Recreation

It's easy to get wrapped up in all the things being sold for your kayak at a variety of stores. Starting simple and learning about essentials can lead to some great homemade innovation. A sock, a...

In general, boaters want to avoid underwater objects for their own safety, and the safety of their boats. Knowing where underwater stumps and felled trees are located, however, has a special...

Have you ever taken a big gulp from your water bottle, expecting cool refreshment, only to be repulsed by the taste of liquid plastic? Plenty of sports bottles, particularly the inexpensive kind,...

Mounting a kayak in open water without the assistance of a grounded or solid object can be one of the most difficult tasks in the sport. With practice, however, open water entry can be as easy as...

Many winter activities take place outdoors on icy lakes or ponds. Dressing appropriately for the elements is mandatory, but so is taking precautions when you plan to ice skate, snowmobile or ice...

One of an angler's best bait options is a smaller fish that a bigger fish will attack and try to eat. These types of bait fish have proven to be excellent enticement for many species of game fish,...

Fishermen as well as some hunters must wade in rivers to either get where they need to go or to provide them with better access to their quarry. But wading can be extremely dangerous rather than...

One of the great appeals of kayaks is their versatility. From oceans to rivers and lakes, kayaks allow for adventure on almost any body of water. Lakes are an especially appealing locale as they...

Anglers who consistently catch big fish know where to locate them, an important aspect of coming home with what fishermen refer to as a lunker. This involves studying a lake, pond or river and...

When you are camping, you want to be careful about how you start and put out your camp fire, especially during the drier seasons. If you are camping in the forest, this is especially important. ...

Anyone who has ever hiked to a campsite carrying everything they need on their back quickly learns that economy is key. The problem when heading into the backcountry is the conflict between weight...

Winterizing your outboard motor is an annual chore that must be done without fail to ensure that you can enjoy your boat for years to come. It's not particularly difficult to do, and you'll find...

You can make your own fish bait at home with typical ingredients from the kitchen. Fish will love the break from the traditional worm and the cost is very little. Next time you get your line...

The wetsuit you choose will be determined mainly by the temperature of the water you'll be swimming in. If you will be in water that is extremely cold, you'll need a more heavy-duty wetsuit and...

Operating a kayak can be a challenging task. At first, you may have difficulty getting into the kayak and balancing yourself. Beginners should learn to kayak on a lake without any currents. Once...

New boaters often incorrectly believe that piloting a boat is like driving a car. There are a few differences that anyone thinking about boating needs to understand before getting behind the...

Hunting is an age-old tradition and is especially important to the American heritage. Killing and dressing your own game for food is a vital part of some cultures, especially in the southeastern...

A day on the water is a great way to spend time with family and friends. More than 1,000 American households claimed that boating is one of their top three stress-relieving pastimes, according to...

Boat motor cooling systems work by drawing water into the lower unit of the motor using its impeller pump. Water is circulated through a system of ports and passages and then out the water exhaust...

Crossing a river can be both exhilarating and terrifying. This true backcountry experience seems simple in theory, but if you do it wrong you could get injured or die. The most critical element of...

Cornmeal is a type of flour that is made by grinding up dried sweet corn. Cornmeal is commonly used in the making of dough balls. As the name implies, dough balls are just small balls of dough...

Bait buckets hold live bait like minnows and other small fish. The most important part of a bait bucket is keeping the bait alive, which means keeping the water fresh inside the bait bucket. It's...

Shad, also known as river herring, is a small, bony fish. As an adult, it is valued as a food fish. The young, or fry, however, serve as a baitfish for many freshwater anglers, who use them to...

Water skiing is a sport that is easy for many beginners to learn, yet also allows experienced riders the freedom to try new tricks. For most people, the correct size of water skis will correspond...

The pursuit of the Canadian walleye has become one of the most popular recreational activities in both the United States and Canada alike. Many anglers crave the flavorful meat fillets the walleye...

Being able to determine a lake’s water clarity quickly and easily can make a difference in catching fish or just spending time on the water wetting your fishing line. Water clarity is the...

Each scuba tank is rated for a specific pressure (e.g., 3000 psi) and maximum pressure capacity. Air compressors to refill scuba tanks can include a water bath to cool tanks.

Fishing for any species is a challenging yet rewarding experience, but walleye and sauger have become two of the most coveted fish in the U.S. Their fillets are among the most appealing, and many...

Survival at sea is one of the most difficult. Survival depends largely on how well you are prepared--how much rations you have, your equipment and keeping a calm head. Take plenty of supplies,...

It's important that after every paddling trip you rinse your Malibu kayak clean with fresh water. Primarily you will want to get rid of any salt water which can corrode the metal parts on your...

Self-rescue, also known as wet-entry, techniques are very important to learn for kayak safety. Should you ever find yourself capsized out on the water, you will quickly realize how important it is...

Landing large fish such as marlin or sturgeon requires a heavy line. Even for salmon or steelhead, it's best to use heavier line if you want the odds in your favor. This article deals with landing...

Every boater, regardless of his vessel or where he uses it, must be prepared to cope with emergencies. In any boating emergency, knowing what to do, how to do it and when to do it might determine...

A chubby songbird that walks along the bottom of mountain brooks and streams looking for something to eat sounds fantastic, but that describes the American dipper, the only aquatic songbird...

Shad are a bony species of fish prized for live bait. As young fry, shad live for a year or two in fresh water before migrating downriver to the ocean. They are commonly found along the Eastern...

You're fresh off of that fishing trip and you have an unbelievable fish that you caught or you have fanatic flicks of the one you were not allowed to bring home. Many people who fish like the...

When cleaning your scuba regulator it is important to be sure that no water gets up to the first stage of the regulator, which attaches to the tank, as this can cause corrosion and bacteria. Some...

Recreational kayaking offers unparalleled views and the opportunity to escape from all of the obligations and worries of life on the land. Being able to pack a sit-on-top kayak properly and...

A clean bait tank will keep shiners and minnows healthy for longer periods on the water. Proper oxygenation of the water keeps bait lively, which attracts gamefish, while cutting down on odors....

Bass fishing is a relaxing sport that is enjoyed by men and women of all ages. There are tips and strategies that can be utilized by anyone of any experience level, from a child on his first...

The term minnow, when applied to baitfish, encompasses such small fish as creek chubs, fathead minnows, common and golden shiners and mud minnows. When the angler decides to employ minnows, he or...

The Float Tube is a relatively new device that allows anglers and hobbyists, for a fairly inexpensive price, to skim along lakes with little effort. The Float Tube allows you to become almost eye...

If you're installing a new bilge pump in your boat, you know what the discharge capacity of the pump is from the plate on the pump. If you want to determine the flow of water through a discharge...

Kayaking is a great way to enjoy the outdoors. Learning to kayak is an experiential activity. In other words, you must learn by doing. Whether it is too cold for swimming, or in the heat of...

Kayaking on a lake requires preparation that differs from river or ocean kayaking. The learning curve isn't steep, but it is important to be cautious because water sports carry inherent danger....

A kayak is a personal sized boat built narrow and lean to cut through the water easily. Since riding in a kayak brings the boater very close to the water, this perspective is sought by those...

Fishing is an activity that's easily accessible and popular with people of all ages and experience, and there is a wide variety of techniques. Any experienced fisher will have his own tools and...

Your co-worker scored points with the boss last week by bragging about all the walleye he caught on his weekend fishing expedition. A feeling of jealousy overtakes you as you try to recall the...

Kayaking is similar to canoeing, but the kayak is usually single fitted, longer and slimmer in size and requires a double-bladed paddle. Kayaking can be enjoyed solely as a water sport or used as...

Lexan boat windows sometimes retain water as a surface film; the water doesn't run down the window like glass or Plexiglas. Normally, this isn't a problem; but if you're bringing your boat into a...