Fly Fishing - Choosing The Right Fly Fishing Rod

In view of the wide research done in fly fishing the number of fly fishing rod types in the market are quite large and you have a great choice and brand names. The first aspect you have to consider is the weight and duty for which you are purchasing the fishing rod. They are generally available in gradations from 1 to 9 depending on their weight. Lower the numbers lower the weight and so on. The cast line is directly proportional to the fly rod weight and this is an important parameter.

Significant features of a Fly Fishing Rod

The topic of choosing the most appropriate fishing rod that you can use in fly fishing can be quite complicated and you need to logically understand the various features that are to be considered in the course of your choice. It is imperative to have the basic date on what the fishing rod is being used for in terms of the fish species and the waters where you will sport for those kinds of fish. Finally one needs to stipulate the amount worth spending for all this gear in order to satisfy one's craving for this sport.

The Fishing Rod

The most important feature of the fishing rod is its flexural characteristics. It is designated as slow to fast and you should try to understand this concept before purchasing a rod. The amateurs who have just started fly fishing need to begin with medium or medium-fast action rods and graduate on to more sophisticated construction as you gain more experience. It invariably depends on the aptitude of the angler and only a general guide line can be given since the feel and strength control of casting vary from person to person.

What is your Fish?

The type of fish is all important to determine the quality of your fishing rod. Remember that the general maxim is to equate the weight of the fish to the weight of the fishing rod. Mostly it is useful to use light to medium heavy fishing gear for many common fish. Always consult an expert or information on the Internet on the data pertaining to fish and fishing rod relationship.

Fishing Location and your Fishing Rod

The fishing rods depend also on the waters that you encounter for the particular species of fish. The dynamics of the ponds, lakes or rivers ascertain the weight of the casting rod and so does the climatic conditions at different times of the year. Mild conditions and medium fish require light to medium heavy fishing rods whilst severe climatic variations or high water current needs heavier varieties.

Cost is always important!

Quality and cost never blend and one must find a good relationship by generalization technique. The common or let us say popular St. Croix Fly Fishing rod is quite suitable for most of the angler's needs. If you have more to spend then go in for the more expensive rods that will give you additional features and efficiency. It is your passion for trout that will determine your attraction to a particular fly fishing rod!

tony smith

Fishing History

Fishing has to be one of the greatest pastimes ever invented. It is also probably one of the oldest. Early man had to eat, and those succulent Salmon would just call to early men as they saw them in the pristine waters of a streambed. Early fisherman used their hands or sharpened sticks to catch fish. The earliest recorded use of fishing lures was in 200AD in Aelian's Natural History. The earliest recorded instances of fly fishing were written in 1210 as part of romance novel. The first really comprehensive book about fly fishing was written in 1496 and titled Treatyse of Fysshynge with an Angle. This book was the first to put fishing forward as a gentlemen's sport on a par with hunting, then a sport for kings and nobles.

Nowadays of course we don't live or die based on whether or not some fish is caught, so there is a much less stress and a lot more fun to be had. Thank god for that, it has become a real pastime and no longer needs to be an occupation.

New England waters are among the most productive on earth. The winter cycle allows Nutrients to be brought into the upper layers of the water resulting in an incredible bloom of life beginning in the spring and lasting throughout the summer into early fall. Phytoplankton and zooplankton bloom in massive amounts, bringing in the small filter feeding fish, which are followed by the larger predators and so on. Thus New England waters are famous for good fishing.

Rhode Island is a great summertime destination for both fresh and saltwater fisherman. Striped Bass have come back in a big way, although there are very large numbers of small bass the large ones are still being overharvested. Other species like Bluefish and Flounder are very abundant. Many people come to Rhode Island during the summer just to enjoy the fishing, especially from New Jersey, New York, and Conneticut, since RI has a superior fishery.

There are many ways to enjoy this sport. Many fish from shore, sitting in a chair on the beach with baited rods, waiting for that telltale hit and relaxing. Quite a few own boats and fish from them on their own or with their friends. Others vacation in RI around Newport or South County and charter a boat to take them to and enjoy a day of fishing. Of course, there is also the avid fishermans who lives just to fish. All these different people can find satisfaction somewhere along the 400 miles of coastline in the Ocean State.

The sites can be quite as interesting as the fishing itself. Fishing from shore and watching the surf come down the Charleston breachway, now there's a sight. It is especially interesting watching a boater attempt to charge down the breachway on the way into or out of Ninigret pond, with rocks on either side of them and huge waves going into the breach. Sunrise in the morning on Narragansett Bay can be a very beautiful site. Of course, nothing beats the excitement of a huge school of small baitfish jumping out of the water as rapacious Bluefish smash through them. It is quite a sight to see as the surface of the water boils with the action. Just makes you want to grab a fishing pole and throw something in there while they're still slashing. Of course, the most fun of all is when you have a fish on the line and the drag is singing as he makes a run to escape, with you holding on as the rod is bent over double. Its very exciting, and something we can all enjoy at one time or another.

chris bell

Striped Bass Fishing Basics

Striped Bass, also called stripers, rockfish or linesiders. There is an attraction about stripers that makes everyone want to catch them, No matter where you may fish in the Ocean State. They are a beautiful fish, as anyone who has seen with the sun shining off the silvery sides will agree. Catching them can be a different story, though. There are a lot of bottom fishermen who may switch to bass fishing in 2009 due to the regulations that could be applied to flounder, scup, and other species as a result of the activities of environmentalist groups. Fishing for bass can be quite different compared to bottom fishing. Stripers are aggressive feeders at some times of the day especially when large amounts of bait are around. This is often easy to spot, as bait will be jumping or the bass will be splashing as they feed. Its a matter of Approaching carefully and stopping before you get close, then casting a lure in among them. Don't going right into or through the area of feeding fish, this is the best way to put an end to the fishing and infuriate veryone around you. In this situation a top water plug or soft plastic matching the bait is a good choice. Cast and as soon as you hit the water, close up and begin a retrieve. Don't move it fast unless it's bluefish.

Early morning is a very good time for bass, they will feed in the shallows adjacent to some kind of structure such as rocks, drop offs, and humps. There also needs to be a current to sweep helpless bait past them. During this time top water plugs will be productive in the low light conditions. If it is overcast or foggy, so much the better as the low light is excellent for bass fishing. The plugs should be poppers, surface swimmers, or walkers in white. Work them as if they are injured, stopping them on at times during the retrieve. It's so cool when the fish smashes that surface plug, splashing, rolling, then running like hell. The best way to catch bass.

Once the sun is up pretty good, the top water plugs stop producing. Then it is time to switch to soft plastics, moving into an area of structure in deeper water. Current is still important, the stripers depend on it to sweep bait past them. When the tide is weak or slack you can normally expect the bass won't be aggressive, you need to bang them on the snout to get a strike. While drifting and using soft plastics, you must first move up drift from the structure and position the boat to drift over the top, then turn the motor off. Depth is the next issue' figure out what level the fish are holding in. When working in 30 feet of water, cast then leave the bail open and count to 15 (one thousand one to one thousand fifteen), then close and start a jigging retrieve. It is necessary to vary the retrieve, slow, fast, jigging and reeling, to find what the fish want. If you feel a hit and get no hook up, work the lure slowly with short jigs to imitate an injured fish. This will usually cause follow-up strikes. The instinct is to pull back and reel fast, but this only works with bluefish, if it's bass they likely won't chase it. Another possibility is that a bluefish may bite part of the plastic off and when you simulate an injured fish, a bass will hit it. This is due to the fact that bass love to hang below the bluefish for the scraps, since bluefish are messy eaters, chopping up a meal and not finishing it off, allowing pieces to fall down to the bottom.

Which soft plastic to use? Match the hatch, as they say. Use something similar to what they are eating. pay attention to what they barf up when you bring them in the boat. Look at the bait in the water if you can see it. For sand eels, use sluggos, or fin-s on a jighead. If they are feeding on bunker, use a 4", 5" or 6" shad swim bait in bunker color. If they are feeding on herring, use a 6" Storm swim shad in pearl.

Trolling is different technique used to fish for stripers. It seems easy so most everyone does it. However, there is considerable skill and knowledge needed for consistent success. It is important to know what to do if your not catching. Most trolling is done with wireline, downriggers, or weighted rigs. This because bass go into deeper water once the sun is up, and you have to present your bait near them if you want a strike. There is an area along RI's southern shore that has boulders around 28 feet down. We use wirelne rods spooled with 200 feet of wire. This will get a lure down just below 20 feet, which is close enough to be in the strike zone, considering how the boulders stick up. Umbrellas, tube and worm rigs, or parachute jigs are used. However, trolling is the last method we will use only when other fishing methods fail to catch fish that we know are down there. It can be very productive. Speed can be from 2-6 knots, we vary it throughout the time we troll. Often we get hits right after a speed change. If it doesn't work, speed is wrong, rig is at the wrong depth, Use a different rig, or the fish are gone. First conclusion should be you're doing something wrong. However, if you go a half hour without a fish, its time to do something different.

chris bell

Walleye Fishing Jig:Casting, Vertical Jigging Tips And Methods

Casting Jigs For Walleye

There are many excellent walleye artificial lures that work in different situations but by far the most universal artificial that constantly catches walleye is the lead head jig manufactured with the walleye in mind. A walleye jig is a natural choice for walleyes because it is easy to keep on the bottom where the fish spends most of their time.

Among the most versatile of artificial lures for walleye , a walleye jig can be fished many different ways.You can anchor your boat and cast for walleye,you can drift your boat and use bottom bouncers or do vertical jigging techniques for walleye, or you can do a slow troll using either bottom bouncers or plain jigs. And, you can fish a walleye jig plain when the walleyes are biting, or you can tip it with live bait when the fishing is slow.

Casting walleye fishing jigs

The most widely used jigging for walleye fishing technique is casting and this technique works great in shallow water.If the walleyes are in the shallows it's important not to spook them. Make sure you anchor far enough away, but still being able to cast into the shallows.

If you plan on working a shallow reef , anchor in a deep water position , so the the wind will push you to the edge of the reef. If do not get any walleye bites, don't quit! move you your boat about 20yards to left or right and anchor again. Repeat this process until you get a walleye hit.

If the walleye are not schooled, and are located at different points about the reef, or breakline, drift your your boat near the reef or breakline but but not on it, then cast your wallye fishing jig towards the shallows working the jig back towards you.I would recommend you have your electric trolling motor ready to keep you running parallel with the reef or breakline.Use your trolling motor to keep you boat drifting parallel to the reef or breakline. If you catch a walleye toss out a marker and work the area until the fish stop biting then move on.

If the walleyes are suspended off the bottom , count your jig for walleye down to different depths after you cast then begin to reel your line in. When you get a strike make sure you remember your count. (I right it down). Then repeat the same count on the next cast.

Remember casting jigs for walleye work best when the fish or in the shallows. If you realy want to be successful at walleye fishing you need to master fishing with walleye artificial baits.

mark fleagle