Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Confidence in Fly Fishing

For those of you who, like me, have memories of fishing that pre-date memories of school, think back to as many fishing partners and trips as you can. Even those people you only went fishing with once. Then try to recall times where the success or failure of a fly fisherman seemed to lie strictly on the fly fisherman’s confidence. If you think about it in these terms, I bet you can remember numerous times, when an angler’s, confidence or lack thereof, either doomed them or buoyed then until they started catching fish.

At times the success of a confident fly fishing angler can be attributed to persistence. An angler, confident in their abilities is just going to fish longer when things don’t start hopping right away. But other days when all things are equal, the fisherman with the most confidence often catches the most fish.

Three quick stories come to mind illustrate this. First off let me say there have been plenty of times when I have been on both sides of the confidence equation. A few years ago, I was steelheading with a couple of fly fishing buddies. Unlike me, though there guys weren’t purists. And we were using terminal gear. Although were just dead-drifting jigs, very similar to fly fishing, I felt about as coordinated as a monkey performing brain surgery. As the day wore on more and more steelies were caught. Huge steelies, the biggest I had ever seen! None by me. I could feel my confidence shrinking. And I mean my confidence in all kinds of things, like being able to read the river, being able to detect a strike. Things that had no connection to me using unfamiliar gear. The pressure inside my head built, until I HAD to catch a fish. I didn’t catch one fish that day, although I finally had a strike, and set the hook so hard I jerked it right out of the fish’s mouth. And I fished longer and harder than anyone else on the trip.

Another story is almost reverse. Here in Maupin, the Deschutes River fills with fly fisherman every May and early June for the Giant Salmonfly hatch. It is a carnival of fly fishing. One year I was drifting with a couple of accomplished angler’s, who were nevertheless apprehensive about fishing such a well-known hatch, A hatch documented throughout fly fishing literature. With crowds of angler’s as spectators to one another. Despite all the drift boats and bank angler’s I know a spot or two constantly overlooked and are rarely fished. I set both guys up with the exact rigging I use. Put them in the best two spots and made lunch, while they flogged the water to no avail. Despite their long fishing experience they were unaccustomed to the big water and the feeling of being in a spotlight, and seemed to do every action with uncertainty. After lunch I nailed numerous trout with virtually no effort. Pointed out fish lying behind rocks and caught them. It was a display they still talk about some years later.

Another day I was fishing alone, in water I know like the palm of my hand. And was getting skunked. Fishing all my usual water, using all my usual techniques I couldn’t even get a strike. Yet I knew I could and did catch fish in this spot, lots of fish. I kept at it, until I heard a fish jump behind me, in a riffle I hadn’t fished in years. I turned around and cast right at the head of the riffle, and nailed what was to be the first of many beautiful trout I caught that day.

If I hadn’t been confident in my abilities, and in the water holding fish, I would have stopped long before. That was an instance where confidence led to perseverance. But the other two days, it seemed to be confidence only, that led to more fish being landed. Maybe there was something subtle in the presentation of the confident angler, something that can’t be taught. Like the way some quarterbacks always seem to win. Or maybe like in other endeavors confident people just seem to do better. At any rate the only way I know of to develop confidence is through repeated success. And in fishing the only way to catch fish is to do more fishing.

If you are thinking this is all a stretch, I bet you can come up with very similar stories that have happened to you. Especially if like me, you have been fishing since you had a Leave it to Beaver lunch box. Give yourself the possibility that confidence in your fishing ability does play a role, in your catch rate. And the end result will be you spend more time fishing. And if that is the end result of you reading this article, then it was time well spent. Now let’s go out there and build up our fly fishing confidence!

About The Author
Cameron Larsen is a retired commericial fly tier and fly fishing guide. He now operates The Big Y Fly Company. Http://www.bigyflyco.com. He can be reached at info@bigyflyco.com.

Techniques of Wet Fly Fishing by: Brett Fogle

Many anglers who are new to fly fishing consider dry fly fishing the “traditional” way of catching trout. Well, that’s not entirely true. Wet fly fishing dates back hundreds of years, well before dry fly fishing came around.

Wet fly fishing is one of the best ways for anglers to get introduced to sub-surface fishing. Unlike nymph and dry fly fishing, where skill, practice and precise imitations are needed to effectively take trout consistently, wet fly fishing can provide rewards quickly - even to beginner anglers. Unlike dry fly fishing and nymph fly fishing - when using wet flies, the angler is not attempting to precisely imitate any particular insect.

Wet Fly Fishing : Basic Overview
Instead of looking precisely like a particular type of insect, a wet fly is more an imitation of a stage of life of aquatic insects. Many wet flies imitate a struggling nymph as it attempts to reach the surface of the river. These same wet flies also suitably imitate dead or drowning insects. Either way, one thing about wet flies is that they generally imitate aquatic insects in motion (moving to the surface, drowning in the water, etc…) – not just floating merrily along in the current, completely helpless (although that is done, too!).

Unlike dry fly or nymph fly fishing, wet fly fishing can also be very rewarding to beginner anglers. Perfect, or even good technique, is not needed for new anglers to hook some nice fish. And the reason for this is because of the way most wet fly fishing is done – neither requiring perfect casts nor split-timing when setting the hook.

When fly fishing with wet flies, anglers frequently will use 2 or more flies together. By using two or more flies together in a dropper setup (described later), an angler can improve their chances of finding biting trout.

So, let’s take a close look at how wet fly fishing works, what is used and why any angler should give it a try – even on those rivers that are normally the dry fly fisherman’s playground.
There are many different types of flies available for wet fly fishing. Normally, most wet flies have soft hackling.

The reason for this is because this type of hackling has fibers in it that move around in the water – sort of inviting the trout to take it in.

Additionally, unlike most nymphs, wet flies are designed to sink rather quickly, since wet fly fishing is generally done closer to the bottom of the river. For this reason, many wet flies tend to be a bit heavier and are tied in a wide variety of ways. Each way designed to sink the fly in a particular manner than the typical nymph.

Frequently, wet flies tend to be fished in areas that have fast moving water. Because of this, many anglers fly fish wet flies using a sinking tip line. While using a sink-tip fly line can definitely aid the fly in getting down to the right depth, an angler who only has a floating fly line should not despair. Generally, simply using weights on the leader or the fly line can do an adequate job of pulling down a wet fly to the right depth.

Wet Fly Fishing : Dropper Flies
As mentioned, wet flies are frequently fished in groups of flies – not just a single fly by itself. When a second, or third, fly is used, it is called a “dropper fly”. A dropper fly, which is a very effective and rather ancient method of wet fly fishing, is a fly that is tied to the main leader.
When rigging up your fly fishing gear using a dropper fly, simply attach the first fly onto the end of the tippet as you normally would. Then, for the second fly, take a 12 inch of tippet material and tie it to the leader about 12-24 inches above the first fly. Attach the second fly to the end of that line. You now have a dropper fly set up.

Additional flies can also be attached – you are in no way limited to just using 1 or 2 flies. However, the more flies you have, the greater the likelihood of tangles occurring – both when casting and in hooking underwater obstructions. For beginner anglers, it is probably best to start with one fly, then go to two flies when comfortable with basic casting and wet fly fishing technique.

Either way, one nice thing about a dropper fly is that it allows anglers to test out flies at the same time. Thus, you can tie on one type as normal, then tie on a completely different looking wet fly as a dropper fly. It’s a great way to quickly experiment around to see what works and what doesn’t on a particular river (especially a new one you’ve never fished before). you may even be rewarded with having two or more fish hooked simultaneously.

To read the full article, and more like this, please visit: http://www.fly-fishing-secrets.com

About The Author
Brett Fogle is the publisher of Fly Fishing Secrets, an insiders guide to flyfishing tips and techniques of the pros. To sign up for free flyfishing tips and other articles, please visit www.fly-fishing-secrets.com. brett@macarthurwatergardens.com

Thursday, November 23, 2006

The Basics of Bass Fishing

by Anthony Lee

If you are looking for a wonderful recreational sport that will take you far away from your comfort zone, look no further than bass fishing. The sport of bass fishing has quickly risen into the ranks of a multi billion dollar industry. This fishing sport has acquired a great following throughout the years and is now one of the most popular sports in America.

This fact is no accident. While bass fishing is done all around the world, its popularity in America stems from the fact that the most popular types of bass fished for sport can be found in multitudes in the waters of North America. Bass fishing in America is so popular that bass fishing masters have become household names among American sports enthusiasts.
Perhaps it is the lure of going back to basics and getting in touch with man's hunting urges in nature that lures millions upon millions of individuals to this wonderful world of bass fishing for sport and recreation. If you are new to this sport or if you are only beginning to think about taking up this hobby, the whole concept of fishing may be a little daunting.

Fortunately, what general knowledge we all have on fishing, applies for the sport of bass fishing. The exciting task of catching bass is done with a hook line and sinker. If you are looking for bass fishing techniques, look no further than that.

Of course if you are a bass fishing enthusiast looking to improve your performance in the sport, you will be looking for bass fishing techniques but really, bass fishing is quite simple. First, this is so because bass fish are bountiful in certain waters, especially in North America so you can be sure that if you head on out to bass filled waters you are sure to catch a few. What counts of course is to catch bass fish of a certain size and weight. In this regard, the bass fishing technique to utilize is common sense. First of all, make sure that your fishing equipment is suitable for the type and size of bass you are hoping to catch.

Remember also that bass fish particularly the big mouth and small mouth are feisty fish that serve the purpose of wonderful gaming fish. The large mouth bass is highly resistant to captivity and once hooked, you may have a hard time reeling it in because it will tend to hide behind submerged structures such as logs and seaweed to avoid being caught. The small mouth on the other hand is known to be jumpy once it hits the surface to be able to escape the grip of the hook. This is where your bass fishing technique of reeling the game in will come in handy.
Also, because bass is a feisty fish resistant to capture, anglers are used. Anglers is the term for angled hooks used to catch the fish. There are several types of bait you can use, depending on your own preferences and bass fishing techniques. You may opt to use live or artificial bait and both actually work fine. Some artificial baits work better than the others and to find out which ones are more effective, you can read up on user reviews from bass fishing forums or ask your trusted fishing buddies for their recommendations. Of course, nothing beats the learning from actual experience so don't be shy, get out there and compile your very own bass fishing techniques.

About the Author
To learn the best things to use as bass fishing lures, please visit http://bass-fishing-lures.blogspot.com/.

The Basics of Bass Fishing

by Anthony Lee

If you are looking for a wonderful recreational sport that will take you far away from your comfort zone, look no further than bass fishing. The sport of bass fishing has quickly risen into the ranks of a multi billion dollar industry. This fishing sport has acquired a great following throughout the years and is now one of the most popular sports in America.

This fact is no accident. While bass fishing is done all around the world, its popularity in America stems from the fact that the most popular types of bass fished for sport can be found in multitudes in the waters of North America. Bass fishing in America is so popular that bass fishing masters have become household names among American sports enthusiasts.
Perhaps it is the lure of going back to basics and getting in touch with man's hunting urges in nature that lures millions upon millions of individuals to this wonderful world of bass fishing for sport and recreation. If you are new to this sport or if you are only beginning to think about taking up this hobby, the whole concept of fishing may be a little daunting.

Fortunately, what general knowledge we all have on fishing, applies for the sport of bass fishing. The exciting task of catching bass is done with a hook line and sinker. If you are looking for bass fishing techniques, look no further than that.

Of course if you are a bass fishing enthusiast looking to improve your performance in the sport, you will be looking for bass fishing techniques but really, bass fishing is quite simple. First, this is so because bass fish are bountiful in certain waters, especially in North America so you can be sure that if you head on out to bass filled waters you are sure to catch a few. What counts of course is to catch bass fish of a certain size and weight. In this regard, the bass fishing technique to utilize is common sense. First of all, make sure that your fishing equipment is suitable for the type and size of bass you are hoping to catch.

Remember also that bass fish particularly the big mouth and small mouth are feisty fish that serve the purpose of wonderful gaming fish. The large mouth bass is highly resistant to captivity and once hooked, you may have a hard time reeling it in because it will tend to hide behind submerged structures such as logs and seaweed to avoid being caught. The small mouth on the other hand is known to be jumpy once it hits the surface to be able to escape the grip of the hook. This is where your bass fishing technique of reeling the game in will come in handy.
Also, because bass is a feisty fish resistant to capture, anglers are used. Anglers is the term for angled hooks used to catch the fish. There are several types of bait you can use, depending on your own preferences and bass fishing techniques. You may opt to use live or artificial bait and both actually work fine. Some artificial baits work better than the others and to find out which ones are more effective, you can read up on user reviews from bass fishing forums or ask your trusted fishing buddies for their recommendations. Of course, nothing beats the learning from actual experience so don't be shy, get out there and compile your very own bass fishing techniques.

About the Author
To learn the best things to use as bass fishing lures, please visit http://bass-fishing-lures.blogspot.com/.

How To Catch A Trout

Fly Fishing Techniques: Coping With Rejection By mcutchin New on MidCurrent: Paul Schullery writes about whether or not trout are really as lousy at the job of eating bugs as they seem to be. "If you've been fishing even a few years, you've watched a trout come up...

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Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Salmon Fishing Lures

By: Milos

There are several ways to catch the kind of salmon you target. Some would use different fishing methods, while others would use fishing lures. As what all salmon fishing enthusiasts know, a lure is placed on the very end of the fishing line. But, what most of them did not know is that, improper placement of a lure could result to an unsatisfying day or worse no catch at all.
Salmon fishing lures are supposed to be tightly connected to the end of the fishing line in order that it will not fall off from the fishing line when thrown into the waters. It may sound so simple and obvious, but still there are people who tend to neglect it, especially the beginners.
Getting yourself salmon fishing lures is not as simple as you think. You can't just buy and attach them securely at the end of your fishing line. It doesn't work that way. There are certain things you have to consider in selecting the best salmon fishing lures. From the different varieties of salmon fishing lures that are available in the market today, you can tell they have different designs. The designs are based on the diverse methods of fishing, types of waters you where you will fish, types of salmon species you want to, and to different fishing poles. And because your salmon fishing lures have to vary depending on the spots where you'll fish, the type of fish you target, and what type of fishing pole you will use, it is best that you carefully choose the ones that are designed to best suit your specific needs.If you use salmon fishing lures instead of using bait, you'll have greater chance of hooking your target.
According to some experts in salmon fishing, the technique in which you can successfully catch salmon is to keep your lure as attractive as possible. The action and the kind of lures you use can help attract the attention of salmon. Therefore, the more potential food your lures look like, the more interested your salmon will get. Also, it is important that you know what salmon feed in order for you to choose the best salmon fishing lures. For example, if you fish in a lake where salmon feed on flies, make sure you get salmon fishing lures that look like flies.
Otherwise, your target will just snob and ignore your lure.No matter how you use every techniques you know about, it is still not enough. Your skills also have something to do with hooking your target. So to make salmon fishing more fun as ever, carefully pick out the right salmon fishing lures that will wink at your target. Choose the ones that are worth to chasing for!

Article Tags:Fishing, Salmon Fishing, Fly Fishing, Bass Fishing, Fishing Tackle, Fishing Charter, Fishing Lure

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Milos Pesic is an avid fisherman and owner of popular and comprehensive Salmon Fishing web site. For more articles and resources on Salmon Fishing related topics, Salmon Fishing equipment, tips and trips, visit his site at:=>http://salmon-fishing.need-to-know.net/

Just Bitten by the Bass Fishing Bug? A Basic Equipment List

Bass fishing for many begins the first time they get that hit and proceeds from there to become a lifelong avocation. If you have just discovered bass fishing then it's time to start accumulating your bass fishing tackle. Over the course of your bass fishing lifetime you will probably have many rods and reels, literally hundreds of lures and a wide variety of storage boxes. However, the first gear you buy need not be expensive or abundant as long as it suits the needs of a novice bass angler.

Rods. As you become more experienced you may find that you want several rods of varying lengths and made out of different materials. A good first rod for a neophyte fisherman is generally five and a half to six feet long and made of graphite, fiberglass or a graphite/fiberglass blend. Longer rods may give more reach in casting but they also require more nuance. Look for a balanced, medium weight rod. As the term implies, that is a rod which has its weight evenly distributed from end to end.

Reels. Once you have chosen your rod, select a complimentary reel. Consider a rod and reel combo package. Many beginning fishermen shy from this simple answer to tackle selection; after all, buying stuff is half the fun. Still purchasing an inexpensive rod and reel bundle allows you to get the feel for bass fishing gear before making a large investment. If you have decided to make separate purchases, check out the spincast reels. They have fewer line tangle problems and provide smooth casting and retrieval. Most also allow for a wide variance in lines and lures.

Lines. Most rod and reels will recommend the line weights that harmonize well with them. In general, a 10# line will hold up well in the vast number of situations you'll encounter. As you become a more sophisticated angler you will learn the many factors that go into proper line selection. Strength, resistance to breaking, stretch, diameter, even color are all important in making more sophisticated line choices. Don't worry about those now though; just buy a high quality line.

Lures. Choosing the right lure for the right area and the right bass is key to successful bass fishing. If you are going with experienced fishermen or with a guide, they will be your best resource for information on what lure or bait to pack. The number one bait out there though is the humble worm. Stock up on these in a variety of colors and pick up a few inexpensive spinnerbaits.

Tackle boxes. Here again many new fishermen go for the fully featured models, the more drawers and trays the better. Quite often though the more places you have to put things the more ways you have to lose them. Start out with a simple tackle box with a large open bottom and a few small trays.

Now you're ready for the most fun of all: Bass fishing. Hit the water, be safe and good luck.
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If you want to catch more bass you need to come over to AllAboutBassFishing.com. We provide many tips, tactics, articles and more to help with your next bass fishing adventure. Whether you fish for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, peacock bass, or any other type of bass we can help you.

Fly Fishing Tips for Beginners

Fly fishing is a very popular fishing sport that can be both relaxing and challenging at the same time.

The following tips and tricks are ideal for beginners. When you're just starting out learning to fly fish you'll want all the help and advice that you can get from the experts.

Tip #1: Practice your CastingThe experts say that the one thing that you need to do to develop a good casting technique is to practice as often as you can. This will lead to a proficiency in casting that make all the difference between being a successful fly fisher or a frustrated one.

Try practicing against a wall on the outside of your house. Just imagine that there is a clock hanging on the wall that is at the same level as your shoulder. Place markers, such as black electric tape, at the 11:00 and 1:00 clock positions. Practice casting against these markers for a few minutes each day to improve your accuracy and style.

Tip #2: RodsThere are several things that you need to think about when choosing the right type of rod for you. Every reel and rod has a certain function that you need to be aware of.One of the first things that you need to consider is comfort. Is the rod that you're using comfortable for you to hold? If you're shorter than about 5'5" you won't want to use a rod that is seven feet. Choose a rod length that is easy for you to hold and cast for a few hours at a time.

Most of the rods on the market today are designed to allow you to feel when a fish bites. The shaft of the rod is called a "blank" and when the rod is first manufactured the blank is made from fiberglass, graphite, or other materials. Each of these blanks has an action that is either: light, medium, medium/heavy, or heavy. The upper portion will also have an action that is either: extra light, light, or regular.

Both ends of the blank are assembled and the final result is a fishing rod, complete with a handle and guide. No matter what type of rod that you're using, the "action" of the rod will refer to the "blank". The action of the rod will have a great deal to do with the type of fishing that you're doing.

Tip #3: Holding your Rod Effectively It's important that you learn to hold your rod effectively under any fishing conditions. You want to make sure that you maintain good control at all times without gripping too hard. You can adjust the power of your hold when you're in the middle of a cast. This will allow you to minimize the vibrations of each movement. With just a bit of practice you'll be able to increase the tightness at the same as you learn to relax your grip.

Tip #4: What do to with a Running FishBe prepared if a fish runs toward you. Stand on your toes and at the same time raise your rod up over your head as high as you can. Take the line and put it back over onto your second and third fingers of the hand that is holding the rod. Quickly strip the line to pull up on any slack.

If the fish starts to run away from you make sure that you keep the rod up high and slowly let out the line, letting it slide from your fingers. Be ready to palm the reel of the rod when the slack is entirely gone.

Tip #5: Best Bait ChoicesFollowing is a list of some best bait choices as recommended by the experts:Grubs: Grubs are small lures that are usually used to catch larger fish. Grubs are great for use in highland reservoirs where there is little cover for the fish. The grub is much like a bare jig head that has a soft plastic body to attach to the hook. You'll want to use them most often in clear water conditions. Jigs are best used in water that is clear to murky and in water temperatures that are below 60 degrees. The jig is considered to be a "presentation" lure and the ideal way to use them is by making them look as alive as you can. The jig is essentially lead-weighted bait that has one hook. You'll want to add a trailer to the end of the hook for the best results. Plastic worms: If you want to catch that trophy fish you'll probably want to use a plastic worm. This is because the plastic worm is one of the most effective lures for catching any type of big fish. Plastic worms have a thin and long profile with a lifelike action that attracts them instantly to bass. You'll have to learn how to use a plastic worm by touch, feel, and practice. The more that you practice that better results you'll achieve. The one thing that you need to keep in mind is that the fish needs to see the worm before it will hit it. Therefore a plastic worm is best used in clear water. Lure color: Choose lures that are all black or all white. A mix of black and red also works quite well. There will be the odd time when fluorescent colors, such as bright yellow or green, will work well but you'll need to experiment with this.

For more tips, purchase the ebook 101 Fly Fishing Tips for Beginners for only $14.97

Dana Wharf Sportfishing

Dana Wharf Sportfishing - The Bass Capital of The West 2 For Tuesdays By Richie Good fishing again today for Dana Wharf Sportfishing. It's all about sand bass, calico bass, sheephead, sculpin and bonito. Great weather and good fishing! Grab a buddy. It's 2 for Tuesday!That's right don't forget about two for ...
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