Wednesday 11 May 2011

Fly Fishing Gear

The term “fly fishing gear” can be used to refer to a lot of parts of your fly fishing supplies.  In this article, we’ll discuss various piece of fly fishing gear that are important to have on hand.  You already know you need a rod and reel, but there’s so much more involved in your fly fishing gear.

Of course, you’ll need to have a variety of flies to use as bait for the fish.  Flies are meant to mimic the look and movement of a fish’s natural food source.  Some fish prefer different flies, and when you use what they are used to eating, your chances are better of landing a bite.  Keep several different types of flies close at hand so you can choose the right fly for the specific fish you are angling for.

You will also need to have several different weights of lines so you can switch them out if you find yourself in waters with larger fish.  Of course, your fly rod has a lot to do with what line to use, but if you have an 8 nwt rod and are finding some 10 pound fish, go ahead and switch to a 10 nwt line to increase your chances of winning a fight with that prize-winning trout.

Part of your fly fishing gear includes what you wear while fishing.  You’ll need to have a good pair of waders so you can keep dry while going after your fish.  Pick a pair of waders that will meet your fishing situation.  Chest high waders are usually a good choice because they allow you to wade in all depths of water.

You will also need a fishing vest with lots of pockets that will hold your flies, line, and other pieces of gear.  The pockets should fasten with Velcro so that you have easy access to what you need.  You don’t want to be on the water and realize you need a different fly only to miss out on a passing school of fish because you were fumbling with your pockets.

A good pair of fishing pliers is almost a necessity.  Many rivers and streams are exclusively catch and release water.  That means that once you catch the fish, you need to let it go.  This helps propagate the population and promote healthy fishing at all times.  You will want an easy way to get the hook out of the fish’s mouth without causing harm to its body.  Fishing pliers are designed to do just that.

Finally, your fly fishing gear should include a waterproof camera.  If you are lucky enough to land a whopper, you’ll want to document it as part of your prize!

When you are amassing your fly fishing gear, things can eventually get out of hand.  Many fly fishermen have an abundance of gear with the possibility that they might need something specific in a certain situation.  That’s just fine, but the essentials that are listed above are a start!

Tuesday 10 May 2011

bass fishing

BASS FISHING FACTS AND MORE





Bass fishing has a fascinating history. It started in the late 18th century and continues to progress until today.





It probably was originally practiced in search for food among the people in the south of the United States. Since then, it has started gaining numerous audiences of all ages and nations. Today, countries such as Australia, Cuba, South Africa, 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. Onesimus Ustonson introduced his first multiplying reels to the fishing gurus and lovers. It was later developed into bait caster.





• 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 Tennessee Valley Authority and encouraged the creation and building of numerous dams. These dams were later used for culturing different varieties of bass fishes.





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





• The year 1992 is one of the most glorious events in the history of bass fishing. Larry Nixon, the famous fisherman in the history of bass fishing won $1 M total earnings for this sport on this year.





Bass Fish





Several fish species that are being caught in the bass fishing events are the following:





• Micropterus salmoides (Lacepede) - Largemouth Bass



• Micropterus dolomieui - Smallmouth bass



• Micropterus punctatus - Kentucky Bass





Other species of Micropterus are also caught but one that remains popular is the Largemouth bass. However, it should be emphasized that 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. The popularity of the game during this period is the springboard to the development of modern fishing equipments from bass boats, rods, lines, lures and various fishing gears.





Electronic gears were also incorporated among the host of equipments bass fishers used at that time. Reels of different types, which function in hauling and hoisting, were also created.





The contribution of bass fishing industry to the US economy records $50 to $70 Billion and the number continues to grow. 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.


best fishing rod

Excellent Fishing Rods for that Perfect Fishing Experience





Today’s fishing rods have incorporated modern features that are not typical of the more primitive cane pole. Modern fishing rods contain reels, which aid in the retrieval of fish caught in its bait.





A much-sophisticated feature is the spinning rod where the entire shaft of the rod except the handle can move around on its axis to allow flexibility when fish caught on snare bait struggles through the water.





Like the classic cane fishing rods, the fishing gadget is thick at the handle (bottom) and is tapered and thinner at the tip. This very basic design allows handling stability and flexible movement of the entire length of the shaft.





Types of Fishing Rods and Specifications





A typical fishing rod measures 6 and 16 feet (2 and 5 m) and vary in capability to tolerate strain in fishing activity. The length has a lot to do with withstanding force exerted by the fish to the pole and determines for the most part the performance of rods used for angling.





Cane Poles





Cane poles are one of the smallest and less sophisticated gadgets in fishing. It is usually made of bamboo or other flexible wood material with the most basic fly line attached to it.





Unlike other more sophisticated fishing rods, cane poles do not usually contain reels or its equivalent to be used for reeling in or retrieving fish caught on bait. This very same action is known as angling.





Spinning Rods





These types of rods are the most popular today. They can be used either for heavyweight or lightweight fish although they were proven best for trout, walleye and bass fish. They vary in measurements from 5 and 7 feet (1.5 and 2.5 m).





Spinning poles are commonly used in bass fishing competition accounting for their flexibility and tolerance to stress. They accommodate bigger and tougher fly lines and stabilize them to avoid line tangles during uncoiling of float lines.





Jigging Rods





These rods are best for heavy lures and baits especially when reaching around 180 to 200 feet under the ocean’s surface. They are made of fine, solid materials which accounts to their heaviness. The use of jigging rods is specifically due to alternating currents during the fishing activity.





Some oceans have erratic undersea current. That is why the bait and fly lines should be kept in place. Lures are also disturbed and cause confusion among fish if the lines are not long and heavy enough to withstand and tolerate water currents under the sea.





These rods are best for target fishes usually found dwelling at the bottom of the sea such as halibut and cods.


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