David Cormier asked:




If you are like me you love the taste and health benefits of eating salmon. Well did you know that Everyone who participates in salmon fishing claims that it is one of the easiest ways to learn how to fish, and the most rewarding fishing adventure that they have ever experienced.

Many people who experiment fishing find that they get hooked to this particular sport rather quickly. Fishing is a sport that people of all ages can enjoy. It is easy to learn, and in some cases, easy to catch the salmon.

In some cases, fly fishing requires a little practice before someone can succeed at it. For people who are new to fly fishing, there are many tips and tricks that can be implemented in order to become successful at salmon fly fishing. When you decide to take up fishing, it is important that you first know what fish like and what fish do not like. If you know these simple likes and dislikes, you are sure to start off as a success in salmon fishing. The following represents various salmon likes and dislikes:

Most salmon prefer cloudy and murky water, the reason for this is that they have many predators that they disguise themselves from It is very rare to find salmon in clear water. The optimum times that you can find them is during the night hours, right before the rise of the sun. They prefer cool water. It is very rare to find salmon in warm water unless they are feeding. Salmon also like to reside in waters that are quite rough. If you are looking to catch salmon, it is important to choose waters that are rough and choppy. When fishing for salmon, you will find that they prefer large bait. Also to note is that Fly Fishing is tailor made for catching salmon.

Once you learn what they like and what they dislike, you are sure to have a bit of direction when it comes to fishing for salmon. Now that you have acquired the basics as far as the preference of the salmon are concerned, you will learn some of the basic fishing tips:

One of the first tips when it comes to fly fishing is the ability to work the line and lure appropriately. It is extremely important that you work it in such a way that the action seems jumpy. The fish will be attracted to this action and will bite the hook every time. If you use live bait on your line, it is important that you make it attractive to the fish. Fish want to do as little work as possible, so it is important that they are able to catch bait easily. When you are fishing for salmon, it is very important that you always use a sharp hook. This way, once they have latched on to the hook, it is more likely to stay on the hook.

The rewards of learning how to flyfish are plenty not to mention the taste of outdoor grilling.

Brian Smith asked:




When I cannot get away for a few days to the mountains or the coast I can always take a few hours and do fly fishing at a local lake or farm pond. Bass fishing with a fly rod in the spring and early summer can be a lot of fun.

First let’s find pond or lake close to you that you can go fly fishing. If you have a float tube or inflatable small boat you can use these are excellent choices for lakes and farm ponds. If not, most lakes have enough cleared areas that you can easily use a fly rod. Farm ponds can actually be a great place to catch large bass. If you approach the owners of farm ponds and politely ask permission to fish there ponds and explain to them that you will release the fish you catch and take care of their property you will be surprised how many will give you permission. Also tell them that you will pick up any trash you find around their pond. Be sure to always take a trash bag with you and pick up any trash you do see and when you leave stop by the house and ask if you can put the trash in their cans. If you do this you will always be welcome on their land.

Next you will need an assortment of bass flies with you. In mid spring to early summer I prefer to use dry flies, working them along the banks and any obstructions and cove I can find. Along brush piles or logs in the water often hold large bass. Any tree limbs or brush over hanging the pond or lake will also hold bass. The flies I take with me will always include; bass popping bugs, rabbit strip divers, deer hair bass bugs and some mouse rats. Chartreuse, olive, yellow, purple and red are probably the beat colors to have with you. The mouse rats, of course, will be brown or black. I also always have a woolly worm assortment with me. If you are not having any luck with the bass you can always switch to small woolly worms and have a lot of fun catching large brim.

As the summer progresses and the water warms many large bass will go to deeper cooler water. When that happens I will use bass flies that do not float. My three favorite flies for this are bead head woolly buggers, weighted zonker flies and leaches. Again I always have some small woolly worms with me and catch some brim when the bass are not biting.

I hope my suggestions will help you catch more fish and always remember to take of the lake or pond you are fishing like is was yours. When fishing someone else’s pond always share with them what you have learned the fish populations on their pond. Many farm ponds will become over populated with small fish and at times will need to be thinned out. Likewise they can also be overfished. The owner will appreciate the fact that you are interested in helping him maintain a healthy fish population.

Tight lines and clear water,

Brian

fly fishing

Scott R asked: What do you know about bass fishing at night?




People hear about night fishing for bass, but they aren’t sure if it will be productive in their particular lake, river, or pond. Chances are it will be more than “productive”; it will more likely than not be the best fishing of your life, if you follow some simple laws of night fishing.

First law- Never use live bait. You will have the worse night of your life (unless you have located fish first that will feed on bait). At night, you want to use crank baits with rattles. Not huge crank baits, but about 3-5 inches with a medium sized bill. You want to be able to hit the bottom or be right above the bottom with these crank baits. You need to make noise below the surface and a rattling crank bait is the best way to do it. The fish will come to it, and they will come with a reckless attitude.

Second law of night fishing- Do not use a top water lure. Top water baits will not catch you as many fish as crank baits. The number of fish that end up attacking a surface lure at night pales in comparison to what you can catch below the surface with a crank bait. To illustrate this point, think about how much surface activity you hear at night above the water. Probably not much right? That is because all of those fish are feeding below the surface. You may be reading this and saying to yourself, but wait a second, I go top water night fishing , and catch 3 or 4 big bass every time I go out, this guy has no idea what he is talking about.

Well, I guarantee that if you switched to crankbaits, in that same area, you would catch 3 times as many fish, if you use a proper lure. Fish just don’t like to come to the surface at night, and if they do, they will miss the bait all night long.

Third law of night fishing for bass: Take a headlamp and move around, do not stand in one spot and cast for three hours. The fish are on the move, and you need to be as well to find them and catch tons of them. The best spot to start night fishing is any huge point you can find. A triangle that juts out from shore, points with deep drops on either side, or both, are the best places to catch huge bass. If you can find points that are huge and shallow, you will be in fish heaven. You don’t want to fish places that gradually get deeper, like a swimming beach, you want the water to plunge off shallow points. The bass move up out of deep water and onto the shallow point at night, and they will smash your bass crankbait [http://www.squidoo.com/getlargemouthbassfishing] all night long.

W Scott asked: Tell me about all the different lures.




In the world of bass fishing, the amateur and competitive nature of this sport has attracted a rather large following that has only continued to gain popularity over the years. In order to become a success, using fishing lures and bait is a must. Depending on the time of day or night, location, type of water, and depth - different bass fishing lures will produce better results than other selections. To become familiar with the most common and effective choices, consider the following suggestions:

Jigs

Many will say that jigs - heavy, lead-headed baits with a single hook are the most useful of baits to consider - especially when fishing in waters that are somewhat murky or clear. Jigs are good for attracting inactive fish and getting the attention of those who are buried deep. When using this type of lure, keep in mind that jigs are meant to create presentation, where success comes in making them appear noticeably alive. The ideal water temperature for this bass fishing lure is below 60 degrees. They are also perfect for night-fishing.

Rubber Worms

The hassle of dealing with real worms is eliminated when using rubber selections that work just as well. An added weight in the structure of the lure allows a slow descent to the bottom of your fishing location. When lucky, bass strike at the rubber worm. If the lure reaches the bottom without any action, simply reel it back towards the surface and let it drop once again.

Spinner Baits

The unusual shape of spinner baits are constructed with an over-sized metal attachment that spins. This lure doesn’t attract fish by appealing to their hunger, but rather through agitation. Spinner baits are year-round lures that especially work well during the spawning season when bass are less desperate to feed.

Crank Baits

Through the imitation of a weak or injured fish, crank lures are used as top water and sinking lures. The added cranking noise attracts bass with its sound. A slow approach is necessary in order to successfully imitate an injured fish.

Poppers

While poppers are similar to crank baits, they are set aside solely as a top water lure. As they travel across the water, a “popping” sound is emitted. The best time of year to use this lure is during the summertime, where slow reel action is required.

Grubs

The smallmouth bass is especially attracted to the tiny lures known as grubs, which are geared towards larger catches. Grubs are bare jig heads with a soft-plastic body added to a hook. When a highland reservoir lacks ample cover, this lure is rather effective. Clear and deep waters are the greatest locations to use grubs, where white, yellow, salt and pepper, and smoke selections work best.

Tube Baits

When fishing in clear water or surrounded by inactive fish, tube jigs works wonders to specifically target bass. A spinning reel on a 6 to 6 ½-foot medium-light to medium action rod best accommodates this type of drop bait. Also, seek out water no deeper than 10 feet when using tube baits.

Vibrating Lures

Plastic or metal is used to create the vibrating lures that generate a tremor when retrieved out of the water. With a sound (much like a rattle), the baits sink to the bottom and do not get lost in particularly deep waters. A variety of lures are offered in this category, including tailspinners, which are heavy, compact baits of metal that uses a small spinner to attract the bass. Use vibrating lures when fishing about stumps, close to river currents, on deep channel drop-offs, and over waterlogged grass beds.

bass fishing

BASS FISHING and Bass Fly Fishing Truths

Bass Fishing and Fly Fishing Articles, Fish Recipes and Fishing Secrets.

Bass fishing has a fascinating history. It started in the late 18th century and continues to progress even today. Fishing was originally practiced in

search of food among the people in the south of the United States. Since then, it has encompassed all ages and nations. Today, countries such as

Australia, Cuba, South Africa, The United States and most of Europe participate in this kind of event.

Timelines

• The year 1768 or 1770 represents the birth of bass fishing sports.

• William Shakespeare Jr. materializes the production of a level wind device and secured its patent on 1897.

• The William J. Jamison Co introduced the overly ornamented Shannon Twin Spinner in 1915 and was improved to create today’s spinner baits.

• In 1932, President Franklin D. Roosevelt instituted the creation of The Tennessee Valley Authority and encouraged the creation and building of

numerous dams. These dams were later used as fisheries for different species of bass.

• Five years later, DuPont Company filed patent for a nylon fishing net, this was later developed into nylon monofilament fishing line. Still in use

today. With some changes it stays straight and lasts quite a long time with cleaning and care.

• In the year 1992 Larry Nixon, the famous fisherman in the history of bass fishing won $1M total earnings for this sport on this year. Today we have

bass tournaments all over the US and winnings of $100,000 to $1,000,000 are common.

Types of Bass Fish

Several fish species that are being caught in bass fishing are:

• Micropterus psalmodies (Lacepede) - Largemouth Bass

• Micropterus dolomieui - Smallmouth bass

• Micropterus punctatus - Kentucky Bass

Just a note of reference, Australian Bass are different from the above North American Bass variants although most share similar features. Perhaps, the most

robust success of Bass Fishing was in the 1950s. Due to the development of modern fishing equipment, from bass boats, rods, lines, lures and various fishing

gears.

Electronic gear was incorporated among the host of equipment bass fishers used at that time. Reels of different types, which function in hauling and

hoisting, were also created. Statistics show that the audience base of this sport is increasing and that more and more people are getting interested in it

compared to tennis and golf.

Fly fishing for bass is a popular sport as well.

A good fiberglass or bamboo rod is required and comes in various sizes. The most used size is a 9 foot rod. The rod is longer than normal rods because the

rod is used to cast the heavier line.Rods will come in one, two or three piece units. Many fishermen prefer a two piece rod as it is easier to transport.

The type of fly line you use will depend on the rod you select. Look on the rod handle for the type of line to use with this rod. The reel of a fly rod is

very different than a spin casting rod and will hold less line. This is because the line is much thicker. With a spin rod the lure is pulling the line but

with a fly rod the line is pulling the lure.Most bass fly fishers will want to use a Up-Locking with extension butt type rod. Your fishing store will know

what your asking for.

Another important item for the fly fisher is a good fishing vest.You want as many pockets as you can get and large enough to hold your lure boxes and other

items. Also make sure there is a felt or wool fly holder to stick extra fly lures to. This makes it easy to change lures when needed.

Chest or hip waders are also a good idea when bass fly fishing. You will be able to wade the river and streams and get right on a bass while in the water.

Remember bass like to hide and strike their prey.

A good pair of wading shoes or boot will help too. Find some with good soles of leather, felt or non slippery texture. I used to use rubber soled boots but

they were slippery on moss covered rocks in West Virginia, I now have felt glued to the bottoms and find this works well.

When bass fly fishing do not be worried about not catching any bass, it maybe trout time…So fish for trout. They are fun to catch and just as tasty. Get

tasty fish recipes and more fishing articles and secrets.

For more bass fishing tips, fishing articles and delicious fish recipes you can read more at my website.

http://www.fishyfishstuff.com

We will be camping in Lower Pines this coming summer (Aug 22-23) and I would like to do some fly fishing on the Merced river near camp. Is it worth it? If so, any advice? Local tackle shops I can ask questions?

By: Fly Fisher

About the Author:

fly fishing

America’s Team is back!!! asked:


I just got back from a fly fishing trip. We Fished for trout. I caught about 10 my largest being about 18in. I caught all but one on nymphs. I could put almost any nymph it the water and the fish would all have intrest in it and most the time I would have a bite in less than 2-3 min. Then the fish would pay no attention to the nymph. But as soon as I tied another nymph on they chased it again. So I was wondering if the fish started to under stand that it was fake or what. I don’t think it was the line because I used 2lb fluocarbon tippet.

Saturday, December 5, 2009
Opening Day 4 months away

Someone said to me the other day, only 4 more months to opening day. It is a day that I look forward to as long as it is 50 degrees and above. I barely manage to get out of my man cave until june. After all the average temp is about 34 - 44 degrees at the beginning of April in NY. I just can’t bring myself out to ice fish.

Trout fishing for me will start on the Hoosic river around April 15th this year. Water temp 45 - 55 degrees. As a rule water temp will be just about right around 2pm - 5pm. Its a stream that runs west out of Vermont into the Hudson. It is a river that has had its share of trouble. The tanneries all but destroyed its fish population. It is no longer stocked, but it does hold some wild rainbows and browns. What it lacks in fish is made up in the size of fish that are available.

Wide and slow and some fast, riffed water make for some good holding spots for some large fish. Early season above the village of Eagle Bridge puts out some good mayfly hatches. Tan, cream and white are the colors of the spring here. Wets are the preference. A lot of the stream side is unshaded so dries are an afternoon to evening technique. 9″ min and 5 take limit, although in this river catch and release is the best way to go. As it is in most rivers.

One of the best trout fishing techniques I have found is asking owner permission before walking across a land owners property. Some of the best areas are behind some-ones home and common respect goes a long way for all fisher persons. Practicing this keeps the fishing open for all.

As for equipment, early spring brings out my 4wt, 7′ leader, 4x tippet and size 12 - 16 flies.

Davy Cadis sz 14
Hairs Ear sz 14 - 16
Hairs Ear Bead sz 12 - 16
Gold Rib Haired 14 - 16 one of the best when you just don’t know what to use!
March Brown nymph

Streamers:

Matuka sz 12 -14
Zonker sz 12 - 14
Muddler Minnow sz 12 - 14
Peacock Woolly Bugger sz 12 -14 the best of the best get black, brown and red

Wets:

Olive Woolly Worm

Drys:

Adams
Light Cahill
Dark Cahill
Black Midge
Blue winged olive good in early sprint late afternoon when sipping is in progress.
Ant
Daves Hopper

By: Eric Clayton

About the Author:

Born To Be Caught: Largemouth Bass Vulnerability To Being Caught By Anglers Is A Heritable Trait

ScienceDaily (Apr. 15, 2009) — In an experiment spanning over 20 years, researchers at the University of Illinois have found that vulnerability to being caught by anglers is a heritable trait in largemouth bass.

The study began in 1975 with the resident population of bass in Ridge Lake, an experimental study lake in Fox Ridge State Park in Charleston. The fishing was controlled. For example, anglers had to reserve times, and every fish that was caught was put into a live well on the boat. The fish were measured and tagged to keep track of how many times each fish had been caught. All fish were then released.

“We kept track over four years of all of the angling that went on, and we have a total record – there were thousands of captures,” said David Philipp, ecology and conservation researcher at U of I. “Many fish were caught more than once. One fish was caught three times in the first two days, and another was caught 16 times in one year.”

After four years, the pond was drained, and more than 1,700 fish were collected. “Interestingly, about 200 of those fish had never been caught, even though they had been in the lake the entire four years,” Philipp said.

Males and females from the group that had never been caught were designated Low Vulnerability (LV) parents. To produce a line of LV offspring, these parents were allowed to spawn with each other in university research ponds. Similarly, males and females that had been caught four or more times in the study were designated High Vulnerability (HV) parents that were spawned in different ponds to produce a line of HV offspring. The two lines were then marked and raised in common ponds until they were big enough to be fished.

“Controlled fishing experiments clearly showed that the HV offspring were more vulnerable to angling than the LV offspring,” said Philipp.

This selection process was repeated for several generations over the course of the 20 year experiment.

“As we had predicted, vulnerability was a heritable trait,” he said. Philipp went on to explain that with each generation, the difference between lines in angling vulnerability grew even larger.

“Most of the selection is occurring on the LV fish – that is, for the most part, the process is making that line of fish less vulnerable to angling. We actually saw only a small increase in angling vulnerability in the HV line,” Philipp said.

Male bass are the sole caregiver for the offspring. Females lay eggs and leave. The male guards the nest against brood predators for about three to four days before the eggs hatch and another eight to 10 days after they hatch, before they become free-swimming. Even after the baby bass start to swim, the dads stay with them for another three weeks while they feed and grow, protecting them from predators.

Philipp explained that the experiment sped up what’s actually happening in nature. “In the wild, the more vulnerable fish are being preferentially harvested, and as a result the bass population is being directionally selected to become less vulnerable. We selected over three generations, but in the wild the selection is occurring in every generation.

“We’ve known for 50 years that commercial fishing exerts selection on wild populations,” he said. “We take the biggest fish, and that has changed life histories and growth patterns in many populations of commercially harvested species. Because there is no commercial fishing for bass, we were assessing the evolutionary impacts of recreational fishing.”

Philipp explained that the perception among anglers is that catch-and-release has no negative impact on the population. During the spawning season, however, if bass are angled and held off of their nests for more than a few minutes, when they are returned to the lake, it’s too late; other fish have found the nest and are quickly eating the babies.

Philipp recommends that to preserve bass populations across North America, management agencies need to protect the nesting males during the spawning season. “There should be no harvesting bass during the reproductive period. That makes sense for all wildlife populations. You don’t remove the adults during reproduction.

“One of the big issues for concern is the explosion of tournaments. Lots of bass tournaments are held during the springtime because there are lots of big fish available. In tournaments you put fish into live wells, and yes, they’re released, but they could be held for up to 8 hours first. They’re brought back to the dock, miles from their nest. So, basically, if a fish is caught in a tournament and brought into the boat and put into a live well, his nest is destroyed.”

Philipp recommended that if fishing tournaments were held during the spawning season, then regulations should require that there be immediate catch-and-release, eliminating the use of tournament weigh-ins.

Philipp urges management agencies to go even further and suggests that a portion of each lake could be set aside as a bass spawning sanctuary, where all fishing would be prohibited until after bass reproduction is complete. In the rest of the lake, mandatory catch-and-release regulations could be put into place during that same reproductive period. In Illinois, the bass reproduction period is from about April 1 through June 15. Philipp said that in that way, anglers could help protect the long-term future of the resource without completely restricting fishing.

“The potential for angling to have long-term evolutionary impacts on bass populations is real. If we truly want to protect this valuable resource into the future, then we need to understand that and adjust our management strategies,” Philipp said.

Others on the University of Illinois research team include Steven Cooke, Julie Claussen, Jeffrey Koppelman, Cory Suski, and Dale Burkett.

Brought To Our Attention By: James Loc

About James Loc