Fly Fishing Travel Articles

When you unpack a new electronic device it comes with a “start here” guide because most folks don’t read manuals until they are in trouble. Same goes for fly fishing, except most folks read the books and watch the videos but can’t remember what they read or saw when they get to the river.

This is a summary of the one page titled “start here” from my Pocket Guide to Fly Fishing. Go ahead and get on you waders and we’ll get started.

Check with your local sources before you go out. Newspapers, radio shows (many have podcasts) and fly shops offer great current advise. You can get most of what you need from them and get the hot flies. But conditions change quickly and you have to be able to evaluate conditions and make decisions on the fly.

I’ll have my bag or vest packed with whatever I may need for dry, wet nymph and streamer fishing. I carry two reels that fit in the same housing. One will have a floating line, the other an intermediate sink line. The only thing that I’ll put together at the car is the pole. That leaves me open to evaluate conditions at the water and setup for optimum success. If I set up the line, leader and fly at the car, I will use them at the stream – regardless of what I see. Call it stubborn or lazy, it’s just human nature.

Part of the allure of fly fishing is getting in touch with nature. The first step is to connect with your surroundings. Our first task is to figure out if the fish are feeding or holding, what they are eating and how they are behaving. Success will come from evaluating these three variables.

Clues to what the fish are feeding on is above, on and below the water. Above the water look for visible hatches or birds eating bugs. Dry flies are called for in these conditions. Examine the surface and see if there are bugs on it either emerging or on the film.

To figure out where the fish are eating we need to watch the water. Look for anything out of the ordinary especially bulges and ripples. If you see a ripple tie on a wet fly – the fish are feeding on the surface. If you see a bulge the fish are feeding under the surface and will more likely take a wet, nymph or streamer. Look under the rocks and see what crawls out to know what is going on under the surface.

Look at the water and determine the clarity. If it is gin clear be careful on your approach and use a longer lighter leader. If it is off color a shorter and slightly heavier leader can be used.

Now that we know the conditions we can set up out line and leader. Dry flies will fish with a floating line, 9-12′ leader and 6x tippet. Wet flies or nymphs will fish with the same line but a 7.5′ leader and 4x tippet. You are now ready to get the line wet.

I like to fish streamers and will go to them if there are no signs of feeding fish. I use an intermediate sink line with a 7.5′ leader for streamers. If you want to go with nymphs I use a floating line with split shot above the fly and a strike indicator.

Check out the rivers flow and see if you can see any seams. Look for bubbles or a small debris path on the surface. Fish will hold just outside the current.

Follow these steps before you tie on your fly and your catch rate will increase.

The Fishing Geek has a Pocket guide to fly fishing. This guide features a “Start Here” page that you can take on the water.

The Cape Cod Canal is amongst the most challenging and rewarding locations along the entire East Coast of America to catch striped bass. Few places on earth provide the shore bound angler a better chance at connecting with a bass in the 40 pound range. .

The man-made land cut has generated amazing fishing the past few seasons. The spring run of large striped bass has been just as impressive, if not more impressive than the famed fall migration.

If next spring is anything similar to the spring of 2011, enormous schools of trophy size striped bass should enter the canal during the second half of May. For the serious striped bass angler, the “Big Ditch,” as it’s referenced by canal regulars, could very well produce several of the biggest striped bass of the year.

Timing is Everything

The canal will support a population of stripers from May through October. But to truly cash in on great canal fishing, an angler ought to be at the canal when a large biomass of bass moves into the land cut.

Unfortunately it is inherently complicated to calculate when this will occur. However it will help to stay updated on Vineyard Sound and Buzzards Bay fishing reports. Stories of huge schools of surface feeding striped bass in Buzzards Bay will usually trickle in a few days, to a week, before a canal blitz.

These stripers are on a northward migration pattern that often brings them directly through the Cape Cod Canal – in contrast to the longer path around the arm of Cape Cod. At this time of the year the canal is full of herring, mackerel, and whiting as well as a plethora of other prey items. The canal effortlessly sets the stage for a world class fishing opportunity.

Top-notch fishing seems to occur in phases as biomasses of striped bass migrate through the land cut northward into Cape Cod Bay. Often time’s spectacular fishing will occur for a day or two as the school migrates through. A phase of slower fishing develops, before the next large push of bass happens a week or so later.

I remember a Thursday morning last season when anyone who could cast a plug more than 30 feet was into big bass. It did not take long for word to get out, and by the weekend the canal was stuffed with anglers. However the biomass of stripers had quickly exited the canal late Thursday/early Friday. I did not see a single striper taken that Saturday morning.

Top Water Bass Action

The top water bite at the canal can be downright nutty during the spring. To put it simply there are not many places in our neck of the woods where a shore bound angler can cast surface plugs to 30 pound bass.

With that said, not every angler will take advantage of the excellent top water action during spring at the canal. Very long casts in excess of 200 feet are usually needed to reach breaking bass.

Loading the tail end of an aerodynamic surface plug with weight can noticeably increase casting distance without harming the action of the plug. Using ultra thin braided line as well as the best rods and reels money can buy will surely help. However nothing can beat perfect casting technique.

Striped bass are relatively simple to fool with top water plugs when the bass are aggressive and focused in on larger prey items such as tinker mackerel. It can be a completely different predicament if the fish are focused on smaller prey such as juvenile whiting.

On several occasions last season, canal anglers witnessed schoolie bass feeding aggressively on small prey items at the crack of dawn. All efforts to hook these bass went unrewarded as it was nearly impossible to reach these breaking stripers with a plug that matched the small stature of the bait these schoolie stripers were feeding on.

However as the morning and tide progressed, the smaller prey items were replaced by much larger mackerel. Larger bass replaced the schoolies, and everyone began hooking up. Things change rapidly this time of the year at the canal.

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There are numerous variations of kites in the marketplace. Some which fly with relative ease, and others which prove more difficult to get a handle on. We have had success using Boston Big Game kites, along with Power Chute and Mega Mouth fishing kites. Obviously kites need wind to operate, and the more breeze there is, the easier it will be to get your kite flying high. However, making a few modest adjustments in gear can result in a big difference in how well your kite will perform in blustery, along with calm conditions.

Utilizing a kite reel packed with 100 pound braided line has a few distinct advantages over a reel loaded with dacron. Braided line isn’t going to allow any stretch, whilst providing more line strength with less line diameter. Basically this means that the kite connected to braid will lift less weight compared to the kite connected to dacron. The extra strength supplied by braid will even help ward against breaking off a kite in gusty conditions.

Loading your 50, 80 or 130 class reel with braided line can help to make kite fishing more potent and efficient. A reel packed with 2oo pound dacron can still be fished with a kite, however the bulky dacron (when compared to the thin diameter of braid) can make it trickier to fish with a kite during light and variable wind conditions.

When we first began fishing kites we employed simple, run of the mill kite clips. Now, with a year of experience under our belts, we found that using kite clips with rollers makes life easier. The rollers enable the main line coming from our 80 and 130 class reels to slip very easily through the clips with less resistance. This helps keep our baits positioned happily on the water’s surface, rather than dangling in mid air-due to the friction produced by non-roller kite clips.

Employing an elastic bridle to rig live baits will help to decrease the amount of damage to the bait. This is very important because live pogies, mackerel and bluefish quite often require a considerable amount of time and energy to acquire. It is important to keep the baits alive and frisky. As a substitute for traditionally hooking a bait through the top of the back or through the snout, a bridle enables an elastic to be threaded through the bait-much like stitches through skin. This way the opening pierced through the bait is significantly smaller than that created by traditionally hooking the bait. The bait will swim long and with more vigor due to this small alteration in technique.

Braided drop lines ought to be part of an angler’s kite fishing arsenal. Drop lines run from the ball bearing swivels, that are spaced throughout the kite reel’s braided line, down towards the ocean’s surface. The length of these lines will vary depending on wind conditions. Attach a roller kite clip to the tag end of the drop line. Your main running line will run through the roller kite clip. Drop lines allow your main line to remain closer to the water’s surface, instead of towering high in the sky.

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So, you think you ought to learn a new hobby and it’s going to be fishing. There are a few methods of learning, the hardest way being trial and error, however, the best way is to find an expert for one-to-one instruction.

1. Get seasickness medication: If you’re going to fish on the water, nothing is worse than having your fishing trip ruined by seasickness. Most seasickness medication is very good (e.g. Bonine). Even seasoned fishermen take some on rough-weather days. Take one tablet before you go to sleep, another when you wake up and a third one before you go on deck.

2. Get a decent reference book: There are a lot of very good books available at your local bookshops or online. The book ought to give you instructions as well as the terms and definitions. There are some things you may not immediately understand but that you have to know anyway. One good thing is to learn how to tie different kinds of knots. This useful knowledge will also be invaluable for other purposes throughout your whole life.

3. Go to a party: There are party boats that carry from five to as many as sixty anglers. The boat provides everything you need such as bait, rod, reel, sinkers and hooks. They help you in fishing and even take the fish off the hook for you too. You will make new fishing mates and they will help and advise you. Party boats will generally cost you between $25 – $70 a day and the fish are yours to eat. The party boat is a bargain for beginners.

4. Pick your pier: Assuming you have already learned the skills to operate a rod and reel, you need to look for a fishing pier. The majority of seaside cities have a public pier or pay-to-fish pier. You can rent tackle and buy bait at these piers. If you do have trouble, there are many pier anglers willing to assist and give you tips.

5. To do party or pier?: You should try either step three or four times each or both at the same time at this point. The best thing to do is to practise them both methods several times to really learn how to do each method.

6. The reel way: The traditional reel is probably what you’ve got at this point. The traditional reel is made to take loads of wear and tear. However, perhaps you now want to think about purchasing a different type or / and make of reel. Ideally, you have already met other fishermen and perhaps made a friend or two who can assist you in selecting a reel. You could even ask a tackle shop owner for advice.

Firstly, you ought to learn the mechanics of the reel and the other equipment. Learning to cast, tie knots and bait is not really all that complicated. Secondly, you must learn where to fish. Successful fishermen know where the fish are swimming. Fish move from place to place and knowledgeable anglers understand these patterns and are able to work out where the fish are likely to be swimming.

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Fishing can be an excellent pass time. One of the things you should learn before you start fishing is about fishing gear and what will you need to get to start fishing. This article is for the beginner angler someone who wants to start fishing but doesn’t know where. Well the first thing one should do before starting to even consider about fishing gear is to get their fishing license. Once that is done you are ready to go ahead and start acquiring your fishing gear.

Fishing does require some knowledge about a few things even if it is done on an amateur level. You should know a few things about what fishing gear consists of. There is no requirement for a whole lot of expertise when it comes to knowing what should be in your fishing gear. Understanding what kind of fishing line to use with what reel and what rod to use are things you will learn later down the line.

Fishing will be more fun if and when you have the right gear with you. Understanding that certain fishing lures are intended to catch certain fish will increase your chances of catching them. Another thing you should know is that certain reels require specific fishing lines so that your line doesn’t get tangled up and you end up returning home with “how it got away” stories.

Acquiring the right fishing gear for a beginner shouldn’t cost that much. You can get a rod, a reel, and fishing line for about $50. It wont cost that much to find the matching parts for your gear. If you want to go with used gear you might even end up spending even less. One thing you should keep an eye out when getting a rod is to make sure the line guides are properly attached to the rod. The second thing is to make sure the handle wont tend to slip out of your hand.

Not all fishing rods come in one piece. Some could consist of more than two or three pieces and will require some assembly. Connecting the pieces is easy. All you need to do is to make sure you connect the male and female ends together to make sure the guides are lined up. Worst case scenario you might need a bit of lubricant. Another thing you should consider when shopping for a rod is how it feels. Slightly bend it to get the feel of it. Again comfort should be considered when using the equipment. The size of the rod is important but any size rod will do as long it is not too heavy.

Regarding the fishing line, you will find many fishing lines in the market today and you should be able to select one that suites your needs. Most line are manufactured from nylon and can be purchased in spools which are commonly referred to as tests. Keep in mind that larger fishing lines are generally thicker. A good tip when selecting fishing lines is to make sure the line you get is over ten feet long.

After you get your line, rod and reel you should look into buying some fishing lures. The type of the lure, just as the rod the reel and the line should depend on what kind of fishing you will be doing i.e. fresh or salt water fishing. In addition to that however, the type of lure you use also depends on what kind of fish you will be going after. As you can see setting up a basic fishing kit is not a big deal. Some research and an understanding of the basics of fishing will enable you to put a great fishing kit together.

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Nautical charts Florida provide important data that is useful to many mariners. The graphic display of coastal zones and seas can be effectively interpreted. Many maps show land heights, navigational hazards, navigational aids, seabed features and water depths. Others also include details about the Earth’s magnetic field, as well as currents and tidal information. Man-made structures, like bridges, buildings and harbors are also represented on the maps.

These are important tools for mariners. A lot of countries require vessels to keep them on-board. Supplementing printed maps are digital aids. More sailors are utilizing on-demand, digital maps. This downloadable material provides mariners with the most current information, as it is updated continually. Among other benefits, they can alert seafarers to potential hazards, like storms.

The information for the maps is gathered through hydrographic surveys. The lengthy process involves echo-location. The technique measures seabed depths and other features. When potential hazards are discovered, such as ship-wrecks, additional safety measures are taken. The questionable locations are swept with submerged wires. This can help ensure that no hidden obstructions, such as ship masts, pose harm to passing vessels.

Many countries have national hydrographic offices. These organizations release official maritime maps. Unofficial releases are distributed by commercial publishers. They tend to include specialized information, such as data specifically useful for yacht skippers. The International Hydrographic Organization has been coordinating the release of a reliable world-wide system of maps.

Free maps are provided through many web portals. Bloosee is one of the global map groups which offers users maps, mobile apps and social networking opportunities. Sea-lovers can obtain detailed data about New Zealand, the Pacific Ocean, the United States and Brazil. Members from the ocean community, including kayakers, divers, surfers and sailors provide the site with their content.

OpenSeaMap is another project which provides free marine maps. They utilize images from Google maps as a foundation, and layer a variety of data obtained from hydrographic surveys. Other useful features include route monitoring, voyage planning, and distance and bearing calculations.

TeamSurv is a crowd-sourced project supported by global mariners. Seafarers upload their global positioning satellite and depth sounder data, compass headings and surface temperatures. This data is collected on a server which performs quality checks. After the information is verified, it is accessible online.

Nautical charts Florida provide important navigational and safety details to mariners. The ongoing evolution of technology and participation from global mariners helps ensure data is readily accessible and accurate. Read more about: nautical charts florida

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When a bank repossesses a boat, an opportunity exists really for the right person in the right place at the right time. Hard work is how you get lucky. But tools exist to shift the burden of the load on someone else very inexpensively. People just don’t realize that this is a wonderful opportunity to buy a repo boat through auction. Especially, in this economy, there have been a lot of exciting boat acquisitions that are totally worth bidding on. If someone is out there, looking to buy a boat, this is the best option.

First, it is of great importance to consider how all the surplus inventory of boats came about. When the United States economy was thriving, the only boats that got repossessed were those that had been sitting abandoned in a backyard, or completely forgotten under a tarp — rotting, resting, and an extremely bad shape. Nowadays, however, when the entire boat businesses go under, banks repossess all of their brand-new boats. Smart consumers can now buy them at auction, spending just a fraction of the price.

It is a pleasant sight to see these auctions. Shiny, beautiful boats in all shapes and sizes are lined up, and it is a sight to see — great boats in excellent condition. It is easy to imagine oneself riding or driving in one of these awesome machines. Some are speedboats, others are houseboats, and some are even yachts and sailboats. There may be the occasional clunker, but for the most part, there are many great boats available.

One thing that should definitely be taken into consideration is how to locate these bank repo boats auctions. By doing the needful online research, several bank repo auctions will be found, especially in cities of considerable size. To look online is all that a body needs to do. From time to time, sites will ask for registration, offering to tell you the locations of these magical auctions in exchange for a nominal fee.

If one is extremely serious about this, the nominal fee is worth it. Other options for finding these auctions could include contacting the banks, talking with person after person until the information is disclosed. This might be a particularly difficult option, especially if a person is socially awkward or not great at talking on the phone. It might be easier just to pay the little fee and start searching for auctions.

There are other auctions available, too. Police auctions, for example, often hold treasures untold. Some of these sites may offer insight into that realm, as well. The key is to be careful when choosing a place that will give you this information. While many places are perfectly honest, there are some scammers out there, so be careful. One time, this writer was scammed into sending $10 through PayPal to someone for a document that was absolutely worthless. It felt horrible to be taken advantage in such a way. Make sure this doesn’t happen by properly doing research.

Penny, an a young woman out of Boise, Idaho, has very successfully purchased a boat by using these awesome auctions. She says that it’s always been one of her dreams to have a nice speedboat for a day out on the lake. She takes it out to all of the nearby lakes when ever she can, making her longtime dream of beautiful reality. She could not have done this without the savings offered by taking this route.

When thinking about buying a boat, bank repo boats auctions are a great way to go. After gathering information from online, thereby locating these auctions, people can now go and bid on the beautiful boats of their wildest dreams, able to afford to make their dreams come true. Be sure to use ultimate caution when selecting an auction site, always being wary of scammers.

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There are many kinds of fishing reels on the market these days and a very popular reel is the bait casting reel. If you are relatively new to fishing all the reel and fishing equipment choices on the market can be a bit confusing. To clarify things a bit this article will present the features of the bait casting reel.

If you understand a couple of things about fishing equipment and gear you will be able to make a better choice when it comes to selecting the right fishing reel for the job you need it to perform. To get things started, it is important to know that there are two things about reels you should keep an eye out for. The first is materials use to make the reel and the second is quality of construction.

Bait casting reels are considered to be reels only for experienced fishermen. The thing is however that even a beginner fisherman can use a bait casting reel as long as they know what they are doing. It doesn’t take much to master the techniques required to use a bait casting reel effectively.

Most reels are manufactured using two kinds of materials. These materials are either aluminum or graphite. Graphite reels are a bit more expensive just because this metal is more durable and can withstand corrosion. As a result a graphite reel including a graphite bait casting reel will last longer. On the other hand aluminum is a stronger metal than graphite and will be more flexible. Either way, as long as you are not going for really heavy fish a graphite bodied reel should do the job.

The ball bearings of the reel are important components and you should always check them before you make a purchase. Good ball bearings or bushings mean that the reel will be smooth. A smooth reel is much better than one that is not smooth. Steel bearings are usually preferred over other materials because they are more durable.

Reels come with a minimum of two ball bearings and the maximum is six ball bearings. The more ball bearings a reel has the better because the cranking will be much smoother. A reel with smoother cranking will enable you to sense movement on the other end of the line. That means that when fish bite you will know immediately and be able to pull the line at exactly the right time.

The turn ratio of the crank is also something you would like to look out for when purchasing a bait casting reel. There are many different turn ratios bait casting reels come with. These ratios vary from 2:1, all the way to 1:6. The first number refers to the number of turns of the crank, while the second number refers to the number of times the spool rotates. To give you an example a reel that has a turn ratio of 1:6 has a crank that turns once for every 6 turns of the spool. This will give the reel a lot of cranking power. High cranking reels are good for trolling, bottom bouncing, and jig working whereas reels that have lower turn ratios, like a 4:1 ratio for example are better for bank fishing and general line hanging.

Finding a bait casting reel that suits your needs is very important. You dont need to get a reel packed with features you will probably never use. Doing some research before you go about purchasing a bait casting reel is important. Make sure you go online and you will find a lot of information regarding bait casting reels.

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Saltwater sport fishing is one of the most exciting activities a person can participate in on the water. When fishing for big game in the open ocean a well-built, sturdy boat should be high on your list of priorities. Center console style boats are well-known for their durability and seaworthiness and are an excellent choice for the saltwater fisherman.

One of the newer companies on the market that builds quality center console fishing boats is Ocean Master. Making it’s home in Florida, the company was founded a little over 30 years ago by Mark Hauptner and has been run by him ever since. Mark hold 14 world records and 6 national championships in power performance boat racing – the man clearly knows his stuff!

Ocean Master bases their business on quality instead of quantity. They don’t churn out hundreds of boats per year. Their boats are made of 20 layers of hand-laid fiberglass resulting in an incomparably solid hull that can literally stop a bullet – yes, they tested it for that! They offer a myriad of engine rigging combinations consisting of 2 or 4 stroke engines, single, twin or triple outboards, diesel inboards or diesel I/O configurations.

Their center consoles are available from 18 to 34 feet and can be customized with an almost endless list of engine configurations in gas or diesel. You can also have your choice of options up top – anything from simple t-tops to a fully custom tuna or marlin tower. The only limit is you imagination.

One of the older companies in the ocean-going center console boat building business is Grady-White Boats. They have been around for over 50 years and have earned a legendary reputation among boaters worldwide. The company was founded in 1959 and has changed hands only once throughout it’s existence when Eddie Smith took it over in 1968.

Grady White Boats has made it a practice to listen to the needs of boaters and provide exactly what is desired through close relationships with their customers and dealerships. Their attention to specific details has earned them the highest possible ranking in every third party study in its category ever done in the marine industry.

Grady-White offers center console boats ranging in size from 18 to 36 feet, every one of them built to the highest standards of safety, durability and ride-comfort in the industry. Their exclusive SeaV2 hull design creates what is considered the best ride in boating.

Whether you decide to go with a fully customized new boat built to your specifications or you are searching for one that is already built with the options you want in the pre-owned market, make sure you go with a reputable company. The sooner you start your quest for the perfect center console, the sooner you’ll be on your quest for your perfect trophy marlin.

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The reel is perhaps one of the most important components in your fishing tool kit. There are many different kinds of reels and having one that does the job will benefit any fisherman greatly. It is not hard to learn about reels and learn how to use the right reel for the job. The three main reel types are the casting reel, the fly casting reel and the spin casting reel. This article will set out and examine every type of reel to give the reader an understanding of how they work and what they are for.

The Bait Casting Reel is a reel for more advanced fishermen. It is for those who already have some experience fishing. It is a demanding reel because it lets the line go very easily just by using the weight of the lure. When you are letting the lure go when casting the reel follows that movement. The mechanism of most bait casting reels consists of a device that lays the line evenly across the rotating cylinder. To use a bait casting reel one needs to have a very smooth cast in order to avoid tangling mishaps.

Fly fishing reels are somewhat complex reels as well. Not as complex as bait casting reels however. The one thing you should always keep in mind when using a fly fishing reel is to be certain that it has responsive drag. When buying a fly fishing reel you should make sure that it can withstand the tension a large fish would cause to it. In general, fly fishing reels are bit more expensive than other kinds of reels. They have more moving plastic parts that you should also make sure they all are in place and sturdy. A reel with metal parts should be preferred.

Spinning reels are another category of reels. Spinning reels are used by beginners because they are much easier to use and have a simple construction. Spinning reels release the line with the push of a button. The line comes out from an opening at the top part of the reel.

Mounting a reel on a fishing rod is the next step you should take after you purchase your reel especially when it comes to open face spinning rods. Once you decide what you want to fish for you should buy your fishing rod accordingly. Larger rods should be used for larger fish.

The last thing you should consider before you purchase a fishing reel is its speed. It is advised to get a reel with a medium speed. If you get more than one then you can choose one with slow and one with fast speed. Overall there are many kinds and types of reels out there. Do your research and find a fishing reel suitable for your needs.

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