Posts Tagged ‘equipment’

Choosing the Right Equipments for Fly Fishing

fly fishing

Fly fishing is a sport that is enjoyed by millions around the world and is gaining more and more popularity every day. And trust me for fly fishing you would really need special equipments, to do it better. Which in other words mean that there is a demand for the fly fishing equipments, and when there is a demand, it’s normally followed by relevant amount of supply too. So chances are that when you go to the market you would see a variety of them available there. My advice would be, do not always settle down for the cheapest that you can get your hands on. Try to understand the fact what governs the price factor for them. That would be beneficial for you to get the right amount of utility from the equipments that you would buy.

Here are some tips for you for the basic stuff that you need for fly fishing.

  1. The fishing rod – The best rods for fishing that were used were made of bamboo. Many anglers still use them, without a desire to swap them with anything else that is available in the market. These can be expensive items as a lot of labour and effort goes in to making a good rod. The latest material that is available for the fishing rods are fibre glass, and carbon fibre. Since fly fishing rods should be heavier than the normal rods, they normally get it from these materials, along with the flexibility part being unaltered. The choice of rods that would be available are fast action rods, being flexible at the tip only, medium action rods would be flexible till almost half its length, and slow action rods would be flexible all through.
  1. The reel – The right kind of reels to be used for fly fishing are normally larger and heavier than the normal reels. You need to ensure that the rod and the reel are compatible to each other. It’s always wiser to buy the full set in the same go. But in case you have a pre-existing rod at home ensure that you have it with you to be sure that the reel works well with it as a single unit.
  1. The fly for fly fishing – This is the tiniest and the most important piece of equipment for fly fishing, its none other than the replicated fly. Selecting this could be quiet a job. There is a huge selection of these flies available but buying the right one would depend on the type of fish that you intend to catch. If that is done incorrectly then chances are you would land up catching nothing.
March 4th, 2010 by admin

A Primer on Fly Fishing Reels

What is fly fishing reel? It can be said that it is a work of art. This was patented in the year 1874 by Charles Orvis, who is also called the epic master of fly fishing. Since then, his family members have been making equipment for fly fishing in some form or the other. With the development of technology, reels have now become more sophisticated. The reel is very important for fly fishing. They still have some basic component.

Let us compare between fly reels and bait reels. There is a lot of difference between the two. Fly reel requires a lot of touch on your part. Line is laid out with control over the line and non casting hand. This is how casting is done. It does take a long time to get used to this. But what is important is to understand that the reel is not a device. It will not let you swing like a non fly rod.

The fly reels originally were very simple. These were used to serve only one purpose. The purpose was to bring the line inside. There was no drag offered. This meant that if you have snagged a big fish, then there were chances for you to do some serious damage to your arm. The mechanism in drag can be used to slow or to stop the line. This can be done when the fish take the bat and you want to stop it from feeding.

Fly fish has become very popular. Because of its popularity, people have started looking at fly fishing as a bigger game. But the problem here is that since many fly reels are not tailored to take in a beast, it does create problem. If there is a big fish which is stuck on the fly, it will make the line reel out. There is no way to stop it. The only way then is to wear gloves or to hold the line.

This problem is solved now as the new reels are made to break the mechanism. There is friction which is created by the mechanism on the line. This has two effects on the line. Either it slow down on the feed or it completely stops the feed. There are specified rods available for these reels. The rods cannot be bolted one onto the other. The will then tend to snap. They are not designed in such a way to carry loads.

The next question which comes to your mind is what type of reel should be used. It depends on the efficiency of the reel. Many people think that the new reels which have a breaking mechanism is a break from the traditional reel and do not serve the cause. The answer may vary from person to person. Try both the options and then make your own choice.

March 3rd, 2010 by admin

Fishing with Rods and Angles

Have you ever been to fishing with your father or grandfather? They say it’s a way of spending some quality time with your family members. Not only that, it’s sort of a favourite pass time for millions of people all over the world.

Here, we are going to talk about a very common, yet popular way of fishing, called as Angling. This kind of fishing method uses a special hook called as “angle”, which is attached by the help of a reel to the fishing rod. This is sort of a mechanism that works extremely well for the purpose of storing, retrieving or playing the line out. The main equipments required for angling are Rods, Hooks, Line, Spoons, Baits and Reel. The best of the fishing rods used in angling are hand crafted using the premium materials and great attention to detail.

Now a days angling has become a very popular sport. “Catch and Release” is one of the most popular fishing technique generally used by recreational fishermen. Normally most of the anglers keep the fishes that they happen to catch for their own consumption but this catch and release is becoming very popular especially between the fly anglers. The rationale behind it is releasing the fish post catching it and let the fish survive further. In many parts of the world there are laws related to fishing with angles. What I mean here is that as per the prevalent law there, anglers would have to release the fish if they are below a certain size.

There are a lot of controversies around pain being caused to fishes by the anglers, just for the sake of their sport. There are also arguments against the logic which says that fishes normally feed on hard and spiky preys in the water, thus they are accustomed to the same and just biting on the bait does not make much of a difference. In Manitoba, a province in Canada its really been made mandatory that, any angler who ends up hooking a brook trout has to follow the catch and release. In case you are trying to do some fishing using angles in Ireland, you need to keep yourself enlightened about the fact that catch and release is mandatory there.

But the good question is does the fishes really feel the pain when the angle pierces them. The answer is, of course they do. There have been some experiments that have been done on a toadfish by William Travolta. In his experiment the toadfish grunted when it was exposed to some electric shocks. Then eventually it grunted even at the sight of the electrode. This certainly means they too feel the pain when pierced by the angles.

February 24th, 2010 by admin

About Your Fishing Equipment

There are millions of people all over the world who simply loves to go fishing during the weekends. If you are one of them and you are a novice then this article is going to give you some amount of knowledge about your fishing equipment.

One of the most popular methods of fishing is called as “Angling”. This kind of fishing is done using an “angle” (hook). So, if you want to try your hands on this unique and popular kind of fishing technique then the first and foremost thing that you would need is a fishing rod. Anglers use fishing rods instead of a fishing pole. There is a good amount of difference between a fishing rod and a pole.

A fishing pole – It’s essentially a stick normally made of fiber glass, carbon fibre, or from bamboo splits. A fishing line is attached to the same and it’s suspended in to the water to catch fishes with an angle at the tip along with bait that could lure a fish.

Fishing rods – on the other hand when we talk of a fishing rod it essentially refers to more sophisticated fishing equipment. The fishing rods are normally fitted with casting tools, line guides, along with a reel for the line stowage. The fishing rods do vary in length to suit specific actions and the variation could be of any thing between 24 inches to 20 feet in length. You ought to know that the longer the rod is the easier it is to cast the line. Though there could be several specifications that the manufacturer might use like power, action, line weight, lure weight so on and so forth to specify the specific use of the fishing rods.

Looking at the history of the fishing rods, they would go back to the times of ancient Egypt, China, Greece and even medieval Europe, and they were called angles from which the word angling originated. Before the use of the synthetic materials for the manufacture of the fishing rods they were made out of split Tonkin bamboo or Calcutta reeds or also of ash wood. The butts of the rods were made of maple. Even today for the purpose of fly fishing the most commonly used fishing rods are made out of split Tonkin bamboo.

Talking about the design of an ideal fishing rod, it should get gradually taper starting from the butt of the rod to the tip of the same. It should be tight at all the joints while the taper of the rod should be as smooth and progressive as possible, without dead spots. In the modern days these all the rods are more or less have a perfect shape.

February 15th, 2010 by admin

What gear to bring on a fishing trip?

fishing gear

Going for fishing? Let us see what all we need to gear for a fishing trip. The last time I went fishing, these were the following things I packed : need rod, reel, line, flies, fly boxes, leaders, leader straightener, tippet, wadding staff, wading belt, fishing jacket, rain jacket, net, quick release lanyard for net, polarized sunglasses, flashlight buy, clipper, forceps, sun block, fisherman’s bag.

When we were a kid, we used to carry an old cane pole with a length of line. On it there was a hook and bobber. This old cane can still work in the warm weather for fishing.

I always carry a fishing vest to carry all my fishing gear. It is available at any decent sports store. Now let us make a list of everything we can keep in our fishing vest for fishing. Finalize what all is really needed, and stick to it.

1. Weights and swivels: You will need weights and swivels of different sizes. I prefer to keep mine in empty film containers as they are a convenient way to carry.

2. Hooks: Always keep some hooks for backup.

3. Stainless steel pliers: This is used to remove hooks from the fish’s mouth. Make sure you carry two of them. I personally prefer hemostats.

4. Spinners/Spoons: Keep some plastic boxes with spoons and spinners of all sizes. You must have at least two of each option.

5. Match sticks and a lighter kept in a Ziploc bag: It is always better to keep this while going fishing as you never know when you will need a fire.

6. Bait bag: Just hook on a bait bag along your vest as it is the easiest way to carry live baits. If you do not want to buy one, you can also make one at home.

7. Power bar: Something to eat if you are hungry.

8. Waterproof flashlight: During dark, you can flash light even 2 miles away.

9. Nail clipper: You should always keep them while going fishing.

10. Wader repair kit: will be needed when you pop a hole in your wader and you are 2 miles away from your truck and its raining.

Angling is a sport fishing which requires a lot of patience. If you are gearing for an angling, then the basic equipment required will be rod, line, spoon, hooks and reel. So make sure you remember to keep these while planning an angling.

Keeping theses ten things with you while going fishing will be safe. You may also add something else to which you might think is important. But these are the basic necessity for a happy and safe fishing trip.

February 6th, 2010 by admin

What are the differences between all the fishing lines?

fishing line

A fishing line is a cord which is used for angling. The main parameters for fishing line are length, material and weight. It is the most important thing between the angler and fish. It is the fishing line that keeps the hook, rods and reels together. Depending on the situation, you need to choose the right fishing line which is a difficult task. Many anglers do not take this into consideration and may lose fishes.

When the hook is attached to the fishing line, it functions as a mechanism retrieving the line. Angling is a method of sport fishing. It is very enjoyable if you have got the time as it requires a lot of patience. Angling also has methods of conservation. Angling makes fishing eco friendly. No matter which fishing line you choose, if the angling is right, then your catch will definitely be good.

There are mainly three different types of fishing lines, namely, monofilament, braided and fluorocarbon lines. All these three are in their place. While choosing a line it is also important to see how thick it is. All lines look the same, but there are subtleties which make them better than the others.

The most popular fishing line is monofilament. More than 66 percent of all fishing lines sold are monofilament. It was invented in 1930 and is a plastic line made of nylon. Melted plastic is poured into a tube which gives it the shape of a line. The meaning of mono is single and this is a single strand of line. This fishing line receives more quality control and is more abrasion resistant. That is why it is more expensive than the others. It can be used for heavy fishing and rough conditions like rocks. It is extra tough.

Braided lines were the preferred line for many anglers before the monofilament line came. These fishing lines are resistant to abrasion. This fishing line is very strong that you may even have trouble breaking it when you finally get a snag. Hence, the fish you caught is very unlikely to break it. It still lacks behind the monofilament fishing lines. It is one of the strongest types of fishing line if we talk about the diameter.

The fluorocarbon fishing line is made from polymer of fluorine which is bonded to carbon. This line has a lot of advantages over the other fishing lines. This comes closest to the refractive index of water. Hence it is almost invisible under the water. Even ultraviolet rays do not affect this line. It does not float and lets you to bait and falls faster and quicker and deeper into the water.

February 2nd, 2010 by admin

Some Thing about Angling with Worms

One great way of catching fishes is in the current of the small rivers and the streams. In this article we would try to pass some great tips to you related to using the angling fishing technique with worms. It is also important for you to note that there has been some technological breakthrough and synthetic worms have been developed for the purpose of fishing.

Most of the tips that I would be mentioning here are best used in flowing water. But you surely can try modifying them for angling in any kind of water. You ought to understand the fact that no tip can benefit you more than spending time on your sport in water. Like they say practice makes a man perfect. It applies to angling as well.

  1. Water with depth – Normally in rivers or streams a lot of riffles are found. Along with runs and pools. It isn’t necessary that the maximum of the fishes are to be found in the pools, rather the runs are also good places where you might find a lot of fishes.
  2. Bouncing along the bottom – When you are fishing with worms the best results are produced if the worm happens to bounce at the bottom naturally along with the current. An easy way to do this is by attaching the hooks to a line using a small barrel swivel along with using small slit shock sinkers as weight. You might choose to add or remove the split shots depending upon the depth of the water, along with the flow of the current. This would make your offering bounce along the bottom.
  3. Using gang hooks – While doing worm fishing ensure that your bait should look as natural as possible. I am sure you would want the worm to look like a worm and this is done by the usage of a gang hook. Now if your question is what is this gang hook then I would say it’s just a pair of hooks tied together in a tandem which enables the angler to present his worms to the fishes in a stretched out manner, which works better to lure the fishes.
  4. Ensure you have clean hands – You should always have clean hands when you are set out for worm fishing. This is so important because, in case you have some unnatural scent in your hands they get transferred to the baits as well. This is something the fishes are able to sense well enough. Thus it would impact the result of your fishing. Thus to avoid this kind of a thing you should rub your hand well with grasses or even better would be soil.
January 17th, 2010 by admin

How to Use Bait Boats for Angling

In case you have plans to set out for angling in a boat then here are some tips that might come in handy for you.

The Initial Setup

The first thing that you should make sure you have along with you is the marker float. It’s really important you have it with you even if you have plans to fish around the banks. It would help you ensure that there are no snags. It becomes particularly important if in case you have never fished before in that area. How to use the marker float is something that you can easily learn from Google.

It is important that you place your bait boat on to the unhooking mat to ensure it’s protected. Then you need to pull your rig from the underneath. Carry as much bait as you think you might require. Then usually people pull the rig to the top of the bait pile. It’s important that the lead and the hooks are kept as straight as possible. This would save your rig from getting entangled when you drop it. PVA foam also might be used to keep the hook from getting entangled with the weeds. Next you can set up a couple of bank sticks on which you can rest your rod. This is important for a couple of reasons first being to avoid the wind from taking some any slack line, and the second, is to ensure that you rod is always in the same position.

Taking Out the Boat

It would be a good idea, to follow the direction of your marker float, and in as straight a line as possible, while taking your boat out. Try keeping your line tight, now when you think you are in position, drop your load. Just let it till the lead hits the bottom. Then pull up any slack without moving your hook bait away from the pile of tempting bait. Now depending on the boat that you might be using, you ought to repeat the procedure of dropping your next rig. It’s good to take one rig at a time. Now you should set your rod on the pod and wait.

After The Fishing Is Over

After your fishing trip is over you need to do a couple of things, like always ensure that there are no weeds etc on the props. Now remove the pieces of electrical tapes put on the draining holes of the boat, which are aimed at stopping the water from getting in to the boat if the water is choppy during the trip. You ought to be careful of thieves as these bait boats are expensive.

January 8th, 2010 by admin

Effective Live Worm Angling

worms

Everyone living on this planet is aware of the fact that liver worms are effective bait for fishing. But what is important is that though everyone knows this, very few know how to fish a live worm with proper effectiveness. Angling live worm effectively does not mean to simple thread a live worm onto a hook and call it good. Though this is what most anglers do, but this is not an effective way for fishing with live worms. Angling of live worms is simple, but an important task of fishing. It is this that leads to high rate catches.

The piece of fishing gear is called a set of gang hooks. The next question coming to your mind must be – what is a set of gang hook? It is nothing but a pair of small hooks which are tied in tandem. This enables to live worms to be natural and outstretched. When we thread live worms onto an angle or a hook, live worms are presented like a worm ball. They naturally look to be outstretched, they look this way naturally. This is what a set of gang hooks let you do. A set of gang hooks is the start of effective live worm angling.

The hooks are barely visible with a set of gang angles (hooks) of size 8 or 10. It looks as if they are just thrown into water. This makes the gang hook more effective. A fish is more apt to bite a worm which looks natural like a worm ball. The live worms take the shape of a worm ball which attracts more fishes.

If you want to effectively angle the live worms, then you will have to carry your worms while going fishing. But carrying live worms in a container with you everywhere you go fishing is not a practical way. Carrying the live worms in an effective and practical way while fishing is called a bait bag. What is a bait bag? A bait bag is a small and simple bag which can be easily attached to fishing vest and is used to carry live worms for fishing purpose. This bag is very useful and a must buy for all live worm anglers to carry live worm for effective fishing.

This article will be very useful for effective live worm anglers. It has taken a lot of effort to bring all these tips together and they should be used for angler for more effective live worm angling. These tips are the best tips laid together by a number of live worm angler. Using these tips will make you a better fisher and will improve catch rates too. Live worm angling is not complicated. There are little things that make difference.

January 4th, 2010 by admin

The Best Bass Fishing Tackle

Have you watched TV programs that show about bass pro fisherman? If not, then do watch them. You will start loving such programs. You will see that these guys are always into the latest techniques of bass fishing.

Many people believe that those guys on such shows are only interested in selling themselves on TV. These guys also receive compensation for the fishing equipment endorsement and tackles. These shows are not always commercial as these guys do have an acute interest in bass fishing.

The answer will surprise many people that the use of proper good quality bass fishing tackle does make a lot of difference between letting a big one get out and landing of a big one. That is the reason why the pro fisherman uses tackle boxes to the gills with other sort of tackle. The guys doing these shows on TV channels actually use this stuff.

If you are an angler, then you could apply these applications to your own life. But it is worth to learn about different types of bass fishing tackles which are available. If you not only want to learn what all is available, you should at least be able to distinguish between the garbage and good stuffs.

Let us share a secret. Let us know how to find out which is the best tackle to use for bass pro fishing.

There are two sources of information which will help you to understand the best tackle: one is angling friends and the second one is fishing magazines. The best thing to do with friends to do from time to time when out fishing is to have a small casual conversation about tackle which will help you to learn from them. Listen to their responses and from the conversation you can learn a lot of lures and tackle that has actually worked wonders with them. It will also teach you other things which they have used but that has not worked. It will save you lots of money not having to buy worthless items for bass fishing tackle. Remember to take your friend’s recommendation. It does work.

The worst thing to do is to make tackle purchasing decision based on window shopping. This is the last thing which one should do. This impulse buying will not let you know what items of fishing tackles actually works.

This is when fishing magazines are more effective. Reading them regularly will make you learn more. Remember to read the product reviews that describe the performance of fishing tackles. Whenever you are in need to buy any item for tackle fishing, then simply take these magazines out and read them. Save these magazines for future reference. They are a good source of honest and unbiased information.

So whenever it is time to buy a replacement for bass fishing tackle, read the magazines for what to buy. Do not go in for any window shopping.

January 2nd, 2010 by admin