Fishing

All life vests share a common purpose: They furnish supplemental flotation for people immersed in water. But those designed for fishermen are different from those made for water skiers.

Building a fishing lure supply is like building a unique collection you get to use, and any fisherman can do it. Whether you're fishing from a pontoon boat, muddy river bank or a lake dock, a...

Shad darts are fished on or near the bottom of rivers, and hang-ups are common. The method of fishing darts is to let the dart rest on the bottom, then raise the rod so the slanted face on the jig...

Fishermen swear by specific colors or types of bait for different lakes in order to catch more (or larger) bass. That's why a lot of fishermen make their own lures and soft baits, so they can get...

Experienced anglers string their bait caster fishing reels with new line before the start of every season. New fishing line is so inexpensive that there is no reason to risk the disappointment of...

Sinkers are lead or brass weights used to get bait to the bottom of a body of water. Sinkers come in a variety of sizes and styles. Some sinkers are tied securely to the line, others are threaded...

Using a strong knot to tie spinner bait to a line ensures that you'll land the fish and get the spinner bait back. Also, a strong knot will prevent breaks if the line becomes tangled. This is an...

Building a custom fishing rod results in a rod unlike any available from a manufacturer. The customization comes in the form of adding features not offered on stock manufactured rods such as...

Bream are a popular fish among anglers because of their size and their willingness to bite. Another plus with this type of fish is that their breeding grounds are easy to find. Bream form...

There are many techniques for catching fish, each with its own subtle adjustments and nuances. Most anglers are well versed in all of the techniques, and they use specific techniques depending on...

Wading boots are essential for any serious fisherman. Many factors must be considered before making this important purchase, including the choice between a rubber sole and a felt sole.

Abu Garcia manufactures a line of fishing reels for saltwater and freshwater angling. Occasional cleaning, especially with saltwater reels, can significantly extend the life of the equipment by...

Successfully fishing for salmon in the Great Lakes is an equipment-intensive sport. Anglers must have different equipment for different times of the year, to fish different depths of water, and...

A fiberglass fishing rod built at home will cost less than one bought in a shop, but the quality will be the same as rods built by manufacturers. You can buy the components separately or you can...

Wrapping guides onto a fishing rod blank is easier than it looks. To wrap your own guides, you need a rod wrapper that allows you to spin the blank smoothly while wrapping the thread from a spool...

Making a homemade lobster trap may sound difficult, but it really can be done. Using materials you can purchase at a local hardware store and tools around the house, you can build your own lobster...

Brook trout are among the smallest trout. Homemade brook trout lures should be sized accordingly. Making smaller lures also means you can fish them on the lighter lines, often used for fishing for...

Save money by making your own trout lures. Experiment with homemade lures by adjusting colors and components not available in manufactured models. Your own design may be more effective that those...

Fishing is just an overall great recreational activity. It allows you to lie back, soak in the sun, and just relax. Some people refer to it as "the lazy man's sport" and they just may...

Like many rough fish such as carp, buffalo fish provide great sport if hooked but are very difficult to catch. The bigmouth buffalo feeds mostly upon zooplankton caught by filtering water through...

The early season can be a tricky time to catch largemouth bass because the fish are in a transition period and their movements can vary daily and even hourly. However, it can be a great time to...

Filleting crappies or any other fish with an electric knife is essentially the same as doing so with a non-electric fillet knife. The same methods are used; however, the electric knife makes the...

Flathead catfish regularly grow to more than 100 pounds. They are stubborn and strong fighters once hooked, requiring the use of stout fishing gear. The key to catching Flatheads is finding good...

Freshwater trout will attack mush baits made of cheese and garlic in streams where fishing with natural bait is legal (some localities allow trout fishing only with artificial lures). The cheese...

King salmon and sockeye salmon both belong to the Pacific Ocean species of salmon. But they have many differences, including size, habitat and spawning habits.

Catching a snapping turtle in your pond or lake can be a difficult task without the proper equipment, as many turtles are capable of biting through simple fishing line or snapping it if caught. To...

Flush-mounted rod holders are an easy-to-install accessory that can be used to increase the number of baits in the water and offer a place to store your rod when not in use. Also available are...

Fishing is a complex hobby with a number of variables that must be considered to even guarantee a possibility of success. One important parameter to consider when fishing is the depth to which...

Imagine having "X-ray vision" at your disposal every time you step onto the ice in an attempt to catch fish. If you could see what lies beneath the several inches of ice, your odds of finding and...

Catching your own minnows for fishing bait is fun and economical. Ideally the minnows should be kept in slotted minnow buckets in the lake, river or pond water where they were caught so they can...

Stacking lines on a downrigger is a good way to fish more lines down deep. Stacking is more affordable than buying more downriggers, and on a small fishing boat, there often isn't enough room to...

Charter fishing is a fun way to make a living, but remember, it's a business. Your bottom line is to make money. Those who take the time to learn the water, learn about fish, perfect their craft...

Saltwater angler can offer up a variety of baits. One that is consistently overlooked is crab. From sea trout to tarpon, crab are on the menu. Anglers will have a variety of artificial bait in...

Fishing is a complex sport, and there are a number of pieces of equipment required to ensure optimal opportunity for success. Fishing weights are one example. Fishing weights are needed to place...

Using live bait greatly increases the likelihood of catching fish. With kayaks becoming a popular platform for fishing, it is no wonder that innovative people have come up with ways to keep bait...

Many bass fishermen consider the Zoom Super Fluke plastic worm one of the best baits to use in the pre-spawn and spawn periods. This minnow imitator has fooled many a big bass into biting, giving...

Humminbird depth finders make fishing a lot more fun, since they make it much easier to tell what the bottom structure looks like beneath the boat and find where the fish are hiding. Depth finders...

A rod holder system keeps your fishing rods tidy and organized. Best of all, it protects them from being broken, which happens too often when they are left lying in a boat or leaning against the...

The muskellunge, or muskie, is the largest game fish in the pike family. They are prized by fishermen for their large size and strong fighting ability. Some fishermen enjoy muskie fishing so much...

When fishing, having a reel fail can mean the difference between a good day of fishing and a nightmare on the water. Because of this, it's important to have all of your reels in working order....

For the most part, fishing is a daytime sport. Some of the best fishing, however, can be done at night. When it is dark, plankton are drawn to light; that, in turn, draws in bait fish, which...

Casting with a saltwater spin reel is very similar to casting with any type of spin reel. Most saltwater spin reels look and feel just like freshwater spin reels. The only difference is that a...

Fishing from a pedal boat is a great way to access fishing spots that are usually hard to get to by motor craft. Pedal boating is also an excellent cardiovascular exercise that provides a workout...

Penn makes four types of baitcast reels that anglers use to target both fresh and saltwater fish. Baitcast reels are especially useful for trolling and casting, especially when anglers are...

Anglers who target fish species such as bass, northern pike and muskies often use baitcasting reels. Designed specifically for heavy line and flinging heavy lures, baitcast reels can be adjusted...

A do-it-yourself minnow trap is an easy way to catch minnows for fishing bait and a fun activity that gets kids interested in fishing. You can build a minnow trap with minimal equipment and at...

Whether you fish alone, with friends or with family, the time passes quickly. You can make the memories last longer by learning how to mount your fish. Fish taxidermy may take a few tries to...

Before you buy fish bait from the store, consider making your own with corn syrup. Fish bait recipes use corn syrup to attract catfish and carp, but you are not limited to these two types of fish...

Bait bans are put into place on some bodies of water to decrease the fishing of certain species of fish. The thought is that the use of bait, whether live or otherwise, makes it easier to catch...