Monthly Archives: November 2012

Trout Fishing Hooks

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Many trout fishermen don’t pay nearly enough attention to their trout fishing hooks when fishing for the multi colored beauties known as trout. They seem to labor under the delusion that a “fishing hook is a fishing hook”, without ever realizing that their hooks are almost as important as any single piece of fishing gear that they use while trout fishing.

I’ve been fishing for trout for more than 20 years and have learned how important my hooks are to trout fishing. When I was a rookie trout fisherman, just beginning to learn the ropes so to speak, I was introduced to gang hooks. I’ll discuss gang hooks later in this article, but this fishing hook configuration changed the way I looked at trout fishing hooks forever.

The first thing to consider when discussing any fishing hooks is their sharpness. You always want to make sure that your hooks are as sharp as possible. When hooks are purchased they are very sharp, but once they are used for a while they become dulled from baiting up, being drug along the bottom, and fish being caught. Once your fishing hooks become dull it causes you to “miss” fish. It’s a good idea to change your hooks often or carry a hook sharpener to sharpen your hooks from time to time to ensure optimum sharpness. The bottom line is the sharper your hooks are the less fish you will “miss”.

Now for the size of your trout hooks. This rule is for those of you who like to use bait. Many trout fishermen use fishing hooks that are much too large when fishing for trout with bait. As a matter of fact most anglers use hooks that are much too large when fishing with bait in general, not just when fishing for trout. The bottom line is that your fishing hooks should match your bait. The focus of the offering should be the bait, and not the hooks, which means using small hooks.

The problem is that many types of bait aren’t conducive for a single small hook and your bait gets taken by the trout easily. This is where a set of gang hooks come into play. When it comes to trout fishing hooks, gang hooks are a great way to go. This is especially true when trout fishing with live bait such as live worms. These trout fishing hooks are simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem, which enable a worm to be presented in an outstretched and natural manner.

A common misconception is that small trout hooks (size 8 to 12) aren’t large enough to hook and land large trout. This is simply not true. Very large trout can and are hooked and landed using trout fishing hooks that are quite small. If you don’t believe me, just ask any seasoned fly fisherman. Flea flickers have to use hooks that are very small to match certain hatches. Just as a reference, I regularly hook and land trout in the 3-5 pound range using size 10 gang hooks. When it comes to trout fishing hooks in most instances smaller is better.

Fishing on An Alaskan Cruise

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Each year thousands of visitors come to Alaska by cruise ship. And many of these visitors want to experience Alaska’s varied fishing opportunities. Due to the popularity of fishing in Alaska, fishing excursions are available through the cruise lines at several of the stops on Alaskan itineraries. Find out the benefits of taking a fishing trip through your cruise line and whether it’s the right option for you.

What do the cruise lines offerall

Packaged tours

When you book a fishing trip through the cruise line, nearly every aspect of the tour is arranged for you. Your transportation to the area in Alaska where you’ll be fishing, your fishing equipment (like bait, flies, rods and waders), the services of a fishing guide, fishing instruction and sometimes even a meal are all included as part of the fishing excursion. Having all of the elements of your fishing trip pre-arranged saves you a lot of time and effort.

3 to 6 hour tours

The cruise line fishing excursions are typically either 3 or 6 hours long. This time includes your transportation to the area where you’ll be fishing and any instruction given by the guide. Depending on the size of your group, you may have only about an hour of “real” fishing time. But, one of the best things about taking a cruise line excursion is that if your tour is late returning for whatever reason, the cruise ship will wait until you return before leaving the port.

Experienced guides

Because the cruise line has already selected and approved your fishing guide, you can be certain that your guide is well qualified to lead fishing trips in Alaska. Also, if the competition for cruise excursion operators is high, the fishing guides chosen will have a higher level of expertise.

What you should know

You can’t bring your fish onboard.

Though you may have dreams of eating the salmon you caught in the cruise ship dining room, you are not permitted to bring your fresh catch onboard the cruise ship. If you’re on a fishing excursion that is not “catch and release” oriented, you can ask your fishing guide about fish processing and shipping. After your fishing trip is over, you can have your fish processed and sent back home for a fee. Be aware of processing costs before you decide to keep your fish so you can release your catch if you can’t afford to send it back home.

Excursions can be expensive.

Depending on which fishing excursion you choose, you can end up spending over $250 for one day of fishing. Often if you book a fishing trip with a native Alaskan fishing guide, you can get a better price. For most trips, fishing licenses are not a part of the upfront cost and you’ll need to purchase a license separately.

You may be crowded.

Most Alaskan cruise excursions will continue filling up until there is no more space available for that particular trip. This means that you could feel a little crowded on your fishing trip and the crowds can sometimes derive from your enjoyment. Also with big fishing excursions, the passengers will probably have different levels of fishing knowledge. With varying levels of expertise, the fishing guide will need to go over introductory fishing techniques. If you are a seasoned angler, you may lose fishing time while novices get up to speed.

When you take a cruise to Alaska, it’s easy to fit fishing into your itinerary. Whether you take a cruise line fishing excursion or you reserve a day or half day of fishing with a local guide, you’ll enjoy the amazing experience that is Alaska fishing. Happy fishing!

Fly Fishing – Choosing the Best Fly Fishing Rod

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If you have ever done any fly fishing before then you understand how important it is in choosing the best fly fishing rod. Anyone who enjoys this sport does not want to get stuck in the water with a fish on one end of the pole and rod and you do not have the proper equipment to be able to reel it in. Nothing is more frustrating that losing a fish because you settled on a rod that can not perform the way you want it to. This article on fly fishing – choosing the best fly fishing rod; because we want you to consider the following before you purchase your next fishing rod.

The first thing people take into consideration is cost; after all no one wants to pay a fortune just to continue their favorite sport. Anyone who loves to fish understands that all the fishing equipment can be very expensive. However whenever you find a site that offers discounts and clearance sales; this is the best time to purchase your fishing equipment. The most popular or common fishing rod that is suitable for any angler is the St. Croix Fly fishing rod. Yes you can purchase several other brands and models, however most likely you will be spending more money than you would like.

Comfort is another important factor; you never want to get one because you like the way it looks. Make sure that you are comfortable with it before you spend your money on it. I usually stick with the brands that I am familiar with; because I know from past experience how it feels and how it performs in the water. You can venture out and try new things if you like; however be familiar with what you are purchasing. There is nothing that can ruin a fishing trip than to have a fishing rod that you are unfamiliar with or have never used before.

Know what the rod is going to be used for; what kind of fish are you going to be fishing forall If you can answer that question; chances are you will know what type of fly fishing rod you will need. It will vary depending on what type of fish you are looking to catch. The general maxim is to equate the weight of the fish to the weight of the fishing rod. For most of the common fish you will want to remember that you will want to use a light to medium heavy quality of fishing gear.

If you are planning your next fishing trip and found this article on fly fishing – choosing the best fly fishing rod helpful; visit our site below. It is filled with valuable information on bass fishing, fly fishing and other types of fishing. You will also be able to find all the discount prices on all the fly fishing rods or other outdoor equipment that you will need for your trip! Don’t be stuck without the proper fishing gear!

Lake Erie Walleye Fishing – Best Spots and Tips

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Some of the best spots on Lake Erie for great walleye fishing are located in Ohio and Pennsylvania. The most popular spot in Ohio is the Toledo shipping channel. You have to travel out a few miles to reach the channel were the walleye seem to be in abundance, but it is worth when you bring back some nice sized fish. The best way that most anglers say they hook the walleye is by trolling the waters in the shipping channel. The channel has some good fishing, but if you want something a little closer to the shoreline, you might try a few other hot spots.

Another great place to fish walleye is Fairport Harbor in and around the central basin. The area has rocky formations that attract the walleye between Conneaut and Fairport. You will not find any offshore walleye fishing here, but the further out you go, there are great areas for hooking a walleye. Again, in this area, most anglers say they catch more fish when trolling. Some of the best fishing on Lake Erie is also around Sandusky. The port by the western end of the basin is better for catching the walleye.

On the Pennsylvania side of Lake Erie, anglers have been known to catch a walleye north, off the point of Presque Isle. It does have calmer waters in this area and you can sit in one place around the point to hook a walleye. The fishing around North East Marina is sometimes good, this all depends if the walleye migrate that way from the central basin. Some walleye that never leave the area were said to be a rather good size catch. These few areas on Lake Erie seem to be the general areas were anglers go to look for walleye.

Some the anglers that fish Lake Erie have said that they troll in the central basin and use deep diving lures and spoons, dipsy divers and a worm harness. Over in the western basin they drift while using cast or troll crankbaits over the reefs while using a spinner with a fitted bottom bouncer and a worm harness. They say they can get a eighteen to twenty-eight inch walleye out of the central and western basins. Although they will tell you that best spot during falls is between Huron and Vermilion.

Walleye fishing on the Michigan side is much different from that of the Pennsylvania and Ohio side. The walleye are easier to find and are abundant around certain areas. The best time of year to hook a walleye is May and June along the shallow waters of Lake Erie after the walleye are done spawning. The leading hot spots are Monroe, Sterling State Park, Bolles Harbor and Luna Pier. The best anglers practice a slow troll while using a ThunderStick Junior. This practice is only good until June when you need to change bait and methods of fishing the waters.

Restaurant Start Up Costs – How Much Money Will You Need?

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One of the biggest reasons restaurants fail is because there was never really enough capital to start the restaurant in the first place. If you are planning to open your restaurant, you will need enough capital to start up and then enough money to cover about two to three years of expenses because this is usually about how long it will take before you start making any real profits.

For now let’s just focus on the restaurant start up costs – money you’ll need to go from the idea stage to actually opening your restaurant. These costs can vary depending of the style of the restaurant, location you have chosen, and the type of cuisines offered. It can range between one hundred thousand dollars and three hundred thousand dollars depending on where you live, what type of restaurant you’re opening, and a variety of other factors.

From the outset you’re going to shell out money to get all the proper licenses and permits. Then you’ll also have to either spend a good chunk of cash on slightly modifying a place, completely renovating a space, or absolutely starting from scratch. Obviously, the more you want to do to the space then the more money you’ll have to spend.

Then you’re going to have to look at the restaurant start up costs to purchase the equipment you need for the restaurant. This includes things like the ovens, stoves, freezers, refrigerators, stations for cutting, heating, and cooling, ventilation equipment, tables, chairs, and possibly bar stools. Of course you may be able to find a place where many of these things are already present. However, even though you’ll be saving money at the outset, you may actually lose money in the long run because places that are fully equipped usually are much more expensive than places that aren’t furnished or equipped at all.

In addition to the items listed above, you’ll also need to buy an outdoor sign, menus, glasses, china, silverware, and many other smaller items. You need to make sure you plan out every little thing you need to get started including things like napkins, light bulbs, and toiler tissue.

Part of your start up costs will also include money for buying point of sale equipment such as cash registers, credit card machines, etc. You will need a way for people to quickly and easily pay for their food (this is how you’ll make money).

You will also need to plan for buying food and drinks, as well any other thing that will be an ongoing expense. Don’t forget to include anything and everything. Any unexpected expense that crops up later will hurt your bottom line and threaten to blow apart your budget. So be very careful.

Restaurant start up costs can be very pricey, The average cost to start up a restaurant is often right around a quarter of a million dollars. In addition, a very common reason why people fail with their restaurants is because they don’t have enough money to shell out for the initial cost of opening the restaurant and then to continue to spend the money to keep the restaurant operating. So just to be sure, always make sure you have the capital to start up the restaurant and then to keep it going for a couple years.

Alaska Summer Jobs At Wilderness Lodges – Workers Needed June Through September

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Have you always longed to see Alaskaall If so, consider getting a summer job in Alaska allowing you to earn money and see the state in late summer. Visitors can see waterfalls, beautiful wildlife in its native habitat, some of the largest national parks in the country – all within the same state. You can see those same sights and earn some cash at the same time while working for the summer at one of Alaska’s wilderness lodges.

Tourists are not only interested in lodging amenities; they are also looking for a variety of ways to experience adventure when they visit Alaska. Princess Tours runs many wilderness lodges in Alaska. During the summer they are bustling with activity and need many summer workers to complete their staffing requirements.

A wilderness lodge is like a hotel but with an outdoor atmosphere. To further add to the ambiance, some of the lodges are in remote locations far from any city or town. Anyone staying in one of the lodges will experience Alaska’s untamed lands at its best.

Princess Tours is better known for their cruise line but visitors who stay in their lodges as part of a vacation package are not disappointed. As a summer employee, you can be a part of this terrific enterprise that makes memories for the thousands who come to Alaska each year. Most positions don’t require previous experience as the company offers intensive training on-site.

The available positions are the same that you would expect to find in a regular hotel: housekeeping, kitchen staff, wait staff, laundry, front desk, and concierge. Wilderness lodges have additional activities that need to be staffed such as: guide posts in outdoor activities, bus drivers, and fishing guides. A day at one of these lodges is never boring.

While training is offered to those who hire in for the guide positions, there are some requirements such as being able to swim for kayaking guides and knowing how to fish for a fishing guide position. Courses in CPR and wilderness survival training are a plus that could put you ahead of your job competition.

Alaska is known for its high cost of living, and this is especially true in tourist areas, so it is wise to save up some money before you travel there. Your first paycheck may not be given to you until you are a month into your contract. That’s a long time to be without any money.

Some companies do not pay for workers to fly into and out of their employment destination. If the lodge is in a remote spot, this could mean a plane ride followed by a bus or taxi ride before you get where you’re going. Be sure you know where the lodge is located. If remote areas aren’t for you, pick a spot closer to town.

Workers are housed by the company close to where they work. This could be a tent or a room that you share with another person at a discounted rate. College students know how it is getting used to living with a new person. If this doesn’t bother you, then the summer will be off to a good start.

Meal plans are available as well as discounts on lodge activities. Try your hand at a zipline tour or photographing wildlife on a nature tour. The work hours are long so free time is a premium and there are plenty of activities to occupy your time.

Working in Alaska is not the way to get rich, but you will get to see the country much cheaper than the tourists. People travel from all across the country and the globe to take positions in Alaska’s various industries. Summer workers like the fact that they get to meet new people and learn about their cultures. The work is hard but the perks are worth it.

Princess Tours offers a perks program to their summer workers. Commendations are earned for hard work and friendliness. Many who work for them can return in subsequent summers in higher positions and for more money. Building a good relationship with the company may lead to permanent career positions.

Free Bass Fishing Games

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If you love to fish but you just can’t seem to get out enough to get some quality fishing time in with your buddies, some of the free bass games on the internet could probably be truly entertaining to you. There is nothing like finding something that you like to do and developing other hobbies around it; just as avid bowlers love bowling games, avid fishers can easily fall in love with the free bass games on the web. Depending on the style of game you choose, there is no doubt about the fact that these games are not too difficult to get into.

What to Look for in Free Bass Fishing Games

The free bass games on the internet range from pretty basic to fairly advanced, but free is free and many times you get what you pay for. Free games do not usually allow for players to save their progress, but they do occasionally allow for players to easily interact with one another. If you are the type of computer gamer that likes to chat with other people as they play, some of these more interactive free bass fishing games may be a good idea for you.

Of course, not all of the bass fishing games on the Internet are free. Some of them are going to require payment and you do usually get just what you pay for. If you pay a few dollars for a game, you are going to get a better experience than you would if you were playing some of the free games on the web. It depends on what you want to do; it is not always a good idea to pay for a game as its luster could die for you and your money will have been wasted. Needless to say, free fishing games are always the desired action but if you are finding that you need more than the free games have to offer, you know what to do.

Playing free fishing games on the computer can be quite entertaining to say the least. Don’t let it distract you from your work responsibilities or your home responsibilities, as that is an easy trap to fall into and certainly not something that you should want to be part of. They say that online gaming is addictive, and you probably never thought you would have a chance to be part of it. Well, find out for yourself this time!

Fresh Lobster Delight

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Due to the fact that a fresh lobster caught in the province of Maine is becoming very popular, a special action has been taken by the local government for the protection of certain lobster-growing zones to help keep them from becoming extinct. There are now allotted size limits on lobsters allowed for resale to help younger lobsters grow and eventually reproduce. The state of Maine also demand lobster fishermen to obtain a special fishing license before they can fish and harvest lobsters for commercial purposes. This makes the coastal waters of Maine safe from those unregulated lobster fishing boats.

Once caught, proper care must be used, especially in handling these lobsters. Since lobster meat gets easily spoiled, they are maintained alive up until these lobsters are ready for processing or cooking. That is the reason why there are lobster tanks strategically placed in front of most of your local seafood joints. This way, you get an assurance that you order only a fresh lobster for your dining pleasure.

Another thing that most people are probably unaware of is the fact that lobsters, even when taken away from the water, can actually survive for a maximum time of 48 hours even when stuffed in the refrigerator. When the temperature goes down to a particular point, a lobster will automatically go into a state of hibernation. That is why it is ideal that you keep the lobster refrigerated in an open box or container or you can just use the container that came along with your purchase. Remember to never put them in a closed or sealed container for they would surely suffocate to death. What you must do is to keep them moist and properly stacked in the coolest part of the refrigerator.

Refrigerating a fresh lobster is again a perfect solution for people who are a bit queasy about the idea of boiling live lobsters. If the lobster is refrigerated and frozen, putting it in boiling water would definitely kill it even before it leaves the state of hibernation.

If you are cooking a fresh lobster, quickly plunging it on a pot of hot and boiling water is the best way to start. What you have to do is to fill a pot with ample water – just enough to cover it with – add a tablespoon of rock salt, one per two pints of water, cover it then leave to boil. Once it is boiling, drop the fresh lobster in. You will know that it is cooked once the shell becomes bright red. Regardless of the way you cook it, a fresh lobster form Maine will definitely be one scrumptious meal!

Fishing Big Bass Tips

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Did you know that 90% of anglers are making the same mistakes when fishing big bass that prevent them from catching big bass. A few things that anglers are doing wrong are as follows:

1) They are not fishing for big bass in the right spots.

The best places when fishing big bass to fish at is somewhere near structure. Most likely, bass will be found around fallen trees and docks. During the spring,or spawning season. Bass are spawning in the shallows, so they can be found there as well.

2) They are not fishing for bass with the right bait.

You can fish with live bait or fake bait (Lures). Live bait works best, because will lets face it, they are real. But lures work very well too. You also need to know what types of lures and what colors, which depends on the clearness of the water.

3) They are not fishing for bass during the right time.

The absolute best time to be fishing is in the early morning, right before the sun rises. At this time, the bass are very hungry. But note that if there is a full moon, then the bass are least likely to be biting because with the light from the moon they have been feeding all night.

I have struggled for a long time to catch big bass. I had no idea how to catch them. I could not find them, then once I found them, I could not catch them. I knew I was doing something wrong. So I spent a lot of money on special lure kits and gadgets that I thought would help, but it did not.

Spin Fishing Flies – Now You Can Spin Fish With Flies Too

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If you’ve ever seen people fly fishing with spinning rods and reels and wondered how do they do it, then you be sure to read this article. Specifically, we’re going to discuss necessary tackle, how to cast and whether it’s possible or not to cast without a bubble. After reading this article you should be able to decide if spin fishing flies is something you want to try.

While it is completely possible to spin fish flies with regular spinning rods and reels it does require a few pieces of necessary tackle. You’ll need a casting bubble, a working and properly sized swivel, and an appropriate length of leader material. Finding the right casting bubble is probably the most difficult part of setting up your fly a bubble rig. There are several types of casting bubbles to choose from, the best type to use will depend on the type of fishing you are doing and the state of your vision.

Casting the fly and bubble rig is a little tricky, especially if your leader is on the longer end. A length of leader longer than the length of your rod can be very unruly for beginners who are spin fishing flies. The easiest and best way to cast a fly and bubble rig is off to the side, with a sidearm casting motion. If you are just beginning to study spin fishing flies, I would recommend keeping your leader in the 4 foot to 5 foot range. When you become more experience, then you can experiment with longer leaders (sometimes into the 12 foot range for the deeper presentations.)

Many times people want to know if it’s possible start spin fishing flies, without using a casting bubble. The answer is yes, it is possible to fish a fly with spinning equipment without a bubble. But, it’s not possible to cast it any appreciable distance. What this means, is that in an emergency, you could pay out your fly and line into a river, for instance, and let the water pull your line out. However, this is not casting and would probably get old pretty fast. You are much better off using a casting bubble of some sort.

To start spin fishing flies you only need a few pieces of additional equipment in addition to the spinning rod and reel you already have, but to get to the point where you’re actually catching fish on a regular basis is going to require lots of practice. However, with some more in-depth training in the technique you could become an expert at spin fishing flies in less than a weekend.