Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Cold Weather Steelhead Fishing

Well it is a new year now and we have been dealing with cold weather for over a month and I have noticed while out on the river that some Fishermen are still using their same Steelhead fishing tactics. This made me think that it may be a good time to write an article about cold weather fishing.

This time of year can be quite productive if you change your tactics just a little. This article is for those of us that enjoy being out on our favorite river even though the weather has turned cold. One of the reasons I enjoy this time of year is that most of the time you can have the river or stream to yourself, its not hard to find a nice secluded spot to enjoy the river or stream.

The main thing to remember when fishing in cold weather is to dress appropriately you can not enjoy your self if you are cold! You should also be aware of the unique challenges that cold weather presents. You guides on your pole will freeze waxing you guides helps put there is know way to completely stop this from happening. Walking along the bank of the river can be treacherous, when ever possible I will kick some sand or gravel out onto the bank giving just a little more traction to the frozen bank.

Cold weather steelhead fishing is going to be tougher than when you were fishing in late October the water temperature has cooled down and so has the fishing. However with a few simple changes to your fishing tactics you will still be able to catch some nice fish. Remember to us smaller baits, lures, and jigs. The water this time of year is normally crystal clear and cold making the steelhead just that much harder to entice into taking your hook. The smaller baits and lures are less likely to spook the steelhead and they are also more likely to hit smaller baits this time of year. I prefer to use the paler colors this time of year however I think this is more a matter of personal preference than anything else. Use slow presentations due to the fact that the fish will be less active, move a little further up into the hole the steelhead hold hear now because it takes less energy for them to hold in the current. Fish some of the deeper holes that you know the steelhead now are in a holding pattern and are looking for places that offer the some security and where they do not need to spend much energy to stay in the holes. Use lighters lines and just enough wait so that you feel the bottom every once in a while the steelhead are even more likely to be right on the bottom this time of year.

You can further your success by paying close attention to the weather and moon phases as mentioned in a previous article the weather and phases of the moon. As these two factors have a major impact on the way fish react and their activity during the day. Most of all be patent the steelhead have slowed down and it takes just that much more time to provoke a response from them. Don't expect to be able to hook into one with every cast you may have to drift buy them a dozen or more times before they decide to strike.

So stay warm and enjoy the experience, and may you have a great New Year Fishing!

The Best Time Of Day For Fishing

Since the dawn of time it seems like the answer to the question posed in this article is the morning or evening, right? It's widely known that early in the morning is good for fishing, but is this the answer to the question; what's the best time of day for fishing? Or is evening better? The point is that both morning and evening are good for fishing, this is true, but there are ways to narrow it down even more.

In this article, we're going to discuss some of the most important ways to determine when the best time to fish is. We as anglers, get a finite amount of time to spend fishing, so in my estimation we want to maximize the time we get to spend on the water as much as we can. This means fishing when the fish are the most active.

So, how do we figure out when the fish are the most active, other than just fishing in the morning and evening? It much easier than you might think, and it has to do with two specific forces of Mother Nature. The weather and the moon have as much to do with fishing as any two factors, and understanding how is the key to knowing when the best time of day is for fishing.

You can go onto the internet and do a search or two on these two subjects, and if you do that you'll end up with enough information to choke a horse. The bottom line is that you need to know about moon phases and frontal systems. These two factors are the main determinates of how fishing is affected, and knowing exactly how is the key to unlocking the mystery. Don't worry, becoming a scholar or spending a bunch of money isn't necessary.

As a matter of fact, the information that you need can be learned quite quickly, and then implemented just as quickly. For example, if the moon is in the waxing or waning crescent phase, I know fishing will be "average" at best, so I don't usually go fishing during these times. Don't worry the words shouldn't scare you. Learning the information you need about the weather and moon is simple.

My point is that determining the best time of day for fishing has to do with these two factors, and can be learned by anyone. Anyone who wants to be a more successful angler that is. If you've ever had one of those days fishing when you caught a ton of fish, and it seemed like no matter what you threw in the water resulted in a bite, you were probably fishing when the weather and moon were both in your favor, and you didn't know it. Learn this information and you can recreate these scenarios.

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!


Essential Bass Fishing Tips

Whether you are fishing on a water that you know well or trying out a water for the first time, you will certainly catch more fish if you take on board as many bass fishing tips as you can. Sometimes even the small tips will bring in big rewards, so never under-estimate any tips that someone tells you. There may be a certain area on the water which needs to be fished with a certain lure or maybe you are best using live baits instead of lures. There really is no better way to learn than to experience the water yourself and try different techniques.

There are many bass fishing tips that you should adopt, which will help you get the most out of your fishing trip. Good footwear is essential, as this will not only keep your feet warm on what may be a cold day, it will also make sure you don't slip or fall. If you're on a boat, the last thing you need is not to be able to have a firm foothold. Otherwise it maybe a life jacket that you need!

Fish finders can also be a great weapon to use to locate where the fish are. These can easily be fitted to most boats and will give you such an enormous amount of information, including how deep the water is below you and it will also locate schools of fish so you will know exactly where to cast your bait. Many of them also have a built in GPS system, so you'll be able to navigate easily to spots that you know will produce results.

The best bass fishing tips I can give you, will be to just enjoy the day. Whether you catch many fish or just a couple, just enjoy the peace and quiet.


A Beginner's Guide To Fishing Small Rivers And Streams

To me there is nothing better than standing up to my waste in a flowing river or stream, surrounded by the wonders of nature, casting my line into the current and attempting to catch a fish. In my opinion, this is as close to heaven as a human being can get and not only that but it's a great way to catch fish as well.

In this article I'm going to reveal tips and techniques that will make you a much better river and stream angler. These tips were taught to me by my fishing mentor, who was a renowned trout fisherman in the area of central Pennsylvania, where I grew up. Since then, I've been using the very same tips and techniques he taught me, in rivers and streams throughout the United States to catch all kinds of fish.

The first thing to keep in mind with respect to fishing small rivers and streams is that for most fish, ultra light equipment should be employed. Ultra light rods and reels give the angler much more sensitivity, which makes feeling bites much easier. Not only that, but catching fish on ultra light gear is a ton of fun as well. It's a ton of fun, and will make you a much better angler.

For small river and stream fishing, your ultra light gear should be spooled with fishing line no heavier than six-pound test. I personally use, and would suggest four-pound test, but six pound is the maximum for this type of fishing. And before you start thinking that big fish can't be landed using this type line and gear, consider this: I regularly hook and land trout in the 20+ inch range, and smallmouth bass up to six pounds using gear exactly like I'm referring to in this article.

The next tip is to use live worms as bait. I've been using live worms in the flowing waters of small rivers and streams for more than twenty years and know from experience how effective live worms can be as bait. The key is to rig the live worms properly, which means using pre tied gang hooks. You see, a set of pre-tied gang hooks is the most natural and realistic way to present a live worm as bait. They enable you to present a live worm outstretched, the way God intended. There is no better way to present a live worm as bait.

Another great tip when fishing small rivers and streams is to make sure that you're fishing when the fish are the most active. What do I mean by this? Simply that you'll catch more fish if you're fishing when the fish are the most active (and feeding). This is why you need to pay attention to the weather and moon. Paying Attention to these two forces of Mother Nature will do more for your ability to catch fish than you may have ever imagined.

Fishing in small rivers and streams is a very enjoyable experience, and one I'm not sure that I could live without. The tips contained in this article will help you catch more fish when fishing in these types of waters. How am I so sure of this? Simply because I've personally been using every one of these tips for more than 20 years and know how effective they are.

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!


Fishing



Fishing is the activity of hunting for fish by hooking, trapping, or gathering. By extension, the term fishing is applied to pursuing other aquatic animals such as various types of shellfish, squid, octopus, turtles, frogs, and some edible marine invertebrates. The term fishing is not usually applied to pursuing aquatic mammals such as whales, where the term "whaling" is more appropriate, or to commercial fish farming. Fishing is an ancient and worldwide practice with various techniques and traditions and it has been transformed by modern technological developments. In addition to providing food through harvesting fish, modern fishing is both a recreational and professional sport. According to FAO statistics, the total number of fishermen and fish-farmers is estimated to be 38 million. Fisheries provide direct and indirect employment to an estimated 200 million people worldwide