Thursday, August 20, 2009

A Beginners Guide to Trout Fishing

In this article I'm going to outline some tips and techniques that will help the beginning trout angler catch more trout and have more fun. Trout fishing can be a very challenging exercise when you're trying to do it "blind" without any experience. When I began trout fishing, more than 25 year ago, I had the good fortune of learning from a true trout 'master'. Many of the tips he taught me are contained in this article.
Most of these tips are best applied in the flowing waters of both rivers and streams, although they can be easily modified for lake fishing as well. As a beginner, the first thing to pay attention to is your hands. Yep, I said your hands. You see, any scents that are on your hands will transfer to your bait or lure. If these scents are in any way unnatural, trout will smell them and tend not to bite. For this reason you want to make sure that your hands are free from any unnatural scents. This is accomplished by simply grabbing a handful of dirt and rubbing it into your hands before touching your bait or lure. By making sure that your hands are free of unnatural scents, you will experience many more bites.
The next thing the beginning trout angler should keep in mind is their fishing line. Trout are found in cold clear water (in most cases) and this makes your fishing line much more visible to the trout. Using fishing line that's too heavy is a mistake beginning trout anglers make all the time. My rule has always been that any line heavier than six pound test monofilament is complete overkill for trout fishing. I personally prefer four pound test, but six pound test is passable. The bottom line is that no line heavier than six pound test should ever be employed while trout fishing.
As you can probably already tell, as a beginning trout fisherman, the simple things are the most important. If the simple things are being handled, in most cases the rest will fall into place. How about when you are trout fishing? As a beginner you may not give much consideration to when you are fishing, by you should. By learning the simple ways in which the weather and moon impact fishing, you will be able to make sure that you're trout fishing at the most opportune times.
These simple tips will help you become a much more successful beginning trout angler There is simply no substitute for digesting good information and putting that information into practice. You've undoubtedly heard the old adage that practice makes perfect. Well, nothing will make you a better trout angler like spending time practicing your craft. Practice by studying and spending time on the water.
Through this quick beginners guide to trout fishing you will be a much more successful angler. How am I so sure of this? Because I used these exact tips when I started trout fishing more than 25 years ago and I know how effective they are, and if they worked for me I also know they will work for anyone.
Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!
The Most Effective Trout Hooks On The Market: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Best Hooks For Trout Fishing

What are the best hooks for trout fishing? I've been asked that question many times in the last 25 years, and in this article I'm going to do my best to explain the answer to this question. The best hooks for trout fishing have 3 very important things in common. These 3 things are what this article is about. As long as your trout fishing hooks have these 3 things in common, you're going to be in great shape.
Many trout anglers make the mistake of not thinking enough about their hooks, and it ends up costing them bites. Many times in trout fishing the simplest things are the most effective and this is certainly true with hooks. This is especially true if live bait is employed when fishing for trout. When you fish with live bait, you want the focus to be on the bait, and nothing else. The bottom line is that if you keep these 3 things in mind, you'll know that you're always using the best hooks for trout fishing.
  • The Size - When fishing for trout you always want to use small fishing hooks. This means size 8 or 10 in most situations, and rarely any hooks larger than size 6. The size of your hooks is important because we don't want them to be visible to the trout. When talking about the best hooks for trout fishing, the smaller the better. Some trout anglers even like to use size 12 and 14 hooks, which are so small you almost have to have the hands of a four year old to deal with then effectively.
  • The Sharpness - When fishing for trout (or any other species of fish) your hooks should always be as sharp as possible. New hooks are very sharp, but after being used for a while they become dull. This is why changing your hooks frequently or sharpening them with a hook sharper is so important. It's said that 50% of the fish we miss is because of dull hooks. I like to drift fish in rivers, where I bounce my bait along the bottom as it flows with the current. This means that I get snagged and/or hung up a lot. So I'm constantly changing my hooks to make sure that they're as sharp as possible.
  • The Configuration - Trout fishing hooks should be configured properly, especially when using live bait. The most effective configuration that I've ever used is a set of gang hook. Trout fishing hooks configured as a set of gang hooks are extremely effective, especially when worm fishing. Another configuration that some trout fishermen like is a #10 plain hook with a small treble hook tied behind it. This trout fishing hook set up is quite effective for Powerbait fishing.
The bottom line is that the best hooks for this type of fishing need to have these 3 things in common. If your trout fishing hooks have these three things in common you will be a successful trout fisherman. And never forget, there is no magic formula to fishing, so the more time that you can spend on the water practicing your craft, the better off you will be.
Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 25 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his five year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!
Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Beginning Trout Fishing - The Basics

f you are new to trout fishing, understanding the basics will make fishing for these fish much more enjoyable. In this article I will use my 25 years of trout fishing experience to outline some of the basics of trout fishing. All too many anglers neglect these simple tips and thus experience very little success. Keeping these things in mind when trout fishing will make you a much more successful trout angler, no matter where you choose to fish.
The first thing that you need to understand is where trout are found. In almost all cases trout are found in cold, clear, flowing water. Although trout are certainly found in lakes, in most cases these trout have been stocked by your states fish and game department. These basics are best employed when fishing in the flowing waters of rivers and/or streams, although they can also be applied to lake fishing.
When fishing for trout in rivers and/or streams most of the time you will be in or right next to the water in which you are fishing. This is important to remember because trout are very aware of their surroundings. If the trout you are fishing for see or hear you, they are much less apt to bite. This is especially true with larger, more experienced trout. You always want to make sure that you wear clothing that doesn't "stand out" and that you "tread lightly" if you are wading.
What about your fishing gear, namely your rod, reel, and fishing line? All too many people use rods, reels, and fishing line that are entirely too heavy. When fishing for trout you should use an ultra light rod and reel and that reel should be spooled with light line. For beginning trout fishing six pound test works great, and as experience is gained graduating to four pound test fishing line is a wonderful idea. The lighter your fishing line, the less visible it will be to the trout.
Another great tip for the beginning trout angler is to present your bait in the most natural way possible. One of the most readily available baits for trout fishing is worms and worms are great trout bait (when used properly). The key is to present your worms naturally, which can be accomplished by using gang hooks. Gang hooks allow worms to be presented outstretched, the way they appear in nature, and still have a hook 'working for you'. A worm rigged on a set of gang hooks and allowed to flow naturally with the current is an effective trout fishing tactic.
The most important thing for beginning trout fishing is to spend as much time as you can on the water fishing. Nothing will increase your skills and catch rates like practicing your craft. The more time that can be spent on the water fishing for trout, the better off you will be.
Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 25 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his five year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.
Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp
Trevor Kugler - EzineArticles Expert Author

Friday, August 14, 2009

Bass Fishing Tip

No other bass fishing tip will give you as much benefit as this one right here. The mere mention of "how to" sends most real bass anglers running for their bass boats in fear. Listen, any bass fisherman worth his weight split shots knows how to bass fish. How many fishing trips with Old Granddad to the semi-clear lake did it take for the elemental rules and regulations that pertain to the art of bass fishing to sink in: one! It takes one trip if at least one bass is hooked and landed, after that everything in between normally is inconsequential to say the least. The art of bass fishing is not rocket science, even though the professionals who get paid very, very well, beg to differ. I am not saying that there is no real value to any guide as a tool to better ones own fishing game. It is. They do help those that have no idea what a large mouth bass is, those that have never been bass fishing or fishing at all. This is all well and good but for the sake of time and space, lets start this hot tip on describing the feeding patterns of the bass. Once you have a firm understanding of what the bait of choice is for a bass, that's half the battle.
Let us take a look at that famous gaping mouth of the bass. Three things that determine what exactly the large mouth bass eats is whatever it can fit into its mouth. That's it. The big tip, the mega-secret that I am giving to you free of charge! You are now saying to yourself, what does this have to do with a great tip? Has the author lost his mind after too many Florida summer bass fishing trips? No. Not yet, not according to my doctors. The key is to know what is present in the lake or pond or even the section of river that you are fishing. Say for instance you are fishing in a small pond in Arkansas. You look around and see the usual lake suspects, a frog or two, a small black bird, and a turtle, fine. All those creatures besides the turtle, and that is not excluded altogether because the little baby turtles make a nice little snack.
The bass have no real adult based predators only when they are young are they vulnerable to be eaten by the larger fish in the lake. Let me explain a little more about the reason this knowledge is almost priceless. To understand the feeding patterns of the bass all you have to do is sit and think. Look out into the lake and visualize the plethora of activity that it happening. The bass are busy chasing the small bait fish that are abundant in the summer and spring months. They do not have to forage long as the sheer number of little fish is roughly 500 to one. They are everywhere and a smart bass would just start at one end of the lake open its gaping jaws and swim fast, filling up on every unfortunate little guy who got in the way. Whoosh. Gulp. Thank you come again.
Werner Wichmann is a bass fishing enthusiast, gives advice on bass fishing techniques, provides articles and tips at http://www.bassfishingtechniquesonline.com; go take a look to learn more techniques today.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Basic Trout Fishing Tactics For Any Angler

For those of you who are new to trout fishing I figured I'd write an article on some basic trout fishing tactics, tactics that will help you catch more trout. From these basic trout fishing tactics, as you practice and refine them, comes all of the trout fishing tactics that are available today. For the purposes of this article, these tactics will have to due with spin fishing, simply because that's my area of expertise. For those of you who like to wave feathers in the air in an attempt to catch trout, this article probably isn't for you. These basic trout fishing tactics are for the spin fisherman.
Before we get down to the actual tactics themselves, lets discuss our gear for a minute. When fishing for trout, it's important to use gear that's not too heavy. You could be using the best trout fishing tactics in the world and if you're gear is too heavy, your success will be limited. I prefer ultra light action rods and reels, spooled with four pound test monofilament fishing line. When fishing for trout, your gear should almost never be heavier than light action and the heaviest line I would suggest would be six pound test. But again, I personally prefer ultra light action rods and reels, spooled with four pound test line. Now that our gear is covered, let's get down to the basic trout fishing tactics, shall we?
  • Pay Attention To Your Hands - This is the most basic of trout fishing tactics, but also very important. Any scent on your hands will transfer to whatever bait you're using and will be detected by the trout. And when a foreign scent is detected by the trout, it will cost you bites. A great technique is to rub a handful of grass or dirt in your hands prior to baiting up. This will eliminate any unnatural odors that may be on your hands.
  • Pay Attention To Nature - When I refer to the word nature, I'm referring specifically to the weather and moon. You see, paying attention to the weather and moon can have quite an impact on you trout fishing success (as a matter of fact all of your fishing success). That's way educating yourself as to the way the weather & moon impact fishing is so important. There's no need to get your doctorate on the subjects either, a free report such as this will do wonders. Doesn't it just make sense to fish when the fish (trout) are the most active? Once you start fishing when nature is helping you out, you'll wonder how you ever fished without knowing this information.
  • Always Use Gang Hooks - When it comes to trout fishing, presenting your bait in a natural manner is key, especially where live worms are concerned. There is no better way to present a live worm while fishing like a set of pre-tied gang hooks. Gang hooks are so important because they enable you to present your live worms in a completely natural manner. This means that your worm will be outstretched, the way God intended, rather than "threaded" onto a hook, thus looking like some sort of worm ball.

These basic trout fishing tactics will get any angler on there way to becoming a trout fishing master. Now that you have the basic tactics, all that you have to do is practice your craft, by spending time on the water. Begin trout fishing while using these tactics, while fishing at the most opportune times of the day/month and you'll begin catching more trout than you ever though possible.
Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country…..Montana!
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Monday, August 10, 2009

Basic Trout Fishing Tactics

It's always a good idea to learn new tips and tactics that may help you catch more fish while fishing, and in the case of this article, more trout while trout fishing. In this article I'm going to discuss some basic trout fishing tactics, all of which I've been using to catch trout for more than 20 years. These basic trout fishing tactics are the kind that never go out of style, and will enable you to be a much better trout angler. Keep in mind that these tactics will work for almost any fish that swims in the flowing waters of rivers and streams throughout the country, but they work especially well on trout.
Before I get into any details, let's start with your rod, reel, and line. If you're planning on going trout fishing, make sure that you're using a rod and reel that are light action at the heaviest. I prefer ultra light action rods and reels for trout fishing, but light action is also tolerable. Anything heavier than light action, should not be used for trout fishing. How about your fishing line? Again, for trout fishing, no line heavier than 6 lb. test should be used. As far as fishing line is concerned, I prefer four pound test, but again, six pound is tolerable. Anything heavier than six pound test should not be used. Fish, and especially trout, is most river and stream situations are very light sensitive and can detect fishing line in the water, which will result in many less bites if your line is too heavy. Now that we have that worked out, let's move onto some of the basic trout fishing tactics.
  • Efficiency - The first basic trout fishing tactic is to be as efficient as possible. The more time that can be spent with our line is the water, the better, and one of the best ways to spend moirĂ© time with your line in the water is through the use of a bait bag. A bait bag is simply a small bag that carries your bait while fishing. A bait bag is especially good for live worms. This way you don't have to waste valuable fishing time searching for your bait. Instead it's always right there at your fingertips whenever you need it. A bait bag will save you a ton of time and help you catch more trout. I've been using one for years and wouldn't even consider fishing without it.
  • Bait Presentation - Bait presentation is crucial for all fishing, but especially trout fishing in river and stream situations. My favorite bait is live worms, and the best tactic for presenting live worms in a natural manner is through the use of a set of pre-tied gang hooks . If you don't know what gang hooks are, you need to educate yourself. Gang hooks are simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem that enable live bait (especially live worms) to be presented naturally. Think about it. What does a live worm look like in nature? Well, a set of gang hooks enables you to present a worm outstretched so that it looks like it does in nature, rather than like a "worm ball". Presenting live bait (especially live worms) naturally is a basic trout fishing tactic that many anglers overlook.
  • Bottom Is Your Friend - Bottom is your friend when fishing for trout in river and stream situations. Bouncing your live bait off of the bottom, as it flows naturally downstream is a deadly trout fishing tactic. I've always found that this works best with live worms, but baits like meal worms, minnows, and crayfish are effective as well. When bouncing your bait off of the bottom, snags will occur. It's just a part of trout fishing. As my mentor used to tell me, "if you're not getting snagged, you're not fishing in the right place.".

These basic trout fishing tactics will enable you to catch more trout almost immediately. The only thing that's required of you is a little practice. The more you begin to employ these tactics, the more proficient you will become. And the more proficient you become, the more trout you will catch. And as I eluded to earlier, these tactics work the same for most fish that swim in the flowing water of rivers and streams, not just trout.
Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country…..Montana!
Pre-Tied Gang Hooks: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp
An Affordable Bait Bag - http://www.jrwfishing.com/bait_pouch.asp

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Amazing Largemouth Bass Tips on How to Live Bait Rigs

Bait fishing for large mouth bass is the favorite pastime of a large group of fisherman. Largemouth bass are found in every state in the lower 48, Southern Canada and throughout Mexico and even into Cuba. There is a good reason this bait fishing favorite is popular. The largemouth bass is a fantastic fighter and bait fishing for these exciting fish can be quite addicting.
Largemouth bass will eagerly attack both artificial and live baits with equal ferocity. Seeing these fish hit your bass lure or live bait rig is absolutely amazing. Once these fish are hooked there are few fish that match their fighting force.
If you plan plan on bait fishing for largemouth bass you need to learn the habitat locations that these fish live. In the spring time in natural lakes they like to frequent shallow mud bottom bays and channels and harbors that warm quickly. At spawning time in natural lakes they like protected bays and shorelines that have a solid bottom. If you plan to go bait fishing for largemouth bass in natural lakes in the summer and early fall, look fr weedy or rocky cover, bays where there is a dense overhead vegetation where they can stay cool.
If you plan on going fishing for large mouth bass in man made lakes in the spring head to the shallow brushy creek arms. To find largemouth in late spring and summer in mad made lakes look in bends and intersections of old river channels, or timbered flats. In early fall look at the far end of creek arms.
If you plan on going bait fishing for bass in rivers in the spring look in the backwater areas off the main river. In the late spring and summer head to deep backwater areas and channels that feed off the main river. You can also fish undercut banks and ledges. In the late fall and winter head to deep holes in backwater areas or near warm water discharges.
Well folks that concludes our article about bait fishing largemouth bass for walleye We sincerely hope you use our fishing information on your next fishing trip Good Luck!
Check out Mark's website to get some amazing fishing information and fishing articles loaded with fishing tips about bait fishing largemouth bass that really work!
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Thursday, August 6, 2009

Amazing Trout Fishing Strategies

More than twenty years ago I had the pleasure of knowing and fishing with the best trout fisherman that I've since met, and through that experience I learned some amazing trout fishing strategies that can help any angler catch more trout when they go fishing. That's what this article is about. The trout fishing strategies that were taught to me more than twenty years ago and I've been using ever since.
These can be employed by anyone, but remember nothing helps any strategy like practice. The more time that you can spend on the water practicing these the better. Never forget what Andre Agassi said of practice, "If you don't practice you don't deserve to win." In our world winning means catching trout. So the more time you can spend practicing, the better.
The first strategy has to due with your gear. When I refer to the word 'gear' I referring specifically to your rod, reel, and line. As far as your rod and reel are concerned, they should both be ultra light action when trout fishing. My fishing mentor insisted on using ultra light rods and reels. Not only that, but your reel should be spooled with four-pound test (or lighter). Trout have very sensitive eyesight and live in cold clear water, so you want to use fishing line that as light as possible when fishing for trout.
The next strategy is to make sure that you're fishing at the proper times. What do I mean by this? Simple. You want to be on the water fishing when the fish are the most active. You can know when the fish are the most active by doing a little research on the weather and moon, and the way these two factors affect fishing. This might sound crazy, but it's nonetheless true. The weather and moon affect the behavior of fish, and using this information to your advantage, will make you a much more successful angler.
The man who taught me these strategies also believed that whenever live bait is employed, it should look as natural as possible. Which obviously means that your bait should look as much like it would in nature, as possible. That's why he used gang hooks for fishing with live bait (especially live worms). Gang hooks are simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem, thus enabling live bait (and especially live worms) to be presented in an outstretched and natural manner. This makes a huge difference when trout fishing. Which is why sets of pre-tied gang hooks should always be part of your fishing repertoire.
The last strategy was to be as efficient as possible when trout fishing. My mentor's line of thought was simple: The more time that can be spent with your line in the water (where the fish are), the better, rather than having your line out of the water while you bait up, re-tie, or search for a lure. So anything that you can do to become more efficient, you should do. Things like a bait bag for carrying live worms, retractors for holding lightweight gear, and rod rulers for measuring your fish should be employed to make you more efficient on the water. These simple, yet amazing and effective ones will make you a much better angler, as soon as you implement one or all of them.
Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!
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Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Alberta Trout Fishing - Fishing Paradise

Are you considering a fishing vacation? If so, look no further than a trip to Alberta, Canada for a little fishing bliss. Alberta is full of rivers, streams, and best of all lots of trout. The Bow River in Alberta is probably the best place to go for you hungry anglers looking for a great fishing adventure. You won't be disappointed. Alberta is home to many trout species including cutthroat trout, brown trout, bull trout, and rainbows.
Using a guide is always a great way to get local advice and local knowledge of the fishing tactics in the Alberta rivers and streams. You can't go wrong. If you are a beginner we would highly recommend a professional guide. If you are really looking for some fun try a little fly fishing. You won't soon forget the experience.
If you are the adventurous type and want to go out on your own we would highly recommend heading straight to the Bow River. This is by far Alberta's best trout river. The Bow River is divided into two parts. The upper Bow river located west of Calgary nestled in the mountains, high in the Banff National park. The lower section contains a 51 mile stretch of river below Calgary. This lower section is largely considered trout fishing paradise by trout fisherman all over the world.
Most trout caught in the Bow River are between 14 and 18 inches long. You can however find trout in the 20 inch range if you have the special touch. Fishing the Bow river is not just about the size of trout but the beautiful scenery and diverse ecology. This is considered by some to be one the most beautiful landscapes in the world. While you are fishing you can enjoy deer grazing, eagles, hawks, and falcons soaring above the river.
Another great adventure besides the Bow River is the Red Deer River. This river will require your patience. If you are looking for a large brow trout in the 22 inch range on average this might be the adventure for you. This river requires patience and is considered by some to be a schizophrenic river when hunting the large brown trouts.
The benefits of the Red Deer river is that is is not heavily fished. When the fishing is good you can often see trout in the 22 to 27 inch range. On other days you may seen zero. This river takes patience and might be best to take a guide along to help you navigate.
The fishing on Red Deer river starts towards the end of May and is usually good into late June. There are great accommodations in the city of Red Deer. The bottom line is that if you are looking for a great fishing adventure, Alberta definitely fits the bill. You will not experience many other fishing adventures as scenic and as plentiful with world class trout as you can find in Alberta.
Grab your gear and make the journey to Alberta you just can't lose for a few days of trout fishing bliss!

Sunday, August 2, 2009

A Beginner's Guide to Fly Fishing

Fly fishing is the most disciplined type of fishing that one can take part in. People see fly fishing on the television and think "I can do that"; however in most cases fly demonstrations are done by fishing Zen masters who have been doing it for years. People fail to remember that television footage is edited so any failed casts; fish that escape are mostly cut out. The result is you think fishing is a lot easier than it actually is. Fishing by fly is the toughest to perfect but the most rewarding to learn.
When I teach people about flys I always say that if you have no patients then it's not for you. Next you need the equipment. For wishing with the fly you will need a specialist pole, line and fly. This type of fishing requires specialist equipment because it requires a different approach to fishing.
Take for example the fly fishing line; it's heavier and thicker than standard line. The reason for this is that because with fishing on the fly you need precision casting and it's tough to do this with a light line. Secondly as you don't use a float or a weight, there is nothing to hold your line down. Fishing with flies doesn't require the very best equipment but you will benefit from getting good quality poles, reels and lines. Like deep sea fishing your line is going to take a lot of the weight so you want to make sure that it doesn't snap when you are reeling in your next fish.
Casting in this type of fishing is tough, you have to take the time to learn how to cast properly with good form and good technique. You should have a fluid movement not the catapult movement that is common in most other types of fishing. The best way that people can learn fly fishing is by learning from someone more experienced (for me it was my grandfather). The great thing about being taught how to fly fish is that because of the very nature of fly fishing, because it is a sport based on patience and discipline; those who choose to teach you how tend to be very good teachers. Once it all clicks into place, fly fishing will become second nature to you and once you start landing those bigger fish, you will find the reward of fly fishing.
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