Monthly Archives: February 2012

Rubber Rain Boots Can Be Stylish While Keep Your Feet Warm and Dry

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I was probably 12 years old when I tried on my first pair of rubber rain boots, running in the backyard, jumping in puddles, wading across creeks, all while keeping my feet dry.  My mom smiled from the window knowing I was safe and sound and wouldn’t catch my death of cold.

Its many years later and rubber rain boots have certainly evolved not only in functionality, but also in style and comfort.  Women’s rubber rain boots come in a wide variety, allow the fashion conscious among us (and that’s most women) to remain stylish while also protecting yourself themselves from the wiles of winter, or an afternoon thunderstorm.

There are a wide variety of manufacturers, some here in the USA, others spread around the world (with China being a leading manufacturer).  No matter the manufacturer, they all share one thing in common — these boots must protect your feet from a wet environment, while being comfortable and hopefully allowing your feet to breathe.

It might go without saying to avoid rubber rain boots manufactured in Third World countries, while you might get a better price you may not be buying a high quality boot and it’s best to stick to mainstream manufacturers.  You might spend a few extra dollars on the front-end but the wearability and longevity of your rubber rain boots should far outweigh the extra price.

Knowing this, manufacturers create functional, stylish and often fun rain boots, but even these won’t keep your feet dry if the water flows over the top. Keep that in mind when choosing yours, unless you know you’ll only be walking on wet pavement, rubber ankle boots may not serve the needed function and it’s not fun to go through the day with wet socks.  If you’re buying these rubber rain boots for a child, rest assured just like I did at 12 years old, they are sure to find a nearby puddle jump in.

WHO WEARS RUBBER RAIN BOOTSall

Fishermen or those who work on fishing boats

Children with moms concerned about their health

Famers working with animals

Factory workers to avoid chemicals

Men and Women who want to protect a good pair of shoes from rain soaked streets

Just about anyone who wants to keep their feet warm and dry

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN CHILDREN’S RUBBER RAIN BOOTS.

Obviously first and foremost you’ll want to choose a pair of quality rain boots that will protect your child no matter the puddle they jump in (and believe me if you have boys, they will).  That said find a pair they enjoy wearing (many come in themes that fit the mind of children), in this case you’re not worried about style, more functionality and enjoyment.  Children’s rain boots come in a wide variety of themes and most will be well constructed and designed to keep them dry.

Another thing you may consider, depending on  your budget is the type of lining inside and whether Gore-Tex is used.

GORE-TEX: Gore-Tex is a waterproof and breathable material that can be used for outerwear, footwear and gloves.  Gore-Tex was created in 1969 is extremely strong and porous, allowing your body to breathe, but still offering superior waterproofing.

13 Pre-Spawn Bass Fishing Tips

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1. Water temperature – When lake temperatures rise into the upper 50 to 60 degree range, bass are on the move. This is the time when they begin to move toward their spawning areas.

2. Creek channels are like highways for moving bass. Points on these creek channels are stop over points, fish these with a crankbait for bass. Bounce it along the bottom around points and drop offs. Try green and craw colors.

3. During pre-spawn the water is colder and bass may still be a little sluggish, so slow down your presentation. Whatever lure you use, fish it slow.

4. Fish points, drop offs, ledges, old road beds, rip rap and grassy areas with close access to deeper water, but near spawning areas.

5. Bass love weeds! Find an area with weedbeds adjacent to a channel that feeds from a spawning area. This is a good time for topwater baits, big worms or lizards, or a slow-rolling spinnerbait.

6. When the water temperature in coves maintains over 60 degrees, bass will start moving in to spawn. This is the time for fun, these bass will be hungry, and will eat almost anything.

7. If you already know where the bass will be spawning, fish the channels approaching these areas, and if you can locate a sharp bend or hump in this channel, it could be a bass hotel.

8. If wind becomes a problem, switch to a swimbait. Or move up into a deep cove and fish the channel.

9. Fish a swimbait or jerkbait like a Huskey Jerk slowly – jerk..wait 10 – 20 seconds…jerk again…hang on. These work great in 2 to 6 feet of water.

10. A cold front now will send bass back into deeper water. This too, means they will feed less. Back to the deeper channels, boys.

11. In shallow coves, the water warms faster – bass will seek out this warmer water, looking for schools of shad and crawfish. A jig and pig here is hard to beat.Try a small jig with a craw trailer using a slow dragging retrieve.

12. Another recipe for success: Find a channel point close to a spawning area, bounce a Berkley Chigger Craw along the bottom slowly. Try a crawdad color or pumpkinseed.

13. After a few good warm days, try for bass in stump fields and spawning areas. Bump a crankbait off of the stumps, slowly, or use a spinnerbait or a topwater lure. Think the fish are deeperall Try a Carolina rigged lizard or a floating worm.

Trekking Shoes – 5 Essential Questions to Ask Before You Choose a Trekking Shoe

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Trekking Shoes are the most important piece of equipment for trekking. You’ll be treading thousands and thousands of paces in rough country in them and you definitely do not want to spend days or weeks with sore feet, or even worse injure yourself in the wilderness.

So you have to make sure the shoes you have strike the right balance for your trek between comfort, performance, protection and durability.

All Trekking shoes are not equal. Unfortunately there is not really such a thing as a ‘one size fits all’ trekking shoe. Sandals, trail runners, light boots, heavy boots and mountaineering boots are some of the basic types and trekking shoes can have features of more than one basic type.

You can get away with one pair of hiking shoes on several different treks if the treks are fairly similar and not too demanding. But it is a really good idea to get the right kind of shoe for your trek. It makes all the difference in the world being able to walk comfortably and can often mean the difference between a trekking holiday and a trekking adventure.

A lot depends on the terrain you’ll be traversing and how long you’ll be traversing it for. Generally speaking the rougher the country the more you will need a tougher, heavier shoe that will need more wearing in and be less comfortable.

Questions to ask when choosing a trekking shoe:

1. How much ankle support will you needall

If you are ascending and descending steep inclines, you’ll likely need more ankle support than if you are only on flat ground. For ankle support, choose a shoe that rises above your ankle.

2. How much punishment will your trekking shoes need to take?

If you are trekking through dense undergrowth full of sharp sticks and rocks, you’ll need more foot protection that if the trek takes place only on well-trodden paths. For protection, a dense heavy material like leather usually offers more resistance to sharp sticks and rocks than a lightweight synthetic material.

A heavy trekking shoe will require more wearing in than a lighter one. Wearing in your trekking shoe is a very, very good idea. Who wants to deal with sore feet on the first night of their 30 day trek?

3. Waterproofing, how important is this?

Are you going to an extremely wet place like a swamp or a very dry place where getting your feet a little wet will come as a relief. Some trekking shoes are waterproof out of the box, others need to be treated or will be just water resistant.

4. Will there be extremes of temperature?

If the trek is very hot, will ventilating your feet be important? Will the weight of the shoe be a factor? What about warmth if it is cold? Will you need to wear very thick socks and so need a slightly bigger shoe?

5. What kind of grip will you need?

Here you are thinking about the sole of the shoe. Will it need softer rubber for wet rocks? Will the sole need a little extra cushioning because you’ll be walking on tarmac all day? Will a heavier sole tire you out more quickly?

One last thing – be sure to clean and look after your trekking shoes well, especially out there on the trek. Look after your trekking shoes, and they’ll look after you.

How to Buy Fishing Waders – Tips For Buying Fishing Waders

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In this article I’m going to provide some tips to use when buying fishing waders. Many anglers just go out and buy a pair of waders and end up being disappointed. If you keep this simple article in mind before your next wader purchase you’ll be in much better shape and know exactly how to buy fishing waders.

The first thing to keep in mind when it comes to fishing waders is that what your Mother said when you were a kid is true. You get what you pay for. If you try to be a cheapskate when it comes to buying fishing waders you’re going to end up disappointed. You should expect to invest at least $150 to get yourself a quality pair of waders. You can spend up to $500 on fishing waders, but this truly isn’t necessary if you’re a normal fisherman. If you’re a guide or fish five days a week, waders in the $500 price range would be something top consider.

When it comes to waders there are two materials that you should concern yourself with, neoprene or breathable material. There are other types of material available for these river fishing tools to me made from, but you need not concern yourself with them. Neoprene material or breathable material are the best and longest lasting materials for waders to be manufactured from. Which type of material you need is up to the type of fishing you engage in most of the time.

Both materials are comfortable. Neoprene waders are quite warm, which is great in cold weather and/or water, but are also quite heavy. Breathable waders are extremely light, but can be cold in cold weather and/or water. This is remedied by wearing long underwear or pants underneath them. As I said both of these materials are comfortable to wear, you just need to consider what type of conditions you usually fish in to determine the best option for you.

The next thing to consider is whether to go with boot foot or stocking foot waders. “Boot Foot” means that the boots are manufactured into the waders themselves. “Stocking Foot” means that you have to purchase a pair of boots separately. Again, which type is best for you is up to personal preference and depends largely on how much time that you spend actually wearing your fishing waders. The difference between the two boot options is all about comfort. Boot foot waders are much less comfortable than stocking foot waders with separate boots, so if you cover a lot of area while fishing stocking foot waders are the choice for you.

The bottom line about how to buy fishing waders is to consider the amount and type of fishing that you do, use the tips above, and make your decision accordingly. There are many good manufacturers to choose from such as: Hodgeman, Simms, and Walker. Any of these manufacturers make great products, especially Simms.

Do You Need A Fishing Guide?

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Often times when one is planning a fishing trip, the question of a fishing guide comes up. They’re costly so the first reaction is to forgo a guide – after all, you already know how to fish, rightall

This may or may not be true. You might very well be an expert fisherman that can get along quite well without a guide but if you are traveling to a far away area and are not familiar with the fishing condition, then a guide could really come in handy.

Now having said that, I will say that a guide is simply that – a guide. He can tell you where he thinks the fish will be and even help you land one, but the real work is up to you. Just because you spend a lot of money on a guide does not mean you will catch a fish or even see one, but it could greatly increase your chances.

Most guides are great fishermen themselves and know the local area like the back of their hands. They are up on current conditions and know where the fish are right at the moment. They spend all their time fishing the river or lake, and probably have for many years, so they know where the best fish can be caught. Without a guide, you can waste a lot of time just trying to find those fish.

If you do decide to hire a guide, you need to make your fishing goals clear to him or her at the outset in order to make sure he can deliver what you want. Some things to discuss include the type of fish you want to catch, if you want to catch a lot of fish or just big ones, and the technique you prefer to use.

You should also find out if the guide has experience in your desired area. During these discussions you may find out that the guide recommends a different fishing style that what you have proposed in order to catch the kinds of fish you want. These are things you will have to consider.

A guide can cost you anywhere between $100 to $200 a day and please don’t forget to tip him – even if you don’t catch any fish. For your money you will get expert advice on the best fishing locations, expert tips on how to catch those fish and a wonderfully delicious shore lunch.

One thing that some anglers do on an extended trip is to hire the guide for the first few days and then go it alone for the rest of the trip. This way you can benefit from his advice and save a few bucks too. Don’t be afraid to let the guide know this is your plan, he might be able to leave you with some parting tips so the rest of your trip is just as fruitful as the beginning.

The question of whether or not a guide is worth it does not have the same answer for every angler. If this is your one big vacation and catching fish is of the utmost importance, then springing for a guide is probably well worth it.

Ontario Fishing Lake Reviews – Lake Nipissing

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With over 250,000 lakes, Ontario is home to some of the best freshwater fishing in the world. Ontario has several destination lakes which are classified as such due to their size, location and the quality of their fishery. Lake Nipissing is one of these destination lakes.

Ontario divides its fishing areas into zones with Lake Nipissing falling into zone 11. There are specific regulations for each zone and some lakes, such as Lake Nipissing also have their own regulations with respect to catch limits, etc. A Ontario fishing license is generally required to fish in the province of Ontario. There are two main types of Ontario fishing licenses which are a Sport Fishing License and a Conservation Fishing License. The Sport Fishing License allows for higher catch limits.

Lake Nipissing is one of the most popular Ontario fishing lakes due to the fact that it is a relatively shallow lake and its natural structure provides near perfect conditions for a variety of fish species. One of the best fishing areas on Lake Nipissing is in South Bay. Located along the southern portion of the lake, South Bay offers many features that make it the ideal fishing area. It is full of small islands and underwater structures that are home to many of the favored species. Unlike the main lake, South Bay is well protected from the wind and waves and allows for successful fishing trips even when the weather is not cooperating.

Located approximately 300km north of Toronto, Lake Nipissing draws fishermen from all over Ontario, Canada and even from many US Border States such as Michigan, Ohio and New York. There are four main species that are targeted by fishermen on Lake Nipissing. They are Walleye (Pickerel), Northern Pike, Smallmouth Bass and Muskellunge. There are also significant numbers of Yellow Perch, Sunfish and various other species. Although there are as many theories and techniques as to how best to catch each species as there are fishermen, there are a few basic principles that apply. Your best source of information is to refer to a Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources publication called the “Fishing Ontario: Recreational Fishing Regulations Summary” which covers all of the application rules and regulations as well as offering some advice on lure selection.

Anyone planning a fishing trip in Ontario should consider Lake Nipissing. Not only does it present some of the best opportunities for plentiful catches and trophy caliber fish but many of the fishing resorts located along its shores have some of the best sandy beaches and sunset views anywhere in the province. There are many private rental cottages available as well as fishing lodges that offer a variety of fishing and family vacation packages.

In Alaska, Fishing Sustainability Policies Are Written in the Most Serious of Terms

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For many centuries, fishing has been the principal activity of Alaskans: it is what puts food on the table for a vast majority of households, either in the most literal of sense (Alaskans know they’ve got the best seafood in the world, and they eat it up on a regular basis) or in a more indirect sense (it’s what fattens wallets for many workers throughout the state). Yet there were moments – specifically during the first part of the 20th century – when seafood resources weren’t respected but rather were abused, and when many fishing areas of Alaska came awfully close to having absolutely nothing more to offer the fishermen prowling the waters. Those times have changed, however, and today sustainability is king in the Alaskan waters, which means that economic progress can continue at a healthy rate and people can feel confident about creating projects for the future and about the coming generations that will inhabit the state.

Sustainability policies in Alaska are expressed in the most serious terms possible as concerns commercial fishing operations; it has been made more than clear by the state constitution of 1959 and several subsequent laws passed by the state legislature as well as measures handed down by the state executive that any and all chances for commercial profitability are only to be acted upon if the sustainability of seafood stocks and the health of marine habitats can be ensured in the process. In this sense, several fishing areas of Alaska have been completely placed off-limits to commercial fishing boats or do not allow the use of specific (and highly damaging) fishing gear, such as rigs and traps that scrape the ocean floor and decimate delicate marine habitats, throwing the ecosystem totally out of whack.

Not only have many fishing areas of Alaska been entirely or partially protected in this manner from commercial operations, but furthermore the state has placed real and effective authority in the hands of people that know best how to defend the sustainability of the state’s seafood stocks and who are undoubtedly the most interested in doing so-professional, qualified scientists! Just another example of how serious Alaska is about the topic of sustainability.

The Best Fishing Gifts For The Fly Fisherman In Your Life

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If you know someone who is a keen fisherman, you probably want to buy them fly fishing gifts for birthdays, or Christmas. But if you don’t fish yourself, you may not have a clue where to start. Here are some ideas for fly fishing gifts that you could give.

Tackle Boxes

Fishing is an expensive hobby and good quality storage boxes and tackle bags are among the most useful gifts that you can give. As well as providing a place to keep fishing tackle, they help to prolong the life of expensive equipment.

Polarized Sunglasses

The sun’s glare in your eyes can really spoil a day on the water. So a pair of polarized sunglasses is a gift that is sure to be appreciated, especially during the summer months.

A Magazine Subscription

Fishing addicts tend to live and breathe their sport. Even when they are not actually out there they are thinking about it and looking forward to their next trip. And a subscription to a fishing magazine is one of the fly fishing gifts that your friend or loved one will look forward to receiving each month.

Fishing Clothing

The right clothing for fishing is essential, but it can also be expensive. There are many items of fly fishing clothing that will really be appreciated, according to your budget. Consider items like waterproof and windproof fly fishing hats, braces, fisherman’s gloves, fishing jackets and fly fishing vests and socks.

Fishing DVD’s

DVD’s make great fly fishing gifts for any fly fisher and a huge range are available, from beginner’s guides, to specialist guides. You can also get action packed DVD’s on fishing trips to exotic locations throughout the world. While they may not sound appealing to you, these DVD’s will really be appreciated by fishing enthusiasts.

Fly Selection Boxes

While mere mortals would probably prefer chocolate, a fly fishing selection box is more likely to make a fisherman drool. A huge number of these boxes are available. You can get general ones, containing different types of fly, or specialist ones for catching particular types of fish.

Nifty Gadgets

You may think your favourite fishing nut has every piece of fishing equipment available. But there are so many fishing gadgets available that it would be impossible for even the enthusiast to keep up. Consider a multi-tool fishing knife, a knot tier, or a wind up mini torch.

Whatever you choose, fly fishing gifts will always be appreciated by any fishing addict.

Vacation Redfish On St. George Island

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“If you can’t catch a fish on St. George Island, you’re stupid!”, the man running the bait shop told me as I bought fishing license, bait shrimp and a fishing cap.

“You can catch trout. The pompano are running now so you might catch a couple of them. Good eating.” he said as he tallied up my bill. “Over on the bay side in the state park, you can hang into some good redfish!”

Carefully carrying my free coffee from the bait shop my tackle I had just bought in the other, I walked outside to bask in the early morning sunshine on St. George Island, Florida. The island is less than a mile wide at its widest point. Located across the bay from Apalachicola and East Point, this was my vacation spot for one glorious sun filled week.

St. George Island State Park was only a mile down the beach from where I was staying. This end of the island was only about ½ mile wide with the Gulf of Mexico on one side and Apalachicola Bay on the other. The bay side was where I spent most of my time fishing for Redfish and Trout. During that week I discovered that I was not stupid at all! Not by a long shot!

Redfish, for those who don’t know such things, are the salt water fish with the black spot on their tails. There are redfish tournaments all over the gulf coast. I saw my first one on TV one Sunday morning.

The professionals were using a $30,000 boat, rod and reels that were at least a couple of hundred dollars apiece, trolling motor and an expensive array of artificial bait. They caught several keeping sized redfish! I was hooked! I knew where I was going on my vacation! I used my Walmart $39.95 rod and reel special with a $2.95 silver lure and had a ball. Here’s how I did it!

Florida State Parks open at 8:00am. I was there when the gate opened and made my way to the boat ramp on the bay side of the island. It wasn’t much of a ramp, but then it didn’t need to be for me since I didn’t have a boat. A lot of the park was still being renovated after the hurricanes of 2005, thus this shallow ramp.

After watching a couple of small skiffs enter the water, I talked with a fisherman in a kayak waiting his turn to launch. He said that he was going after redfish with a golden spoon. After he paddled off, I looked in my tackle box for a gold spoon but couldn’t find one. I had two silver spoons that I hung onto my fishing vest and waded into the water. I also had a fish carrying net hooked onto my vest in case I got lucky and actually caught a fish.

Looking out over the bay as I left the beach and walked along a path that had been cut into the weeds guarding the edge of the water, I saw numerous small spits of land emerging from the bottom of the bay. I recognized I was wading around the edges of oyster bars. The bottom was smooth, but as you walked closer to the little islands, small oysters were every where. Luckily I had my rubber water shoes on or I would have cut my feet on the shells. The depth of the bay at this end of the island was from 2′ to 4′ no matter where I waded.

I tied on a silver spoon and cast it in the deeper water closer to the weeds. Cranking rapidly on the reel handle, something hit the lure. It felt like I had hooked onto a concrete block. Setting the drag on the reel, I let the fish take the line, reeling slowly as he began to tire. In a few minutes I had him. I had caught my first redfish and he was a beauty.

I measured his length with a fabric tape measure I kept in my fishing vest; 17 inches long. Not good enough. The legal size of redfish is from 18″ to 27″. Anything smaller or larger than those measurements would get you in trouble with the game wardens. During my week on the island I had heard they were everywhere, looking for any fisherman who had a fish that was shy of those measurements by even a quarter inch. I took no chances, letting my redfish go.

I caught several redfish that morning and they were all fun. The next three were keepers, but alas, you could only keep one in your possession at any time, so I kept the biggest in my mesh sack until it was time to go. Cleaning the fish seemed to be more trouble than it was worth, so I let him go also. All in all, my first morning on the bay was great!

Fly Fishing Basic: A Nymph Fishing Tutorial

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Here is a wet fly-fishing tip that many fly fishermen overlook when nymph fishing lakes and deep pools of rivers and streams using a sinking tip fly line or a sinking fly line. In this example we are fishing a #6 black bunny leech. Because of the way it is tied, like most good wet flies these days, it requires a precise stop and start action to really be effective. The fly must stripped and paused, or what I call the “stop and go” method of nymph fly fishing. For example, cast out your fly and line, and use the fly line sink rate and the count down method (1001,1002…etc) to let the fly sink into the strike zone. Then make one pull in (or strip in) and stop. This allows the material on the fly to open while the fly sinks for two or three seconds then strip again closing the fly, pause, and strip again. This will cause the fly to rise, fall, open, close, rise, fall, and look alive as you strip in the fly line. To really get the proper action from the bunny leech or any wet fly, you must point the rod and rod tip right at the fly line where it goes into the water while you are stripping in the fly line, otherwise, you don’t get the desired stop and start action. Visualize this, if your fly rod is parallel to the water during the strip, the rod will flex down, and during the pause the rod will flex back up, resulting in the fly just moving along at a study pace without any stop or start action. Again, point the rod down and right at the fly line where it goes into the water.

When using larger wet fly or nymph patterns, make longer strips with a longer pause, and when using small fly patterns, try to make a short strip in and a short pause between strips. Try different combinations of strips and pauses until you find a combination that works for the fish and water conditions that are present where you are fishing. Remember that the strip and pause must represent the type of fly that you are using. For example a sculpin fly will require a longer, quick start and longer pause, than a small nymph that slowly travels only a few inches at a time. This method of wet fly fishing works with the muddler minnow, wooly buggers, leeches, streamers and all types of large and small nymphs.

This method of nymph and wet fly fishing will produce violent strikes, and works on all game fish so be prepared to “up size” your tippet leader material. Refer to my web site for the fly fishing tip: “Fluorocarbon leader and the fly fishing knots to make it work”

Good luck, good fishing and please take care of our wonderful lands.