Striped Bass Fishing Tips

Striped Bass are one of Fishery Management's greatest success stories. Originally an inshore saltwater fish, striped bass have been successfully stocked in freshwater lakes all over the U.S., providing an outstanding fishery for these large cousins of white bass. Also known as “the poor man's salmon”, they have even been cross-bred with white bass to create a 'hybrid' striped bass...the best of both worlds, in theory, anyway. Most places in the U.S. now have freshwater striped bass populations within a few hours drive. Striped bass are not that hard to catch, especially if you know a few striped bass fishing tips ahead of time:

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• Striped bass are a schooling fish, so where you catch one, there will be many others. You will almost never see a striped bass off by itself unless something is seriously wrong. When you catch a striped bass, keep working the same area. It's not uncommon to catch more than a dozen individuals from a single school, before it goes deep and moves on.
• One of the best ways to locate striped bass schools is by Jump-Fishing. Look for flocks of wheeling. diving birds. Under neath them will usually be a large school of shad, and underneath the shad will be a school of striped and/or white bass chowing down on the shad. They chase them to the surface, where the birds get their share. The water will literally be boiling with fish. Get within casting distance (don't spook the school by going directly into it), and throw right into the melee, and hang on. This is fast and furious fishing. When the school goes deep, either wait until it comes up again nearby, or look for another flock of birds.
• When jump fishing, always have several rods rigged and ready to go. If you lose a lure, just grab another rod, until the school goes down. The schools only stay up for a limited amount of time, and you don't want to waste it fiddling with fishing gear. You can't catch fish if you don't have a line in the water.
• To get the most out of striped bass fishing, try using a fly rod. Any pattern that resembles a shad or minnow will work. Clouser Minnows, Polar Minnows, Angel Hair Minnows, Zonkers, Matukas, and Puglisi Shads are all excellent flies for striped bass. A striped bass is a total demon on fly gear, so you need at least an 8wt rod. A Fighting Butt section on the rod is a big help. make sure you have at least 100 yards of backing on your fly reel, because a striped basses first run can peel that much line off of your reel before you know it.
• If you plan on eating you catch, you are in for a treat. Striped bass are delicious. Just remember to cut out the red strip of meat along the lateral line and discard it. it will make you sick.

Striped bass are well worth your efforts, especially when you take note of a few basic striped bass fishing tips.

Happy fishing.

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Striped Bass Fishing Tips

A Few Simple Fishing Boat Tips

Fishing Boat Tips

Fishing from a boat is a very different activity than the slow, deliberate techniques used in shore fishing. From a boat, an angler can cover miles of water in a short amount of time, and search for fish in offshore structures, and the depths that are inaccessible from shore. Trolling, and Jump-Fishing are impossible without a boat. Of course, when you start to operate a boat, there is a learning curve, but you can reduce this greatly by learning just a few fishing boat tips:

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• If you do nothing else, learn to be a safe and considerate boater. You owe it to yourself, and to your passengers to give them a nice, safe, enjoyable ride. Motor slowly and deliberately, and always give other boats a wide berth. Be especially careful in No-Wake areas, and in areas where others are fishing.
• Store all tackle, clothing, and gear below decks before getting underway. Lower all pedestal seats to keep the center of gravity low when underway. Make sure everyone on-board wears a PFD, at least when underway. Be sure there is a Coast Guard Approved PFD for every person on-board.
• Try not to spook the fish. When approaching your fishing area, shut the main motors off well before you get there, and use an electric trolling motor to get you the rest of the way in. Trolling motors are much quieter. The clearer the water, the farther away you need to be from the fish. In very clear water, be prepared to make long casts.
• Dropping anchor can scare fish. Avoid using an anchor except when in rough water or heavy current. Use a drift-anchor instead. In fast water, use a bow, and stern anchor, and cast upstream. If you are fishing next to a non-submerged object, tie on to it, and fish straight down. If fishing submerged cover, stay back from it and cast into the structure. If casting towards a shoreline, stay as far back as you can cast.
• For hard-core stealth fishing for very spooky fish, nothing beats a kayak. They are swift, silent, and non-polluting. When set-up properly, with a reasonably skilled paddler, they are as unsinkable as any boat can get. They are inexpensive for what they do, and much lighter than canoes. They even come in inflatable models to use when space is at a premium.

More fish are probably caught from a boat than by any other method. You can tip the odds more in your favor by using a few good fishing boat tips the next time you go out.

Happy fishing.

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A Few Simple Fishing Boat Tips

Fishing Boat Safety Tips

This is a fishing tips article on fishing boat safety and may be a little basic for your more advanced anglers but they may learn something as well.

Fishing is a great, wholesome activity for the whole family. And what better way to enjoy than from the deck of a boat? Unfortunately, boating does involve a few potential hazards. In the U.S., there are over 5000 boating accidents annually, with more than 800 being fatal. It may not sound like much when you compare these figure to the ones for traffic accidents, but if one of these statistics is you, or one of your loved ones, then the numbers quickly become much more significant. And the really bad thing is that the vast majority of boating accidents are easily preventable. Granted, fishing is at the bottom of the list of activities that cause boating accidents, but you can reduce them to nearly zero simply by following a few basic fishing boat safety tips, and following all the boating laws in you locations.

• This may sound a bit obvious, but I can't stress this enough. Never drink while operating a boat, or for at least 6 hours beforehand. Operating, and navigating a boat is a very technical procedure that demands your full attention, and humans are not naturally aquatic creatures. The water can be a hostile environment. You need to keep your wits about you at all times when on the water. Add to that the fact that in most places, it is very illegal, with very harsh penalties.
• Wear a PFD whenever you are on the water, even when the boat is not moving. This is the major cause of boating fatalities. In 2008, of the 800 boating accident fatalities, 510 of them were from drowning, and 459 were not wearing PFDs (Personal Floatation Device, or Life Vest).
• Watch your tackle. Always look behind you before casting. Many an angler has gotten an 'Eagle Claw Earring', and even more serious injuries from a comrades lures on the back-cast. Bass lures, in particular, have a wicked assortment of large, sharp, strong hooks on them, and barbed hooks usually require a visit to the Emergency Room to remove them, if they are imbedded very deeply. Also, never leave lures, hooks, and other terminal tackle out in the open, on seats, or the deck, where someone can step, sit, or fall on them. Always put your tackle where it belongs...in the tackle-box.
• Always wear some kind of shoes in a boat. They protect your feet from hooks, and provide extra traction if the boat yaws, or lurches suddenly. If you go overboard and have to swim to shore, never discard your shoes. Tie them together by the laces, or stuff them in a pocket if you need to take them off to swim. You will need them when you reach shore. Even a small injury to your foot can seriously incapacitate you.

Catching fish from a boat is a very enjoyable activity, and can be very safe as long as you keep in mind a few fishing boat safety tips.

Happy fishing.

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Fishing Boat Safety Tips

Fishing Safety Tips

This is a fishing tips article on fishing safety and may be a little basic for your more advanced anglers but they may learn something as well...

Fishing is a wholesome activity that can be enjoyed by the whole family, both young and old. However, while perfectly safe most of the time, there are some situations that anglers may occasionally get into that can present some safety concerns. They are rare occasions, but they do happen nonetheless, and you should be aware of some basic fishing safety tips when you go out.

• Fishing involves hooks, knives and other sharp implements, so the hazard of being impaled, or cut should be self-evident. Store your hooks, lures and cutlery properly to minimize the danger. If you do get a hook in you past the barb, don't cut it out. Make a loop of heavy fishing line, and pass it around the hook shank, holding both ends of the loop on your finger, or fingers. Now, gently press down on the end of the hook-shank, near the hook-eye to get a straight pull, the exact way the hook went in. Now, when you and the victim are ready, make one fast hard pull and the hook will come out the same way it went in, with minimal pain and far less tissue damage than with cutting. For stubborn hooks, go the the E.R. ASAP. If you don't have a current tetanus vaccination, get one.
  

  

  

  

  

  
• Most snakes try to avoid humans whenever possible, but sometimes, incidents are unavoidable. If you, or your partner get bit by a poisonous snake, forget all that junk you've heard in the media and from Hollywood. You've got plenty of time to get medical help so don't panic. That will just spread the venom faster. First, remove any jewelry, or restricted clothing or items in case you start to swell up. Did I mention don't panic. Panic has resulted in more injuries and deaths from snakebites than the venom itself. You have several hours before you even have to worry much, in most cases, and less than 5% of U.S. poisonous snakebites are fatal. Next, clean out the wound, but don't use water. Moist towelettes are great for this. If the bite is on an appendage, like a leg (where most bites usually are), you can lightly splint it to immobilize it. Try to keep the bitten area above the heart as much as possible. Regardless of what you have heard, do not cut the wound and try to suck out the poison with those worthless snakebite kit suction cups, and especially not with your mouth. Few things have more microbes in them than a human mouth. Also, even the tiniest cut in your mouth or tongue can allow the venom into your bloodstream. Just get the victim to a medical facility as soon as you can. If you are a long ways away, it's a good idea to call and have an ambulance meet you halfway. Do not try to catch the snake. This will result in two victims, instead of just one. Just make a note of the color of the snake and the shape of it's head. And stay calm......
  

  
• Bees, spiders, scorpions and wasps are usually nothing more than a nuisance, but some people are allergic. If you are, or think you may be, be sure to carry an epi pen (if you need one, you know what it is....) with you at all times. Baking soda and water will relieve the pain and swelling of most insect stings. If it is a honey bee sting, be sure to carefully remove the stinger and venom sac from the wound with forceps, or hemostats (which you should never be without). The exception is a Brown Recluse or Black Widow spider bite. If you suspect one of these, then get to a medical facility as soon as you can. In some people, they can be serious.
• Bears, wolves, and other woodland inhabitants seldom bother humans. If one begins to act aggressive towards you, just keep facing them, back away and leave. Fish somewhere else. It's their home. You are just visiting. Never, never, never feed any possibly dangerous wild animal. They will start associating humans with food...not a good thing. If any mammal bites you, you may need rabies shots. It's best just to take them, and be more careful next time. Don't try to catch the animal (you'll just get bit again). If shooting it is possible, and safe, then that's OK. Bring the deceased animal to the medical facility with you so it can be tested.

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Fishing can be safe, if you remember these fishing safety tips.

Happy fishing.

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Fishing Safety Tips

Lake Of The Ozarks Fishing Tips

 

Lake Of The Ozarks Fishing Tips

Lake of the Ozarks is a 55,000 acre reservoir in Benton, Camden, Miller and Morgan counties in the state of Missouri. It was created in 1931 by building a hydroelectric dam across the Osage River. The lake has over 1,150 miles of shoreline and stretches 92 miles along the main channel. The lake has a serpentine shape, earning it the nickname “The Magic Dragon”. It is the largest man-made, non-flood control lake in the U.S.

The lake is loaded with huge populations of bluegill, black bass, white bass, spotted bass, black and white crappie, Blue, Channel and Flathead catfish, and even walleyes. There are numerous resorts along the shores, some even having heated fishing docks with cable TV. Needless to say, they are popular in winter. Fishing can be outstanding all-year if you take the time to learn a few Lake of the Ozarks fishing tips.

• Paddlefish and White Bass roam the entire lake during much of the year, but in the spring, they congregate in the upper sections of the Niangua, Gravois, and Grand Glaize arms.
• Lake of the Ozarks is one of the few lakes where a jig works 12 months out of the year. This is because of the dense structure and bottom features all over the lake, such as docks, sunken brush and timber, drop-offs, etc.... Jigs, and plastic worms are one of your best bets for bass all year.
• For winter bass, try targeting rock-slides and underwater bluffs with a Jig & Craw, or a Texas-Rigged purple plastic worm. Maintain contact with the bottom in 18-20 foot of water at all times, and just make short 'hops' off of the bottom.
• For some reason, crappie in the Lake of the Ozarks have a marked preference for 1/32 chartreuse and black tube jigs. Dropping these around sunken brush in 8-15 feet of water almost guarantees a crappie attack for most of the year. During the spawn, toss them right into the beds in 2-4 feet of water.
• Both crappie and bluegills in the lake happily attack flies, with total abandon. Good patterns for fly fishing are cricket, grasshopper and spider patterns for bluegill, and small Clouser Minnows, Streamers, and Woolly-Buggers for crappie. Lake of the Ozarks is a great lake to learn how to fly fish on.
• You will generally find walleyes near docks and rock-piles at night. Use small crank-baits, spinners, minnows or nightcrawlers.

Lake of the Ozarks can provide anglers with fast and furious fishing action all year, especially if you remember these few Lake of the Ozark fishing tips.

Happy fishing.

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Lake Of The Ozarks Fishing Tips

Atlantic Ocean Fishing Tips

The Atlantic Ocean is the 2^nd largest ocean in the world. It runs along the east coast of Canada, and the United States, around Great Britain, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, western Europe, down along the east coast of South America, and the west coast of Africa. It covers 20% of the planets surface area. The equator divides the Atlantic Ocean into the North, and South Atlantic Oceans. The Atlantic Ocean was formed when the super-continent Pangea, split apart into our modern continents, approximately 130 million years ago. It's deepest part is 28, 230 feet deep, at the Milwaukee Deep, a part of the Puerto Rico Trench, just 84 miles north of San Juan, Puerto Rico.

The Atlantic is home to a wide variety of fish. Unfortunately, this has led to the Atlantic being the most heavily fished ocean for commercial fisheries. Many species are in decline as a result, such as Bluefin and Yellowfin Tuna, Atlantic Salmon, anchovies, Orangy Roughy, sablefish, sole, and cod. But there are still plenty of fish for sport anglers. Blue Marlin, Bluefin, Yellowfin and Bigeye Tuna, wahoo, dorado, mako shark, and other pelagic cruisers are still readily caught throughout the Atlantic. There are great opportunities for inshore species as well, such as speckled trout, redfish, striped bass, and others. You can increase your catch by learning a few Atlantic Ocean fishing tips, before you go out.

• Redfish love marshes. Try to fish in water less than 1-1/2 feet deep when possible. Any deeper, and the redfish find too many place to hide. When the tide goes out, fish the edges of creeks and canals.
• For speckled trout, bottom -fishing with live bait is one of the best methods. Use Kahle hooks with live shrimp. Don't use any weight, but let the bait swim around freely. This drives specks insane.
• When you are vertical-fishing, nothing beats a fish-finder rig. Attach a pyramid sinker to the end of your line, then make two dropper loops, the first 18” above the weight, and the next 18” above the first loop. Now, tie on two Kahle hooks and bait them with squid or shrimp. Lower this rig to the bottom, and keep your line tight. You'll catch a lot of fish, fast this way.
• One of the best rigs for tuna is an Umbrella rig, that allows you to use 5-7 jigs, side-by-side while trolling. It resembles a school of fleeing bait-fish.
  
  

Fishing in the Atlantic Ocean can result in some memorable catches, especially when you use some of these Atlantic Ocean fishing tips.

Happy fishing.

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Atlantic Ocean Fishing Tips

How to Fish For Bass in the Spring Time

Spring Bass Fishing Tips

This is a Bass Fishing Tips Article on How to Fish For Bass in the Spring Time . This may be a little basic for your more advanced anglers but they may learn something as well..

Towards the end of February in the south, and March up north, it's time to start thinking about hitting the water again. The Super-Bowl is history, your sick of watching re-runs on TV, and Cabin Fever is driving you crazy. When the water temperatures get in the 50s, it's time to go out and kick some bass.

It may seem a bit early, but this is the best time to catch bass while they are in their pre-spawn mode. They've been doing the same thing you have all winter...hanging out and not doing much of anything. They've been living mostly off of stored energy all winter. Spawning takes a lot of effort, so the bass know they have to stoke up for the rigors to come. They will get out of their lethargic mood when the water temperatures get to 53°F (for smallmouth bass) up to 57°F (for largemouth bass), and begin actively feeding. They will move from deeper water (20'-40') into shallower water (5'-15') several times a day looking for high nutrient foods such as crawfish, worms, and other things they don't have to chase or fight much. By learning a few good spring bass fishing tips, this can be the best fishing of the year:

• Bass will move from deeper to shallower water along lines of structure. Look for channels, old river beds, tree lines, rock-piles, and ledges that run from deep to shallow water. These will lead to suitable spawning waters as well.
• Get to know the forage in the lake, or river you will be fishing in. You need to know the average size, and coloration of the food the bass are likely to be eating so you can match your lures to them as close as possible.
• In pre-spawn mode, bass are still a bit slow, so slow-moving lures will produce better this time of year. The all-time best lure for spring bass is a soft plastic worm, crawfish or lizard. Texas-rigged soft plastics have accounted for more bass than any other bait, period....even live bait. There is one secret that is murder on feeding spring bass. When using plastic crawfish, take a hypodermic needle and 'blow' a small bubble of air into each 'claw' so that they float up, in a 'defend' posture. Cast them directly into cover...and hang on.
• One of the best kept secrets of bass fishing is the Jig & Pig combo. Tipping an Arkie jig with a pork-bait can be deadly in spring. But there is one secret to it....only use floating pork baits. The reason is simple, crawfish do not drag their claws along the bottom, especially when threatened. They have them up and defensive, so your pork needs to float up to resemble this posture. When you buy a jar of pork-baits, drop them all in a bowl of freshwater, and only use the ones that float. Use the rest on spinner baits later in the year.

If you really want to bust your bass, take a little time and apply these few spring bass fishing tips to significantly improve your catch-ratio.

Happy fishing.

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Spring Bass Fishing Tips: How to Fish For Bass in the Spring Time