Get a big fish
6 steps to choose fishing line
Apr 6th
1. Look to your fishing rod for a general idea, assuming the rod is suitable for the type of fishing planned. While this will only serve as a general weight test guide, heavier fishing line may be more difficult to cast, and it is known to damage equipment. Fishing line that is too light is difficult to cast with and may not support the lure or bait properly.
2. Decide in advance which type of fish your are after such as pan fish, trout, bottom-feeders or bass. From here consider the type of bait and/or lures you will use. Some lines are designed to sink faster and cast further, such as fluorocarbon, braided or superlines. Monofilament is a lighter line though, absorbing some water, it is prone to stretch. Monofilament is the most commonly used fishing line but for serious fishing and challenging environments it may be inadequate.
3. Check out the water clarity, environmental conditions and preferred habitat of the fish prior to choosing fishing line for your trip. Clear water with few shrubs, rocks and weeds, requires either less conspicuous fluorocarbon or good monofilament, unless you want the strength and expense of a superline. Alternatively, you can opt for the More >
The Choice Between Spinning and Baitcasting
Mar 31st
Well, I can tell you my personal favorite hands down is the bait cast. Now, that isn’t always the right choice, because for certain situations spinning gear is the way to go. Every scenario is different and that means different techniques and different reels to get the job done right. It’s also, which feels most comfortable to you that effect the decision.
Now, with crankbaits, stick baits, spinnerbaits, basically any type of bait other than small plastics, I will surely use a baitcasting outfit to get it out there. When fishing largemouth I always have one in hand. I will finesse with it as well, so long as the bait itself has enough weight to do so. I will flip with a 1/2 ounce weighted rig or even as light as a 3/8 ounce rig with the baitcasting reels. Any less and I will go to spinning gear. Basically, if you spend a little time with the bait cast and get comfortable using it, you will find that you can get better accuracy and sometimes just as far a distance casting as you can with spinning gear.
Spinning gear has some advantages too, so they are always on the boat during tournaments More >
Fibica Knot tying tool for fishing & hooks
Aug 24th
Finally, a tool that all Sport Fishermen can use to tie their favorite knots. Small and light enough to fit in your vest pocket, put in a tackle box or hang from your clothing. Each end has a special function to tie different knots. All Sport Fishermen (Ideal for freshwater and saltwater anglers, fly fishermen and ice fishermen!) will realize benefits from the step by step booklet featuring 16 popular knots. Fly fishermen will especially enjoy how simple the “Nail Knot” is made with this tool. Let see the step by step demonstration.
Fibica Hook Removal Tool –– best Fish Hook Remover
Aug 24th
The Fibica Hook Removal Tool will make obsolete those clumsy, bulky, and expensive dehooking tools you have used. Beautifuly designed and finished with durable materials and a rugged, polished stainless steel tip, this dehooker safely removes hooks, plugs, lures and flies nearly instantly! Take a look at our Fibicawebsite, buy it at a grate price!!
Best of all, these great tools are inexpensive. At $4.99, free shipping, it’s a better value than the less effective release tools. Simply put, the Fibica hook removal tool is both a better product and a better price!
“…it took unhooking a few fish with the Fibica hook remover to fully appreciate how easy and useful the tool is. I can now remove flies and hooks – which are regularly buried deep in the fish’s throat – in four seconds or less, without damage to the fish or my tackle!” – Jerry, river guide
Frog Fishing
Aug 23rd
Frog fishing is nothing new to the world of bass angling. Bass are known to eat many critters from fish and insects to amphibians and mice. Due to the ambush nature of bass, frog imitators can trigger awesome explosive strikes. When they hit a frog, they are not trying to play with it, they try to smash it!
First a bit about the frog. They breed in late spring to early summer. This tends to be the time when most bass are entering the post spawn period. When water temperatures reach the low 60’s the frog fishing starts to get good. These amphibians breed in water that is slow moving to absolutely still. They are most active during warm weather and go dormant when it gets cold. After bass spawn, they need some chow. Show them a frog and hold on to your hat. Three frogs represent our study: the common green frog, it’s sub-species the bronze frog and the leopard frog. They all behave the same, but their difference in coloring will help with lure choice. Each species can vary from brown to green to adapt their camouflage to their home. Frogs, and other amphibians, are extremely important members of the ecosystem. More >
Soft Plastic Lures For Salt Water Fishing
Aug 23rd
When I first began fishing for Striped Bass one of the annual rituals we had was greeting the first arrivals of the spring run at our favorite early season spot. We would start making the effort sometime late in March during the milder years and by mid-April if winter had been slow to give in. In either case those early season outings were never very warm, with the water temperature usually hovering just below fifty degrees and the most favorable condition for catching fish being a southwest breeze over it. Some days it was like ice fishing minus the ice.
Our method consisted of casting lead-head jigs, often tipped with grub tails. We used small stuff, mostly less than one-half ounce, and would often tie in a teaser fly up higher on the leader that was not much more than three or four hairs tied on a hook. Some guys liked to use single tail twisty grubs, some preferred the double tails, and some of us were using the smallest rubber shad bodies we could find.
Then something came along that revolutionized salt-water fishing. Around 1999 or 2000 Storm Lures started making very realistic swim-shad lures with a keel-weighted salt-water hook molded More >
Soft Plastic Lures Rigging Tips
Aug 23rd
A series of rigging tips for soft plastic lures including the TT Lures Hidden…
What Are Baitcasting Reels Good For?
Aug 23rd
Spincast reels are considered the best choice as they are closed face and they provide trouble free casting. I thought so, too, until I got my first baitcasting reel.
I knew baitcasting reels are for pros so I was decided to learn how to use such a thing. I also knew that this was not going to be so easy and I was not aware of the consequences.
The first thing I discovered was that you can cast further with it, and with the proper settings I was able to cast 2-3 times further, compared to my spinning reel. With a bit of practice, a baitcasting reel can also allow you to hit certain spots with very good accuracy. The design allows you to slow down or stop the reel from letting out more line with your thumb. Where as a spinning or spincasting reel, your only options are to reel to lock the spool to stop or tilt your rod up to slow down.
Baitcaster reels are great, because you can use them for various types of fishing. Crankbaits, spinners, top waters are no match for you if you manage to master a baitcaster reel. Basically, it’s great for any lure that is 3/8 More >
Learning to use Baitcasting Reels
Aug 23rd
You’ve seen the pro’s use them. You’ve heard your fishing buddies rave about their ability to increase casting accuracy. Maybe it’s time you moved up in the world of fishing and got yourself a baitcasting reel.
Baitcasting reels give anglers more control over lure placement than other types of reels. They enable you to place lures right up next to logs, within inches of the shoreline, or right in the middle of heavy cover. Unfortunately, baitcasters also have a reputation for being more difficult to use than other types of reels. However, with the proper technique, correct reel settings and state-of-the-art equipment, any angler can learn to use a baitcaster like a pro.
The firest step to successful baitcasting is to hold the reel properly. Many anglers assume they should hold the rod so that the reel faces them in an upright position, but that’s not correct. After pressing the freespool button, hold the spool in place with your thumb and turn the rod sideways so the reel’s handle faces upward. The reel should stay this way throughout the cast.
Begin releasing thumb pressure about halfway through your forward casting motion to let line out. To prevent backlashes in the line, you must apply More >
Basic Baitcast Reel Setup 101
Aug 20th
I read it everywhere. “I can’t cast my baitcasting reel for the life of me”. I read complaints that the lure just falls at the anglers feet. The lure is going to the right or left, outside of the casting path. I read the answers that some of the same novice baitcasters are getting and it blows me away. So for those of you that are having problems with professional overruns, bird nest, backlashes, whatever you want to call them. I am going to try and get you started in the right direction. With the basic setup for a baitcasting reel. There is a whole lot of technical information you are shown on other source pages, that I feel confuses the new angler, and even the experienced spinning angler that is trying to learn how to use a baitcasting reel.
OK, you have a new baitcasting reel just out of the box. You have your new baitcast fishing rod (or old one). You have placed the reel on your rod and you have spooled your favorite line on to it. Now you take and add a casting plug to it.
Just a side note here. This is were a lot of anglers go wrong, in learning how to More >
