If you’ve read “How to Cast Your Spinning Rod” from the Beginner’s Fishing Guide series than you are already familiar with the straight away forward cast; it is the first and most important cast you can learn.
However, there are other useful casts that under certain circumstances can make the difference between getting that bait where [...]
A dropper loop allows you to put a loop in the middle of your line instead of on the end of it.
This knot is useful in the tying of multiple hook rigs or when trying to keep the hook off the bottom. Later, I”ll show you a good dropper loop rig.
This knot is used to [...]
In the interest of education, I thought it would be great to introduce you a little more intimately with the object of your affection… freshwater game fish.
Let’s begin with the venerable rainbow trout.
Commonly Known As:
Rainbow trout, redsides, redband trout and steelhead (go to the ocean and return to freshwater to spawn).
Scientific Name: Salmo gairdneri.
Description: This [...]
Your fishing rod, if properly cared for should last a very long time. Follow these care and maintance tips to ensure that it does.
General Care
Do not hand lures or hooks from the guides. This will surely scratch the surface of the guides and negatively affect your casting. Use the hook-keeper.
Do not let your lures bang [...]
Imagine my surprise when I found my self standing at the edge of the water with a a treble hook spoon sticking out of my arm.
After the novelty wore off, I had to get to the unpleasant business of unhooking myself. I learned something important about removing a hook from human flesh; there’s a hard [...]
I’ve recently discovered Robert Traver, and thought you might like him too.
Robert Traver is the pen name of Michigan District Attorney and Judge, John Voelkner. He is is an incredible storyteller and his essays make for a bewitching read.
What better way to introduce the man than through his own words?
Testament of a Fisherman
“I fish because [...]
A blood knot takes some practice to learn, but is very useful, both in spinning and fly fishing.
The blood knot is used to tie together two lines of similar diameter. Why would you want to do that?
To save money on line.
You will cast farther if your reel is close to full. Cutting off line because [...]
Not many people know this knot, but it’s a good one to add to your arsenal.
This knot was created by Gary L. Martin and was selected by a panel of outdoor writers as the best new all around fishing knot out of 498 entries. It was demonstrated to the public for the first time at [...]
I’ve been reading a little about wind theory lately, and I found some old wind lore that seems to have been around for a very long time.
I haven’t really tested the accuracy of this, but it seems easy enough to remember. By keeping a careful record of my fishing outings in a fishing log, I [...]
If you want to make friends with other anglers and to continue to have access to places where you can fish you need understand and follow basic fishing ethics:
The Trilene knot was developed by Berkley for tying their Trilene monofilament line. It is a very strong knot when tied on light light, from 4 to 12lb test.
I find it works especially well on fluorocarbon line and leaders, preventing the knot from coming lose in the fight.
The Palomar knot is is used to attach hooks, lures, flies, snaps or sinkers to fishing line. This knot is easy to learn, and very strong. Once you learn this knot, you’ll be able to tie in the dark or with cold hands.
This is a very simple and effective rig.
The slip sinker rig is used to fish off or near the bottom. It works so well because the egg sinker allows the fish to pick up the bait without feeling any resistance and it presents your offering where many fish spend a lot of time… on or near the bottom.
You probably don’t need to eat every fish you catch; learn to catch and release correctly and you will give that fish a chance to fight another day.
