Picking out Hiking Boots

Hiking boots

   If you do a lot of walking to get to where you want to fish, you might consider purchasing a pair of hiking boots. This is not an easy job. You will find that each brand name will fit you differently. The reason is each manufacture uses what the call a "last" and this is what they consider to be what the average foot is shaped like. That's why that same types of shoes or boots will fit you different depending on the manufactures view on what the average foot is shaped like. If you find a hiking boot that you think feels really good on, you probably should stay with that manufacture.

   You need to  look at how the upper is attached to the last. They are usually stitched together. These are called seams and the more seam the better. Keep in mind though, the more seam the better the fit and usually the more the hiking boot will cost. Single stitched hiking boots are usually less expensive, this does not necessarily mean the are bad. If the fit well you might want to buy them, just remember they probably will not last as long.

   The leather is something else to consider when pick out a pair of hiking boots. Some have the smooth side of the leather turned out. These will show scuff marks very easily and look banged up. Choosing the rough side out on the leather will stay looking nicer longer. After all, they are all ready roughed up.

   You need to look at the sole and decide which is best for you. Hard sole work better on grassy areas or dirt. Softer soles do good on rocky areas. Depending on where you go fishing the most will be the determining factor on which sole you use.

   Other things to think about when you are purchasing a pair of hiking boots are the tongue, is it one piece or two. You want one piece. Also look at the type of lacing the boot has. Eyelet is the strongest but not the fastest when putting on your boots. Speed hooks are good but don't provide the best in secure lacing. The manufactures have come out now with d-rings. These are a great choice giving you the best of both worlds. Most manufactures will do eyelets on the foot part of the hiking boot and then d-rings on the ankle part.

   So many things to think about. You may end up with more then one pair of boot, if you can afford them. Have fun finding a pair that is right for you and most of all have fun fishing.

Fishing knife for you tackle box

   After you finish catching you limit or just get that big fish landed you will be glad you have a good fishing or filleting knife that is able to do a good job of filleting your catch. Fillet knives are found in about every fishing tackle box and just about every kitchen. They make filleting a fish or meat and boning a chicken or turkey much easier. They have very thin and very sharp blades that make it great for making very thin cuts.

   Fillet knives make great gifts for the fisherperson in your life. There are several different kinds to choose from. The folding knife is perfect for the tackle box. There electric fillet knives and they  are great to have at home. You can use them inside or outside.

   Their blades are usually not serrated but usually straight blades, making them easier to sharpen. They will rust if left outside in wet weather since they are made of stainless steel. However they are easy to clean with steel  wool. The blades are very flexible too. This makes filleting easier since you can easily bend the blades while filleting a fish. The blade come in several different lengths but seven and a half inches is very common.

   The fillet knife handle come in a lot of different materials. Wood, plastic, rubber, and stainless steel, and come in a lot of different designs. The knife should be comfortable and offer you a good grip even when it is wet. You might think about trying several kinds out to see what works best for you.

   Keeping you knife sharp is the key to enjoying your knife. Being sharp makes it easier to use and is easy to do. You can use any type of knife sharpenere you like. Usually and whetstone does not take up much room in your tackle box. All you have to do is just put a couple of drops of water or honing oil if you perferr. Put the stone flat and hold the edge of the stone and place the knife on the stone with it facing away from you at about a twenty degree angle and push you knife two or three times. Now reverse the direction and pull the blade towards you at about the same angle. Be very careful when doing this. Wash the blade now and start filleting. Your knife should last you several year if you take care of it.

Picking a fishing hat

   Having a good fishing hat is very important. Most of the time we just take the hat that is easy to get and most handy. Generally this is a baseball hat. Even though we look great in them, in my opinion they are not the best suited for fishing. Baseball hats don't really keep you dry when it is raining and don't keep the sun off the side of your face or neck. A baseball hat will get wet if it is warm with sweat and will take all day to dry out making them pretty uncomfortable to wear all day long. When considering a fishing hat be sure you look at them all and read about each type.

   There different qualities to each type of hat that will key to your situation. The head band need to be of a material that will absorb  sweat that will keep the sweat out of your eyes. Having a mesh material in the crown will help keep your head cooler while fishing. The only problem with mesh is if it rains you may get a little water thru it. Having an adjustable strap is something you should consider too. This will keep you hat on if it gets windy or if you knockit off while fishing. It is no fun watching your fishing hat float away or  chasing it down the river because of no chin strap.

    One of the most important things to consider is the brim of your fishing hat. In choosing a wide brimmed hat you might look of a hat that has a darker underside to it. This will take away some of the glare off the water. Also, you need to look for a hat that has a waterproof shell. These are more breathable and tend to stay dryer. You might look at the hats that have a neck cape to them. Some will roll up off your neck or you can put them down over you neck when you need it. These usually will also cover your ears and sides of you head cutting down on the UV exposure from the sun.

   One of the last things to consider is whether you hat is fade resistant. You don't to spend your money on a hat that will fade out from the sun. This feature really won't affect whether you hat protects you  from the sun or weather or not, but looking good when the pictures are being taken of you fish that you caught is. So, as you see picking a hat isn't as easy as you might think.

Clothing for fishing

 Clothing for fishing

   A very important thing to own, especially if you are a fly fisherman, is a fly fishing vest. You need to be careful when choosing the best fishing vest for you. You need to think about your situation. Most of the fishing vest come with a lot of pockets and places to hang different things.

   There a few thing to consider when you pick out a fly fishing vest and the way the pockets close in one of the important considerations. When looking at the different vest around you will see some have pockets that close with zippers, some with snaps, and some closing with velcro. Many of the fishing vest that have zippers or snap are of lower quality in my opinion. They tend to corrode and a lot of the vest with velcro don't really have enough velcro to keep the pocket closed, and will open easily if you have anything in them. You would not be very happy if you were out in the water and bent over and a fly you loved to use dropped in the water and either floated away or sank to the bottom of the water.

   Remember just because you have a lot of pockets doesn't mean you have to fill them all each time you go fishing. If you do, it will add a lot of weight. Because of the added weight you want to look at the material around the shoulders and neck and be sure they are comfortable and have enough padding. The vests that are of lower quality don't generally have enough padding and become uncomfortable to wear faster then the better quality vests.

   When you try on the fishing vest you need to consider when you will be fishing, so size is very important. If you fly fish during the colder time of the year, will you be wearing layers of clothing. If so, you need to pick your size carefully. You don't want it to be to tight especially around the neck and chest. You also want to be sure there is enough room for your arms to cast. Now if you are fly fishing in warmer weather you might think about vest made out of a webbing material. This will keep you cooler.

   Vests come in a lot of colors and some think that fish will see the colored vest and stay away. Well, I can't find anything proving this. Most avid fly fishermen usually stay a neutral color. You can even get vests with floatation in they. If you are fishing in rough water you might consider that.

   So, as you see there are a lot of things to think about. You might consider owning more then one type.

Eyewear for you tackle box

 Eyewear for you tackle box.

Every tackle box needs to have a pair of sunglasses in them or at least with them. There is a lot to know about buying and owning the correct set of eyewear for your tackle box. You need to have good UV protection. There are also a wide range of prices. Do you really need the designer sunglass that are so expensive or will the cheaper pair of sunglass do just as good.

   Your sunglass  should fit well and I think look good too,after all you paid good money for them. They should also protect your eyes from the sun. The UV rating is a way of knowing how well your eyewear will protect you eyes for the sun's harmful radiation. The higher the UV rating the better.

   Actually, polarized fishing eyewear that wrap around or have side panels are the best kind to wear when you go fishing. They really take the glare off the water and you can actually see into the river or lake and see the fish swimming around.

   Every polarized lens have some color to them. The darker the lens the better the polarization works. Polarized eyewear come in a lot of different colors. Gray, brown, red, orange, yellow, green, blue violet, copper and melanin. Brown is probably the best for fishing although, you will find contention to  this by about everyone.

   There really is a difference between designer sunglasses and cheap sunglasses. The cheap sunglass eyewear are made of inferior quality material and can't with withstand the UV sunrays.

   Designer eyewear are made from good quality material and will out last the cheaper sunglasses. Sometime we put off our health when buying cheaper sunglass and it really is not worth it. Sunglasses are one of the worlds biggest fashion accessories. People will spend big dollars for this type of eyewear even though they can't afford them. The sunglasses have become a prized possession

Fishing tackle

  There are so many different kinds of fishing tackle that it would be impossible to write about them all. Well, let me back up on that just a little. Chances are that if I did write about them all most people would not take the time to read it all the way through.

   Each kind of fish needs different tackle. Although they all need some kind of hook to catch them with and something to put on the hook to attract the fish. That is no all together true either. I have fished for sockeye salmon with just a red or black hook trolling behind a boat. When I heard that, I thought the guy was crazy but sure enough when my son and I got to the lake where they were running, we asked an older fisherman and he showed us exactly what he was catching the sockeye on and it was just a plain red or black hook.

   When you take you smaller children you almost always need to have bobbers, the store love it when we have kids, we use a lot of fishing tackle. Actually, I use them on some fish part of the time. If the fish are not on the bottom you will need something to hold you bait up and a bobber is the perfect thing. They work great unless the wind is blowing and then they drift everywhere but where you want them. I use the pencil type bobber when I fish for steelhead and the small ball type of bobber for trout.

   When fishing for the smaller fish you will want to have some kind of a stringer. You can get the kind with a ring tied on one end and all you do is put the end without the ring thru the gill and out the mouth of the fish, then put that end thru the ring on the rope stringer. There is also the metal chain with snap clips attached. They usually have five or six clips attached and you can put up to three fish on each clip depending on the size of the fish.

   Another type of fishing tackle are the weights. These usually are lead and come in more kinds then I can list. Probably the most used is the split shot are designed so you can squeeze one side to close them tight around you line and then squeeze the other side or them to remove from your fishing line. You can also use the bell kind you tie on through a metal loop at the end of the lead weight. Again, there are a lot of different kinds of weight and each have there place for use. We have not even touched the surface of the different kinds of fishing tackle we can use.

Fishing tackle box

Fishing tackle box

  Before we get into the different tackle you will need, you need something to put it all in. So, now you need to buy a tackle box. Most of us start off small. Something to carry a few hooks, weights, a jar of fish eggs and a jar of marshmallows. We get to the sporting goods store and are amazed at all the different types and sizes that are available.

   As you compare all the tackle boxes you finally decide on a small but adequate box. It  is larger then you first planed but looks good. Now you start picking out some of the tackle you may need. You find out you need more hooks the you thought and different types of weight you may need to use. You are amazed to find out how many different kind of weights and hooks there are.

   Now you look around the tackle isles and decide you need a stringer, maybe a bobber (several sizes). You decide to get a couple of lures and see that there is a whole isle with just lures. After looking at all the different kinds you get a couple of spinners, a couple of rooster tails, a few fake worm, frogs and shrimp style. The salesperson says you should have a spool of leader, a couple of different weights and maybe some extra line. After getting everything you think, and your salesperson thinks you may need, you purchase it all and go home.

   You now take your new tackle box and put the tray together with the dividers given with it. You open all your new tackle and put it in different categories and now start putting it all in your tackle box. Now you are amazed at how little your tackle box really holds. You find out your spool of extra line does not fit and only 1 jar of marshmallow will fit in the box and you don't have enough room for all the hooks and weights and lures. You decide you should have bought a bigger tackle box.

   This was my experience the first time I went fishing and needed a tackle box. I have since had several different kinds and now have two different boxes. One for larger fish and one for smaller fish. I am now thing I want a large tackle box that holds several different individual clear trays. That way I can put the thingz I need for trout fishing in one tray and the thing for bass in another and so on. Still using the medium old box for the larger things like extra spools for the reels.

Choosing a fishing line for your reel

   Choosing the right fishing line is the most important item for a fisherman. It is very important in how your bait and lures are presented to your fish and once you hook a fish, will you be able to land the fish? Most fishermen do not know about the types of fishing line available to them. Understanding and knowing what the different fishing line will do, and choosing the right line for the type of fishing you will be doing .

   There is no one type of fishing line that will do everything you want. You need to think about the type of fish and how big they get where you are going. Then you need to think about what you need the line to do for you. Each line will be different in the breaking point, how much stretch and how strong it is.

   There is one type of line that is  probably the most used by anglers, the Monofilament line. This  fishing line are usually inexpensive. Remember cheaper is not always the best. If you use a monofilament line do not pick the least expensive, move up to a better line and you will be happier with the fishing line. Usually if you pick a brand name you recognize and pick a little more expensive line it will serve you better in castingand knot strength.

   Another type of fishing line is the braided line. This type is not used much anymore. I doesn't have as good a strength as monofilament and has very little stretch. Still, there are some fishermen that like the softness and believe that improves there catch. Now there is what they call the microfilament lines, braid line has improved greatly. They cast better now and there strength has improved. Lures dive deeper and quicker with microlines. Saltwater fishermen use most of the braided  line. They are used for backing on fly fishing reels and as backing for mono line on reels.

   Another type is the fluorocarbon line. This fishing line is practically invisible and it does not break down as easily because of sunlight or other things. It does not absorb water either.

   We started using fluorocarbon line mostly in saltwater and for fly fishing. We found out you could catch more fish by using it because of its low visibility. You do need to be more careful and show more attention with this type. This line is heavier and you may have a little trouble using it on light rods and if used in a casting reel you may have to adjust the reel.

Footwear for fishing waders

   If you choose a wader without any boot or shoe on it, you will have to buy one separately. There are a lot to choose from and a wide range of prices. If this is your first pair of footwear or fishing boot, I suggest going to the most expensive place that sales them and get as much information as you can get from the salesperson. Try on all the different types as you can. Try the low tops, high tops, cleats (lugs) and felt bottoms. Once you have picked a style, now go home and call around and find the store that sells that type the cheapest and go there and by them.

   The reason I do it this way is that most salespeople at the more expensive store usually know more about the footwear. The more inexpensive stores I go to you sometime have trouble finding someone to wait on you and they usually don't know much about fishing footwear. Now you can read the information on the box of footwear and  find what you want without a salesperson. Who knows you might just buy the footwear for your fishing waders there. That's me, I usually have a salesperson that has a good personally and is very knowledgeable and I end up just buying them right then and there.

   Be sure you go home and practice getting in and out of your fishing waders and putting on and tying your footwear. You will find that if you practice at home putting them on you don't get flustered when you are at the river trying to go fishing. Now that you feel comfortable putting your fishing waders and footwear, Go Fishing.

   You have now made it possible to fish in a lot more spots. You now do not have to worry about if there is enough area to stand or sit on the bank and keep dry. Also, you can get closer to the spot or holes where the fish hang out and do not have to cast as far.

   Remember, if you are not well experienced with fishing with fishing waders, take it slow and do not go to far out into the water. You need to know the type of bottom on the river or lake and move slowly. you never know when it will drop off quickly. To many fishermen get hurt or even killed by being over confident.

  

Fishing Waders

 Fishing Waders

   There are several types of fishing waders you can choose from. Some fishermen have more than just one kind. That way you can choose the wader for the different kind of fishing you will be doing. You can have a boot wader which is just a long boot that goes up to about your knee. You would use these in small streams and not very deep. Then you have hip waders. These you would use on a little deeper stream. You can use these for putting out your duck decoys if you don't have a boat too. These types are usually rubber or neoprene and work well.

   The next type are chest fishing waders. These come in many types of material. The breathable type are lighter. I feel you should not skimp on these you should get the best you can afford. Some come with boot attached to the fishing wader and some come with no boot or shoe attached. You decide what you like and get them. You obviously can go into water much deeper in the water than the boot or hip type fishing wader, but be careful and don't go deeper in the water than you can handle. You will be amazed at the weight and pressure that water can put against you.

   You can also choose what type of bottom the boot or shoe will have on them. I think you should talk to your salesperson in the store about the two types, felt or lugged bottom and figurer out what is best for you or which you like the best. I personally have both boot fishing wader and chest fishing waders. I also have separate shoes with felt bottoms on them. I also have  a pair of wading boots with lugged bottoms too. You can get high tops or regular height shoes just depends on what you like. I like high top for the extra strength for my ankles. I had hip wader but when they developed a leak I never replaced them.

   Whenever you go out into the water to fish, or any reason for that matter, I feel you should not go by yourself. Always have someone with you just in case you fall you may need help getting up if you are hurt. Even if you just twisted you ankle it is easier to get out of the water with someone helping you.  

Choosing a fishing reel

  Choosing a fishing reel can be confusing because there are so many to choose from. Most of the time you will purchase your fishing rod and fishing reel together as a package. Then all you have to do is decide what type of fishing you are going to do and buy the set and go fishing.

   I did this for a lot of years and was happy until I decided to buy a new reel because one of the reels broke that came with the set I bought. I want to move up in quality a notch or two to what come with the sets. I bought a spinning reel that had a finger catch on it so all you had to do is hook your finger around the line and pull back on the lever and that pull the bail back so you could cast, I didn't have to flip the bail with my other hand. I thought that was awesome.   

   Now picking out a reel for my grandchildren was easy. I bought them all closed face fishing  reels. They are a lot easier for them to operate at first, they only have one thing to do and that is push down the button. Now know when to let off the button is very important but you will have to coach them on that. This usually take practicing at home before you go fishing. As each one get good with that reel I move them up to a regular spinning reel. When they get good with that fishing reel I will move them to casting reels.

   When I purchased my first bait casting reel I purchased the rod and reel separately. Choosing the rod wasn't hard but picking out the right fishing reel was more difficult. I had to try them out to see if they could be adjusted easily and if it balanced well with my fishing pole. Once I figured that out using it was fun. With a casting reel, the better you get the more you can back off on the brake a little the more experienced you get and the farther you can cast with it.

   When I bought my first fly fishing outfit I just went for a medium price range sent and thought that was okay until that reel feel apart. I went to the sporting good store and boy did I get a lesson on fly fishing reels. Will the salesperson must have done a good job because I bought a much higher priced fishing reel than what I was going to buy. I am pleased I did.

What is a fishing pole holder

    What are fishing pole holders?  They are a device that holds your fishing  rod. You can have a single rod fishing pole holder or a pole holder that holds several fishing rods. Probably the biggest use for holders would be in sporting goods retail stores or commercial fishing boats that take the general public out fishing.    There several types of rod holders you can use for storing you fishing rod. Depending upon what you need, you can have holders that hold several rods and are either fixed on the floor or fishing rod holders that have rollers so you can move them easily. There a multitude of fishing rod holders that you can mount on the wall so you can leave the floor space in your garage clear for other things.

   I use a pole holder that I mount on the ceiling of my garage. Actually I do have a wall mount  pole holder and a floor standing pole holder.That way, I keep all my fishing poles up where I can still use my garage floor and walls clear. It also keeps my grandkids from getting into them unless I get the fishing rod down for them. By using fishing pole holders I keep all my fishing pole safe so they don't get tangled up and  broken while storing them. Fishing pole holders also keep you fishing poles safe when you are traveling to your favorite fishing spot.  Fishing pole holders are really useful if you have a boat. It is very important to keep everything in its place when you have small space, like a boat. You can store you fishing poles in fishing pole holders designed for storage and put you fishing pole you are fishing with in a pole holder designed to hold your fishing pole while your bait is in the water. This way your hands are free to bait up other hooks and leader or hold you favorite beverage.

   A pole holder is a must for every fisherman. You can get a pole holder in just about any price range. You can buy a pole holder in just about every store that carries fishing gear. You can get holders to hold your fishing pole on the beach, in your boat even special fishing pole holders that attach to wheelchairs to help the handicapped people be able to enjoy fishing too.

What a fishing pole holder does

  A pole holder is a device that hold your fishing pole and lets you hands be free to do other things while fishing or for storage. There are many types for fishing pole holders. Some you use for storage and some you would use to keep your fishing pole safe while you are traveling to and from your favorite fishing spot and other you use when you are fishing. Most work by gravity, just put your fishing pole into the holder but some you put your fishing pole into the slot on the pole holder and close some type of locking device and that will keep your fishing pole from falling out of the fishing pole holder.

   There are  even specialty type fishing pole holders that you can attach to a wheelchairs and other things to help handicapped people to make it possible for them to go fishing too. There are fishing pole holders for your boat, for your cars, for your truck. There fishing pole holders to use in your garage to help keep them from tangling up. There are even fishing pole holders you can drive into the ground with a hammer or push into the beach sand next to the lake. There are even fishing pole holders you can screw into the ground or sand next to your easy chair on the beach. There even fishing pole holders you can attach to your easy chair next to your favorite beverage. You do not even have to get out of your chair to fish.
   A pole holder is a must for any fisherman. It keeps your fishing pole up off the ground so you do not have to worry about stepping on and breaking your fishing pole. It also keep you fishing pole up so you do not have to worry about getting your fishing line tangled up on the weeds and vegetation along the river or lake bank. There is nothing any more frustrating than to have a fish bite your bait, grab your fishing pole to set the hook and find out your fishing line is tangled up with the weeds along side the lake bank. There are fishing pole holders in just about any price range and can be found at just about every store that carries fishing gear.
   I love the pole holder I have attached to the ceiling of my garage. It keeps my fishing poles all up where I can not break them and I do not have to worry about the grandkids getting into my fishing poles unless I am out in the garage with them. I keep one in my truck and another with my fishing gear in the garage. Keep a spare just in case one breaks or your fishing partner forgets to bring his.

How a fishing pole holder works

All fishing pole holders work basically the same and for the same purpose, to hold your fishing pole. How ever there are still several types and usage for a them. Lets start with the obvious. You take it with you when you go fishing to hold your fishing pole so you can do other things while your line and bait are in the water waiting for a fish to bite.

   Some of these fishing pole holders go into the ground either by being driven or screwed into the ground. Other types you can attach to your beach chair. Some can be attached to wheelchair to help the handicapped go fishing. Most of these fishing pole holders you just set your fishing pole into the slot designed for your fishing pole.

   Some fishing pole holders are designed to be use on a boat either for storage or while fishing. Some of these fishing pole holders can either be just clamped to the edge or you boat while others have a base that is attached to the boat and than the part that holds your fising pole is set into the base on the top edge of the boat.
   There others designed to be used in your vehicle usually mounted so your fishing pole will set horizontally. These type of holders work great. By using these you do not have to worry about breaking you fishing poles with your other fishing gear.
   Other pole holder are designed just for storage. You can get floor mount, which usually you can get them to hold just about as many fishing poles as you want. Some pole holder will have rollers so you can move them around. Other storage  holders you can mount on the wall. These are good because you can keep your floor area clear. Other pole holders you can mount on the ceiling which is great if you are limited on floor and wall space in your garage. I use all three. Usually all my fishing poles are in the ceiling mount. But, if I am working on my fishing poles, changing line or fixing a tip or making a fishing pole from scratch I need the floor mount pole holder to keep next to my work bench. If the fishing pole is not mine that I am fixing I will put it in the floor holder and then when I finish fixing that pole I will put in the wal mount holder.
   I usually take 2 fishing pole holders when I go fishing just in case my fishing partner doesn't have one to bring or one holder may break. 1/18/11 by Randy Wright Delete

What is a fishing pole

   A fishing pole is the stick or pole you put you line and bait on and is used to through them out into the water to catch a fish. There are many kinds of poles. There are fiberglass poles and graphite poles. It is your choice upon which you like the best. Most of my fishing poles are fiberglass rods. That's the type I grew up with so that is what I got used to using. I get a more play action with them but the graphite poles seem to be more sensitive. I did forget to mention bamboo poles. I have never used one so I can't comment on them. You also have one piece and break down fishing poles. These can break down to just 2 pieces to several pieces in a pole you would take in your back pack.

   One piece poles are probably stronger then the break down but the one piece pole is harder to get into the truck or car. Also, if you pack into a lake it is much easier to pack in a pole that breaks down into several pieces instead of carrying in a one piece pole. But that is just my personally feeling.
   Depending upon what you are going to fish for and what type of fishing you are going to do determines what type for pole you are going to use. There are heavy duty poles clear down to micro light fishing poles. I like to use micro light fishing poles and ultra light poles when I go fishing for perch or crappie. Use 2# fishing line and you will have a lot of fun. Now if I had to choose only 1 pole  and had to get rid of all my other fishing poles, I would have to choose my medium to light weight steelhead pole. That way I could fish for perch and crappie, clear up to steelhead and salmon on that one pole. I like fishing for larger fish that might be why I would choose that pole.
   I am really glad I do not have to choose only one pole. I thing you have to have two or three of  all the different kinds for fishing poles. That way if I break a pole I don't have to quit fishing and go home. All I have to do is at most is go back to the truck to get another pole and keep on fishing.     1/23/11 by Randy Wright Delete
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What a fishing pole does

 What does a fishing pole do?

   A fishing pole is like a shock absorber on a car. When something gets on your hook, your pole bends with the tension that it causes. Hopefully it is a fish and not a snag. But either way, your pole takes the stress by bending and not just straight pressure on you fishing line causing it to break. Now if it is a weed you need to reel your line in and remove the debris. Watch you  pole when reeling in because it could be a fish the is just swimming back towards you. Watch your pole for any signs of life. Generally if you can't feel and pulling or jerking it is a weed. In that case reel it in and clean off your hook, weight, fishing line and pole. In any case watch your pole. It will tell your everything.

   If it is a fish you can set the hook by pulling back on you fishing pole and reeling your line in. You use your fishing pole to keep tension on your line so the fish can not get away. Now as your fish fights to get away your fishing pole bends up or down depending on what your fish is doing.
   Sometime after you hook a fish you can't tell if your fish is on your hook or not because nothing is happening to your pole. Well, you have either lost your fish or he is coming straight at you. When that happens you have to keep your fishing pole pulled straight up and reel very fast. You want to take up the slack and make your fishing pole to start bending showing there is tension on your line. If you don't take up the tension your fish may shake your hook out of its mouth.
   By keeping tension on you line it makes your fish fight or pull harder to get away and this make the fish tired. Once the fish is tired you can reel him in. You need to be careful and have your tension set properly on your fishing reel. If you have the tension set to light your fish can do what ever it wants and may even spit or shake your hook loose. Now on the other side you can have your tension set to tight and then your fish can't make a run and to much stress is put on the line and your fish will break the fishing line no matter what your fishing pole does.     1/23/11 by Randy Wright Delete
 Edit View  What is a fishing pole

Choosing a fishing pole

   Choosing a fishing pole can be harder then you think unless you are get a fishing pole for a young child. All you have to do then is pick their favorite color or cartoon character.

If your children or grandchildren are like mine you might be wise to take them with you when you pick one out for them.

   When pick out a fishing pole for yourself you need to consider what kind of fishing you are going to do most. Then pick a pole that is comfortable to you and heavy enough to catch the kind of fish you are fishing for. You don't want to go to heavy, then it is no fun catching the fish, but you don't want to go to light. Then you will have a hard time catching the fish unless you are experienced in knowing how to play a fish. Again, you have a lot of things to consider. Are you fishing from the bank, or fishing out of a boat. Are you casting a lot, jigging from a boat, or standing in the water fly fishing.

   Now if you really want to do something that is a lot of fun you can make your own fishing pole. Most cities have a place you can go and pick out the rod blank, the color of thread you want to use on the eye and tip of the rod. Usually these stores will have classed you can take and the will teach you how to make the rod. They will even teach you how to do custom wrapping. Now this will make your fishing pole very unique and more expensive if you were to have to but a pole with custom wrapping.

   This is not the cheapest way to get a fishing pole but you will have a custom pole without paying the custom rod price. I have made myself, my son and all 5 grandchildren a pole. Hopefully these will be a keepsake for them to remember me by. Beside, it is lot of fun doing it.

    However you do it, fishing is one of the most relaxing things a person can do for themselves. Whether an outing with the family or the children or just going out by yourself or with a friend, I suggest you start now and go get you rod and reel and tackle and get ready for the first good weekend and go. You will be happy you did and will be surprised at how much fun you will have.

What is a fishing reel

What is a fishing reel?

   A fishing reel is the piece of fishing gear you us to put your line on and attached your hook to and cast out into the water with bait or spinner or whatever you are using to hook the fish.

   Used to be all you could get is a casting reel of a fly reel. Now there is the spinning reel which has made fishing a whole lot easier. In my opinion, the casting reel is the better between casing and spinning reels. They generally have a better breaking system and generally cast farther. You need to practice with this fishing reel when you buy it because they will tangle if not casted right. Better to practice at home instead of getting out fishing and getting all tangled up to where you can't undo it to keep fishing.

   I almost always take more than one rod and reel when I go fishing especially when I use my casting reel. No matter how good you think you are, you can tangle this reel beyond fixing while fishing.

   The birth of the spinning reel opened up fishing for everyone. The are easy to use and even come with closed face fishing reels and open faced reels.. Here again the closed faced, in my opinion, does not tangle as easily as the opened face spinning reel. But on the other hand the opened face is easier to clear up than the closed face fishing reel. With this type of reel you just hold the line and flip the bail and cast out you line or hold a button down and just release the button to take the break off the line so it will be trusted out into the water. Now all you have to do is just reel and the bail will flip back over the fishing line and retrieve it back on the spool.

   The fly fishing reel is uncomplicated but the art of fly fishing is more challenging then the other types of fishing. Here again if you choose to try this you need to spend some time practicing with your outfit at home. With this type of fishing reel you generally use a different type for rod and try a whipping action to get the line out where you want it. This type of fishing can be extremely fun. You need to pay attention to what type of bugs are hatching on the lake or river you are going to and be sure you have the flies for that type. Know where you going and the bug hatch is very important. Your fishing trip will be more successful if you use the proper flies.

How does a fishing reel work

   Will each type of fishing reel differently but the same principle exist them all. You turn the crank handle on the fishing reel to retrieve the line and hopefully the fish. Now where the differences are the most easily seen is the way you release line into the water.

   With the casting reel you put your thumb on the reel and hold it and then push a bar that releases a break on the fishing line. If you do not have you thumb tightly holding your line it will release and drop to the ground and probably tangle your line on the reel. Then you pull you rod back over your shoulder and fling it forward releasing you thumb from the fishing line letting it flow off of the reel. Keep you thumb close to your reel and right before your weight touches the water you need to put your thumb back on the line and stop the release. If you do not again, you will tangle you line on the reel. Sounds hard and confusing but with a little practice and adjustments on your fishing reel you will master this reel quickly.

    Now a spinning reel is much easier to use. With these types of fishing reels you hold your fishing line with your finger and flip the bail over and then cast in the same way as the casting reel only you don't have to worry about your line tangling. Now just start reeling and the bail will close over your fishing line and retrieve your line. Now if you are using a closed face fishing reel you just push and hold down a button on the fishing reel with your thumb and pull back you rod and flip it in a forward motion releasing the button after your rod reaches the forward point of your cast. If you release to soon your weight and bait will drop behind you and you start all over.

   The last type of fishing reel I will talk about is the fly fishing reel. These reels are not hard to use but you do not cast directly off the reel. You use fly line, different the regular fishing line with a leader tied at the end. The leader has the fly hook tied to it. You pull off as much line as you think you will need to reach the spot you want to fish. Then you whip your rod, not to hard, and let your line slid through your fingers until you to your spot in the water. Now can either retrieve your line direct to the reel or pull your line with the other hand and then do it again until you have cover a spot in the water well.

Fishing

   Fishing is a great family outing. I do not know a better way to bring a family closer together. This is a  great way for parents to become a child again with their children.

   There is no greater character builder than going fishing with you children or grand children. Actually, it would be best if you don't even put your line in the water. Most of the time you will be casting their lines or untangling their lines or appologizing to the person fishing next to you because your kids crossed their line while casting. You will spend a lot of time putting bait on the childrens line or taking a fish off their hook if they actually left the line in the water long enough for a fish to see it.

   Even with this being one of the most flustrating times in you life, they are the most memorable and rewarding times in your and the kids life. Hopefully your have taught them patients and they pass this along to their children.

   I also use fishing as a tranquilizer. Whenever I start getting flustered with everything, just plan life starts getting me down, I go fishing. Sometimes by myself and other times with a friend. It is just peaceful and quiet on the lake and we don't have to talk much just enjoy being out in the open and enjoying the beauty all around.