When the topic of fly fishing comes up, fishing for
wild Atlantic Salmon in the Gaspe’ region of Canada is
at the top of the list. Even though it can be very
expensive, it is worth every single penny! I can think
of no other place like it where the people are
friendly the water is gin clear, the salmon are
plentiful and also very willing to take a fly. Even
entering the lottery to “win” a chance to try for
these incredible fish is exciting!

The lottery is held during the winter month of
November (Nov. 1st) and each draw costs $6.00 with a
maximum of 10 draws per river. The 4 rivers that I
like are the York, Dartmouth, Saint-Jean and my most
favorite, Petite Cascapedia. If you are lucky enough
to win the draw, you must follow up with a phone call
to the Société de Gestion des Rivières du Gaspé
between January 16 and January 27, 2006 between 8:30
am to 4:30 pm (Eastern time) Monday to Friday, to
reserve rods that have been sold on November 1st.

If you don’t win the lottery for your river but are
going with friends who have, there is still a chance
if you enter the 48 hour draw once you arrive in
Gaspe’. The best time to go is very hard to say as
water levels and when the salmon are in the rivers
vary from week to week. I have been in June and July
and enjoyed both times very much.

After a long day of fishing the last thing you want to
do is prepare a big meal so the best thing to do is
plan and prepare the meals before your trip and freeze
them. That way once you’re back to the campsite, the
evening meal is much easier to make which leaves more
time to sit by the campfire, sip some scotch and talk
about the days events.

Of course if you can afford it, I highly recommend
staying at a lodge right on the river. It just doesn’t
get any better than this. The lodge will be clean and
dry and the food will be nothing short of excellent!

A very important thing to do is hire a guide. A guide
will know the rivers intimately, know where the salmon
are and most likely will have a favorite fly for you
to try. Having a guide will definitely allow you more
chances to hook up and could make the difference
between never feeling a fish on or landing plenty.
Please remember to tip the guide after his or her
services. One time I over tipped because my guide let
me use his “secret weapon” dry fly and I caught a
salmon within minutes of him tying it on!

The weather and water conditions can be hit or miss.
The water could be too low on one day and the next day
it’s too hot or cold or windy with rain but I’ll tell
you something… if you hit it just right, you’ll have
a salmon fishing experience that you’ll never forget!

Bruce Dobbins is an Avid fisherman that has traveled to the Gaspe’ Peninsula on many fishing trips. Visit Fishing Around where you can read more about fishing.

Ok, we have caught our bait and are now at or near the 100’ deep area and are ready to see if any grouper are going to cooperate.

Our rig consists of a heavy snap-swivel tied directly to your main line. Make a 2-3 foot leader of 80 to 100lb mono leader and put a heavy swivel one end and a 8/0 hook on the other. Slip enough lead on the snap to keep you on the bottom, usually 12 to 20 oz depending on the wind and tide, and then slip the swivel into the snap also. Hook a baitfish up through the bottom lips out through the top, right next to the fish’s nostril. Sink him down to the bottom and hold on! Sometimes it won’t even hit the bottom before something nasty grabs it.

At the beginning of this article I mentioned that you want a “fairly” stiff rod. Well, the reason you don’t really want a “broom stick” is it will effect the presentation of your baitfish. After you put 16 to 20 oz of lead and get to the bottom, the rod tip should be moving up and down a little bit with the contour of the bottom. This in turn makes your bait move more instead of just dragging in a straight line. I’m not saying that you should use a light weight rod by any means; just don’t use the stiffest rod you can find. Many times I have used a stiff rod on one side of the boat with a more flexible one on the other. Every time the flexible will catch more fish…..Try it!

Most people who grouper fish prefer to anchor up on a spot. Well, we like to drift for them. I guess it is just your personal preference. I like covering more area by drifting and there is a better chance of finding a new hot spot if you are lucky enough to drift over one.

Well this should help you get started catching more grouper. Please practice catch and release whenever possible and remember the large fish don’t taste any better than an average medium one. Take a picture and let the hog’s go back to catch again later.

If you enjoyed the articles please let me know and I will write more.

You can read more about fishing techniques, submit your fishing photos, check out some tackle classified ads, or just look through our fishing forums at saltwater-angler.com

Thanks for reading!

Bluewater

Many say and believe that a bass fisherman is only as good as his Bass Fishing lures. Well, this is fifty per cent true to some circumstances; because in reality, a great bass fishing lure is useless unless you know how to use it.

There are accurately thousands of different bass fishing lures available all around the world and chances at the local bait and tackle shop doesn’t make all of the variety of lures available to you. Lets accept the fact that the world of bass fishing changes nearly every day, trends come and go, and if the attack that you usually knew will always be the attack you’ll going to use is from twenty years ago, well it’s time to let your self escape in traditional way of hunting bass.

There are many kinds of bait that looks like a fish, exactly look like one, topwater, lightest lure that can able to float in the water, the worms that attract bass for them to think that they are just a worm, the jerk baits that is usually in light color, the craw cranks who look like a small crab, the crank baits that look like a fish with a long mouth and lastly, the buzz bait that releases a noise that calls the bass for it will be in attraction.

High Roller Fishing Lures (salt water) trigger explosive strikes in the open saltwater flats, possesses the ability to finesse trophies from oyster lined creek channels as well as shallow mangrove lagoons. In saltwater, High Roller Fishing Lures deliver thrilling action, strength, cast ability and the durability needed to catch Bull Redfish, Gator Spotted Sea Trout, Massive Snook, Monster Kingfish, Tarpon, Bluefish, Spanish mackerel, Stripers, Amberjack and Jack Crevalle. The Original High Roller, a custom-walking lure, spooks the competition. Designed for exceptionally long casting, the Original High Roller is possibly the most versatile fishing lure we make.

The Pop Roller is a delicate Trout, Snook and Redfish bait, ideal for calm conditions and creek channel fishing. The Chug Roller, with its echoing, deep chug, calls fish from great depths triggering acrobatic strikes. The Rip Roller series is the most often lure of fishermen, because it sales almost double than other lure. Due to the noise that the prop makes when ripped thru the water, it totally rips the competition, the Crank Roller and the Wiggle Roller round out the series with un-paralleled buoyancy, flash and structure bumping reactions.

The High Roller (freshwater) is designed for professional fisherman, High Roller fishing lures are proven tough and performance tested. Originally made for Largemouth and Smallmouth bass, High Roller offers poppers, aggressive walking baits, noisy crank baits and world-class prop baits that outperform, out-cast and out-catch the competition.

There are also the so called Classic Bass Fishing Lures, like the Pro Series Jig, it is weedless designed with dual rattles, the Pro Series Spinner Baits a premium plated blades, the Tournament Series Spinner Bait it is commonly used while in a tournament, and lastly the Clacking Buzz Bait it is the noisiest buzz bait that is existing around the world.

Lures are important in bass fishing for it is the life and the link of the fishermen to the bass. It creates a big connection to them that in line in fishing. This lure may be the cause of the last breath of the fish who dares to eat them and it is also the start of one person to consider him/her self as a fishermen.

For a free course on smallmouth bass fishing and tips on Canada bass fishing, visit www.bassfishingsystem.com/ today.

Fishing Rod Casting

The action of a fishing rod is the behavior of the rod while being cast by an individual. The action of the rod may be the same for all the people who cast with it and it may be different for every person who casts with it. Very few casters cast exactly alike. Their hand, arm, muscular and nervous systems are never exactly alike and they con¬sequently perform a cast with a rod differently than any other hand and arm, etc. The action of most rods will react substantially the same for all casters, however. When a rod does not react the same for one caster as another, the action of the rod for each caster is different. That is, a rod may be called a stiff action by one caster and a med¬ium stiff action by another, and both are correct. The action of a rod, then, depends directly on the particular caster using it and may vary from caster to caster.
We will discuss rod action as it applies to fly rods, only. The rod actions are only discussed in general terms.

Wet Fly Fishing Rod Casting

WEJT FLY ACTION: Years ago, a “wet fly action” fly rod was considered to be a rod that was very limber and which bent freely from the grip to the tip. The theory of such limber, soft rods was that they allowed the flies to fall gently into the water and the line to fall straight into the water. Either claim has questionable advantages under many conditions. Gradually, as the years have gone by, fisher¬men began to find out that these old “buggy whip wet fly rods” were actually poor rods for casting the wet fly and that rods suitable for dry fly casting generally cast wet flies much more satisfactorily. Act¬ually, wet fly rods are non-existent today except when a maker turns out a poor dry fly rod and sells it to some novice as a “wet fly rod.”

Dry Fly Fishing Rod Casting

DRY FLY ACTION: There are many ways to build a dry fly rod or dry fly action into a rod. Most of these methods produce good dry fly rods. I will briefly describe some of the better known methods of producing dry fly action in a rod.
HEWITT DRY FLY ACTION: Edward H. Hewitt, as you un¬doubtedly know, was considered the best fly fisherman for trout in the world. There are those who are prone to minimize Hewitt’s abil¬ities for personal reasons or self glory. However, I have never known or heard of anyone from reliable sources who could beat Hewitt for actually putting trout in a creel. Hewitt used a rod with action or the bending in the lower or middle part but not as pronounced as in the standard Dry Fly action. On a three piece rod, for example, the upper half of the middle section and the lower half of the tip have “level tapers”, that is, the tapers are slight. This leaves these areas a little stiff. Such a rod has action all over but slightly more of the bending is in the butt section, the lower half of the middle section, and the top half of the tip.

Hewitt action is identical to the Standard Dry Fly action describ¬ed below, except that the variations in the “level tapered” areas are less from a straight taper than the Standard Dry Fly action “level tapers.”
In one of the last letters from Hewitt, he wrote me that he much preferred this type of rod to all others and that he never was able to wear one out or soften up the action of such a rod no matter how long he use it. This means something coming from Hewitt. He not only had used rods of various types for a great many years but used them a great deal ever year. As always, Hewitt had Leonard make his rods and he always had the highest praised for them.

To continue reading this article go now to http://www.fishingcenterguides.com/Fishing-Guides-Fishing-Rod-Casting-Tips

Learn more about fishing. Read our article on fly fishing fly line color to get useful information on the different type of fly lines available

© 2006, All Rights Reserved

Sunshine, crashing waves and hands-on activities. These are three things every kid loves. That’s what makes deep sea fishing the perfect family outing. Especially during summer months when children can get bored, deep sea fishing makes for a wonderful time of togetherness, education and excitement.

Before you venture onto any vessel, you’ll want to run through the checklist below. Taking time to prepare before launching into the deep blue sea can ensure your trip will be a huge success.

Safety

No outing can be truly fun for everyone unless it is also safe. There are steps you can take to ensure you and your family will have a day of adventure as well as safety. Be sure to ask the captain of the boat about the following:

_____ Life Preservers - Make sure life preservers on the boat are current. Preservers need to be within easy reach. The boat should have a variety of life preservers in different sizes to fit both adults and children.

_____ Coast Guard Inspection - You’ll want a fishing vessel that is big and seaworthy, and that has passed all necessary inspections. Look for a U.S. Coast Guard safety inspection sticker to be sure. Also check for a radio and emergency beacon onboard.

_____ CPR - The crew aboard your deep-sea fishing boat should be CPR and first aid trained.

_____ Sun Protection - The sun gets very intense over water. In fact, you get 180% exposure to the sun while on the water as opposed to on land. (100% direct sun exposure plus 80% exposure from water reflection.) You’ll want to pack sunscreen as well as hats and sunglasses.

Fishing

Your fishing experience will be different depending on which area of the U.S. you are in. Water temperature, local weather and current surface temperatures can all play a role in the success of your trip. While these elements may be out of your control, there are other elements you need to verify before casting off.

_____ Experience - Your captain and crew should have plenty of experience fishing in the local waters. They should be comfortable navigating the area and should be able to find sweet spots where fish commonly gather.

_____ Equipment - The boat you choose to sail on should be outfitted with the latest fish-finding electronics to help ensure you get what you came for.

_____ Bait - Bait used while fishing should be indigenous to the area. Fish can be finicky about what they will and will not eat.

_____ Unwanted Transfer - Be sure to wash your hands (or have the crew wash their hands) after applying sunscreen, aftershave or other scented lotions. The smell (and taste) can transfer to the bait causing the fish to stop biting.

Kids

When deep sea fishing with kids, special considerations come into play. Ask your crew about the following if you plan to bring young children onboard.

_____ Family Friendly - Is this a family friendly ship? Is language controlled? Are alcoholic beverages served? Is smoking allowed?

_____ Stories - When the fish aren’t biting, things might become quiet. Will the crew tell stories about the area, share educational information, teach knot tying or allow kids to steer the boat?

_____ Naps - Is there a bench or cot where small children can lie down if they get tired?

Everyone

To ensure the enjoyment of the trip for each family member, you’ll want to:

_____ Bring Plenty of Snacks and Drinks - Even though the boat may provide chips or sodas, they may be limited in their variety. Pack your child’s favorite snacks and juices plus plenty of water. You’ll need to stay hydrated while out in the sun.

_____ Get a Good Night’s Sleep - Deep sea fishing is an absolute blast! It can be tiring, however, especially for younger children. Be sure to get a good night’s sleep before venturing out.

_____ Take Dramamine - If you are prone to seasickness, or don’t know if you will become seasick, take Dramamine or Bonine the night before and the morning of your trip just to be on the safe side.

_____ Bring Your Camera! This will be a day that memories are made of. You’ll want to capture every moment for your photo albums. Be sure to bring plenty of film and/or an extra battery.

When you’ve checked off everything on your list, you’ll be ready for a wonderful day filled with family fun and adventure. With the right captain at the helm, your deep-sea fishing journey will soon become a family tradition you’ll look forward to year after year.

Steven and Michael Perkins are co-captains of The Nor’easter, a 42′ vessel dedicated to deep sea fishing in Maine. Visit www.noreasterfishing.com today for pricing and details on scheduling family charter fishing tours in Maine.

Did you know that fly fishing is one of the most relaxing sports around? Casting a line into a calm stream can be said to be one of life’s greatest pleasures. Fly fisherman can seem a bit fanatic in their quest for the perfect river and the perfect spot to spend the day looking for a good catch. I’ve done a little research into the world of fly fishing vacations and have come up with the three tips that can turn your next fly fishing trip into an experience to remember.

1) Consider lesser known fly fishing spots. Did you know that there is absolutely incredible fly fishing available in a lot of states that wouldn’t seem obvious at first glance? There sure is. One such spot is Montana. True pros know that Montana has a ton of incredible fly fishing spots and that you only really need to find one to make your vacation incredible. During the summer, Montana and Wyoming can become very crowded with tourists looking to visit the stunning national parks. However, these 1 week tourists might not be overly interested in visiting the secluded lakes and streams that you might love to fish in Montana.

2) Compare online deals. Orbitz and Expedia can offer some really good deals on package vacations. However, sometimes it’s best to check out discount airlines for really good deals. Southwest and JetBlue have become extremely popular airline options and they cover a good part of the US now. Booking separate hotel and (a discount) airfare might be a great option if you want to save some bucks. You should spend your money on fly fishing gear, not overpriced transportation and accommodation.

3) Canada. This is the most important tip (and overlooked destination) of all. There is nothing quite as good as saving some money during the exchange rate process. Canada is just over the border and has an absolute bounty of natural resources. Lakes, ponds, and streams team with fish. This country is a fly fisherman’s dream come true. There are tons of places that will gladly book you in for a fly fishing vacation.

Linda Harrison is author of “Fly Fishing Canada – A Reel Good Time.” Grab your copy at www.zippysflyfishing.com

I was laying down on the bow of the boat gazing at the brilliant stars on this moonless night. All of the rods were set out, staggered by depths and distance away from the boat. As we all were enjoying ourselves on this night away from the anxieties of life, we listened to the clickers make there familiar tunes as the waves picked us up and put us back down. I prefer to keep to keep the drags loose, clickers on and then tighten up after the strike. All of the rods sounded alike going click,— click,— click… I got up from the bow and said, “something don’t sound right”. One of the rods was going a bit faster, click, click, click. It was like a shark bite, steady and slow. I ran over to the rod and put the drag lever in the strike position and waited for the fishes turn. Within a few seconds the rod tip bent over, and I yelled “We got one!” I cranked hard and fast and then the rod really doubled over but this fish still didn’t take any drag. I don’t think the fish knew there was a hook set in him. I tried to crank some more but the spool stood still with the rod bent over. Within a split second we got the reaction of a lifetime. The drag started slipping like we hooked on to a locomotive and would not stop. It seemed to go on forever as the line quickly disappeared off the Penn 80 TW, it looked like we were going to get spooled. We were fishing in about 1,400 feet of water and it looked like we had about that much line out. With less than half the line left the heated drag started slowing down. Now it was our turn. “The bent butt rod stays in the rod holder” I said to the rod man, “just crank the best you can and keep that rod tip bent at all times keeping consistent pressure on the fish”. We were able to get about 3 quarters of the spool back when our fish decided to make another locomotive run. This fish took what he wanted, when he wanted. We were in for a big battle. Paying close attention is crucial during this fight, because pressure has to be kept on this fish 100 % of the time. Three people are on this boat and we each got about 5 turns to crank this baby in as we could only last no more than 15 minutes each. Over three hours later then I stuck a large flying gaff into a Broadbill Swordfish estimated over 300 lbs. This is what world class Sword fishing is all about.

The following are some tips from me, the Captain, on rigging for this night excursion:

Boat rigging:

You will need a seaworthy boat, either chartered or owned, All running lights need to be in working order; Port, Starboard, and Stern lights. These lights are mandatory and very important since there are shipping lanes in our fish zone. You must be able to identify and be identified when you’re on the water at night. Knowledge of vessel lights is important so as to avoid a collision course. Keep all loose articles either tied down or in a locker as you make the long run offshore. Always do manual checks on your bile pumps. I take a hose and start filling up the bilge. If your float switches are working the bilge pumps will come on automatically and you’re ready to roll.

Fishing line:

800 yards of 50 pound test should get most jobs done. Most guys are going with the braided lines which have a smaller diameter than monofilament does and have double the strength. As an example we have used 200 lb. braided Tuff line which has a diameter of 50 lb. test mono, therefore we can spool over 1000 yards on to a Penn 80TW. This might sound overkill but I like to fish all my rods ready for that 400 pounder.

Reels:

50 weight reels such as Finore, Penn, and Shimano’s 2-speed are the preferred minimum. If you size down you take a risk of getting spooled or the drag might not hold up against the pressure. It can be done but it takes good skill. The Broadbill Swordfish has been known to reach over 1000 pounds, but more common in the 100-200 pound range.

Rods:

A nice short stick in the 50 -80 pound class is an awesome rod. A bent butt rod is my choice for handling a big fish. Extra large Aftco roller guides are some of the best guides to have and play an important role when line strips off the reel. They help to keep your wind-ons from getting damaged.

Leaders:

To start, wind-on leaders should be used and can be purchased at most offshore tackle shops. They help when your fish comes close to the boat and does not want to cooperate. The extra length of heavy mono will safeguard your line when it chafes on the bottom of your boat or goes around the props. A 40 turn bimini needs to be tied to the end of your main line, then connect the loop that is on your wind-on to the loop on your bimini by taking your wind-on loop and insert it through your bimini. Then take the tag end of your wind-on leader and pass it through the wind-on loop 2 times, then pull tight. Next you need to connect a 300 lb. strength ball-bearing swivel or better to the end of the wind-on using a crimp that matches your line strength. I use 300 pound leaders with the crimps to match and also chaffing gear to reduce any wear and tear to the leader connections.

Now you need to connect 8-10 feet of the same strength leader to the other end of the ball-bearing swivel. Don’t forget the chaffing gear.

Hooks:

You are near the final stages. Size 10/0 Mustad hooks are the average and are worthy. The following are 2 single hook rigs:

The first one is easy and used for live bait. Just crimp your hook, (use chaffing gear) to the end of the leader. Keep your loops small as you crimp the hook, but big enough so that the hook swings freely. Live baits should be bridled through the eye sockets and not through the eyeballs. I use 50 pound strength wax line with an open eye needle for bridling. Then I insert the hook upwards under the bridle.

The 2nd rig is a squid rig. It is almost like the first except you use 2 crimps. Pass the first crimp through the tag end so it slides freely then crimp your 2nd one the same way as the live bait rig, only this time leave about 2 inches of the tag end pass through the crimp. Next take your medium to large squid and insert the hook about ¾ of an inch down from the top of the mantle and pull through past your crimp and extra tag line. Then take your free moving crimp and bring it down and insert that extra tag line into the crimp, but do not crimp down on it. This will hold up your squid as if on a coat hanger. Then you will need to re-insert the hook back through the squid making sure the squid hangs straight when all is finished. Next take your bridling needle and floss and sow the squids head and tentacle section to the mantle piece. This section is delicate on the squid and might even pull off. Making sure everything looks normal to the fish is important. Using the needle and thread will make the squid stay intact on the strike.

Accessories:

As you prepare to deploy your lines you will need a supply of 12-32 oz weights, light sticks, balloons and rubber bands. The first line to be set out will be the furthest from the boat and also the deepest, 250-350 feet deep. First things first, crack your light stick or twist your Electralume and attach it to your leader with a wax line loop tied on your line anywhere from 10-40 feet away from the bait. Then rig your bait as we did earlier. Throw your bait overboard and go at least 20-50 feet behind the bait to attach your weight by using another wax line loop. Make this connection tight so the weight does not slide around the line. The heavier the weight the faster your bait pulls through the water. Heavier weights for dead baits like Squid, Bonita and small Mackerel and lighter weights for live bait like Blue Runners, goggle eyes, Tinkers etc.

Set your first jug or balloon far from the boat, at least 200 feet away with a cylume attached for a good visual. You’re ready for rod # 2. This rod will go 2-250 feet down, then attach your balloon or jug and set this line in between the boat and the furthest balloon. Space the balloons about 100 feet apart. Your next rod will go down 150-200 feet. To avoid all the counting I will pre-measure my lines at home and mark them by tying half hitches with wax line. This way when you deploy your lines, just let out the line slowly until you reach your marker. This last rod does not need a balloon, it is fished right below the boat. If you use more rods you need to set your first balloon further from the boat, and perhaps a 2nd rod at the boat, one on the bow, one on the stern.

It is a good idea to get an under water light that can be kept right under the transom. This light will attract fish, and you can see passing Turtles, Dolphin and other baits come right into the light looking for something to eat and sometimes even a Swordfish will swim through.

Prior to all the rigging, the most important part is to set your drags. With 50 pound line, 8-10 pounds of drag is sufficient at the strike drag position. With heavier lines, 12 pounds of drag is more than enough. The lower jaw on the Swordfish is very soft and if a hook gets lodged in that section it will pull when under enough pressure. If the hook gets lodged in the upper section you can use more drag, but you never know where he’s hooked so stay light on the drag and bring that fish to the boat. Shimano’s drag scales are a great tool for measuring your drags.

Your final step is to tune your drag levers after you deploy each line. Some Captains prefer to keep their drag lever in the strike position I prefer to keep them loose with the clickers on, just enough so you don’t hear the line pay out when the waves lift the boat up and down.

You are now Sword fishing!

Remember there is a size limit of 47 inches from the tip of the lower jaw to the fork of the tail. There is nothing wrong with releasing fish bigger than 47 inches either. Sinking a gaff into a fish near 200 pounds or better is a much better accomplishment.

If you would like to see it all firsthand contact Captain Cary Hanna @ captcary@newlattitude.com to take you out for this deep sea adventure.

Captain Cary Hanna is a USCG certified boat captain. He runs his charter boat, the ‘New Lattitude’ out of the Port Everglades inlet in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. and has logged over 200 trips fishing for Swordfish. The Captains’ boat is a custom rigged 2004 32 foot Donzi center console powered with twin 225 hp Mercury Optimax‘s. To reserve a charter or ask any questions about this article call 954-907-0967.

Till Next Tide,

Captain Cary Hanna

http://www.newlattitude.com
Fort lauderdale Sportfishing Charters
Swordfish, Sailfish, Dolphin, Tuna, Kingfish, Sharks and more.
Come Get Some

Your fishing gear can help you land the big one, so you should make sure you choose wisely when it comes to lures, reels and rods. It isn’t always the most expensive piece of equipment that wins - you have to present the right lure to the fish in order to get him to bite. Depending on the conditions and where you are fishing, you may want to be sure our tackle box is filled with equipment that will tackle any fishing situation.

Fishing lures come in all shapes sizes and colors. Some look like they belong on a disco floor while others are more subtle. Of course, you will want to have a wide range of lures in your arsenal, but when you are fishing you want to make sure you cast the right one out. In order to do that you need to know a bit about the fish you are trying to catch. Find out what he eats and pick a lure that resembles that.

The color of your lure can tempt a fish that might not otherwise bite. Match your lure selection to the type of water you are fishing. If the water is full of sediment, then pick a brightly colored lure. If you are fishing a crystal clear body of water then choose more natural colors. Dual colored lures work good in muddy streams as well.

It’s also important to have a good quality reel for fishing. If you are picking out a fly reel be aware that there are two types of drag systems. This is what provides the tension on the line and prevents the fish from running away with the line. You want to be sure to pick the right reel and drag tension if you are going after those larger fish.

Of course, you also need a great fishing rod and they come in many styles. Depending on the type of fishing you will be doing, you could choose a fly rod, surf casting rod, casting rod or deep sea rod. Using the right rod is imperative for a successful fishing trip. Quality is important too as the low quality rods break and fall apart easily. You don’t want that to happen when you are reeling in the big one!

The best rods today are made of graphite, they are the strongest but still lightweight. When selecting a rod, make sure the cork fits properly and the guides appear to be durable. Also, the guides should be covered with paint or something that will protect it from rust.

If you are planning an early morning fishing trip, it’s best to select your fishing gear the night before and test it out. That way you can run out to the store if you don’t have that perfect lure or your reel isn’t working properly. Make sure everything is working and you have enough line wound on your reel. Don’t forget to pack enough hooks, sinkers and other accessories.

Make sure the equipment you select is geared for the type of fishing you will be doing. The rods, reels and lures you will use differ depending on if you are in a fast moving stream or fishing from a canoe on a quite lake. Of course, the species of fish you are after makes a big difference in your choice of equipment as well.

So next time you plan a fishing trip, make sure you plan ahead and find out what the fish are eating at this time of year and what the water is like. Select your gear accordingly and you’ll be landing that prize catch in no time!

Lee Dobbins writes for Fishing Around where you can find out more about all types of fishing and how to make the best of your next fishing trip.

Rainbow Trout: Few freshwater fish can match the fighting spirit
and beauty of a Rainbow Trout.

The Rainbow Trout is a well-traveled species of fish. Originally,
the Rainbow Trout was found in the coastal rivers in the United
States on the west coast but today, Rainbow Trout are found
throughout the United States, as well as in the cold-water
streams of South America, Europe, New Zealand and even Australia.

The reason for the wide range of Rainbow Trout in the U.S. is
that Rainbow Trout are relatively easy to transplant. Virtually
all areas that Rainbow Trout now inhabit are due to environmental
transplants – both intentionally or unintentionally.

Regardless, Rainbow Trout are the most popular types of trout
found in the world today, and are also the most sought after
trout by fly fishermen.

The Rainbow Trout is equally famous for it’s acrobatic aerial
displays and very long runs to avoid being caught.

Rainbow Trout are also well-known for being highly selective in
what they eat. While at other times, they seemingly gorge
themselves on just about everything in sight.

Rainbow Trout are easily distinguished by the red stripe that
travels the length of the fish, from the gill plates to the tail.
Rainbow Trout also have hundreds of black spots that cover the
dorsal of the body (the dorsal part of the body of a trout refers
to the “back side” of the fish).

Brown Trout : Brown Trout are the “smartest” of the trout family,
frequently frustrating beginners and professionals alike.

The Brown Trout, which is similar to the Rainbow Trout, is also
found extensively throughout the world. The Brown Trout was
originally a European and Asian fish, but has made its way to
North America, New Zealand and South America. In the United
States, Brown Trout are found extensively in the Rocky Mountains
and also in Midwestern and Eastern U.S. trout streams.

The Brown Trout is famous for its intelligence and cunning
ability to avoid being caught. Simple fly fishing tactics that
work for other types of trout often times fail miserably when fly
fishing for Brown Trout and often lead anglers to frustration –
especially beginning anglers. Yet this same intelligence makes
catching Brown Trout all the more challenging and rewarding,
especially since Brown Trout are generally a little bit larger
than their Rainbow Trout cousins. This is due primarily to their
ability to live in warmer water (which usually has higher
nutrients than colder water).

Brown Trout are sometimes hatchery raised, although not nearly on
the same scale as the Rainbow Trout. The difficulties in raising
Brown Trout in hatcheries, combined with the desire of anglers to
fly fish for the easier to catch Rainbow Trout, have limited the
numbers of Brown Trout raised in hatcheries.

Brown Trout are notorious for ruining many fly fishing trips for
anglers. The high degree of intelligence displayed by Brown Trout
makes them very difficult to even hook. Once hooked, the real
intelligence of the Brown Trout really becomes evident. Instead
of putting on acrobatic displays like the Rainbow Trout, Brown
Trout almost always head for every obstacle in the river – in
hopes of entangling and snapping the line. Failing that, it will
make monstrous runs, and even take to the air like the Rainbow
Trout as a last resort. In short, a Brown Trout will truly
exhaust itself trying to break free from your fishing line, using
every trick they know to escape. All to often, the trout ends up
getting away since light tippets and tackle are often usually
used when fly fishing for Brown Trout - leading to many ‘the big
one that got away’ stories at dinnertime.

The Brown Trout is recognized by its butter colored sides and has
black and red spots following the lateral line of its body. To
many people, the Brown Trout is rather ugly, especially when
stacked up against a more colorful rainbow or Brook Trout.
However, the minute you hook a 20-inch Brown Trout – you’ll think
it ‘s the most beautiful fish in the world.

If you’re an avid Rainbow Trout angler, be warned that the Brown
Trout could very well be the primary trout species of the future,
so it’s best to brush up on your tactics for this wily fish.
Brown Trout are remarkably resilient and have a strong instinct
to survive. Their ability to live in warmer waters than other
trout, along with their resistance to Whirling Disease, allows
Brown Trout to thrive in areas where Rainbow Trout often struggle
to survive. In the years to come, especially if drought
conditions continue in the Rocky Mountains and the climate
continues to warm, it is quite possible that Brown Trout will
become the primary trout species in most of the United States.

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A tacklebox or a tackle bag is a necessity to store your fishing lures, bobbers, and hooks.