your spoons and spinners frequently to look out for bass fish in deep waters. Bass fish are usually found at some depth. Different types of bass fish will require different techniques. Species type plays an important role in fishing. While the basics always remain the same, it is important to learn some hidden techniques and experiences of professionals. A smallmouth, for example, is far more unique and aggressive that any other type of bass. So you have to have more patience to catch them. Large fish like striped bass are going to make it even harder. Their large size helps them to apply additional efforts once they are caught on the bait. They travel over long distances and you need to track them to have any success.