UltraLight Fishing Tips

When it comes to ultra light fishing, it seems to me that there are a few tips that everyone needs to keep in mind in order to have a fun day on the water. First of all, lets discuss what ultra light fishing is, before we get to the actual ultra light fishing tips. Ultra light fishing is simply using light line and ultra light action rods and reels to catch fish, rather than the size fishing equipment that most anglers are accustomed to using. Ultra light fishing. Once you get the hang of it, is the most enjoyable way to catch fish, in my humble opinion.

Once you start ultra light fishing, you'll quickly realize that your skills as an angler are going to be sharpened. Ultra light fishing teaches you to play your catch, rather that simply reeling your catch in. As a matter of fact, you'll never look at fishing the same, after ultra light fishing. And don't think for one minute that you can't catch large fish while fishing with ultra light gear. I've personally caught a seven pound walleye, numerous four plus pound smallmouth, and many trout twenty inches and over, all while using ultra light gear and four pound test monofilament line. But now lets get down to business with the ultra light fishing tips:

Change Your Line Frequently - I suppose I might be living in the stone ages, but I like to ultra light fish with four pound test monofilament. In my mind monofilament fishing line is the way to go. I know that there are all kinds of crazy lines out there these days that have the strength of climbing rope and are the diameter of a spider web, but I prefer monofilament fishing line for ultra light fishing. And again, I prefer to use four pound test. This means I must change my line frequently. During the heart of fishing season, this means once every two weeks or so because of abrasion and stretching. The bottom line is, don't be afraid to change your line frequently when ultra light fishing.

Match Your Rod & Reel To The Situation - When ultra light fishing, your gear is a key to success. So as water conditions change, you may have to change your gear, such as the length of your fishing rod. Foe example, I have a rod that I use in the spring, when the water is high, and a different rod for when the water is at "normal" levels. This aids in casting distance, as well as being able to keep my bait on the bottom, as the current changes. The bottom line is to match your rod and reel to the situation that you're fishing.

Fish At The Right Times - This isn't only an ultra light fishing tip, it's a general fishing tip, but that doesn't make it any less important. Whenever you're fishing you want to make sure that the odds are as much in your favor as is possible. This means paying attention to the weather and moon, and making sure that you're on the water when fish are the most active. You can get the information that you need in this FREE e-book, and you'll be on your way.

Be Patient - This seems obvious, and patience is obviously a key to all types of fishing, but patience is even more of a virtue in ultra light fishing. Especially when fighting a large fish. Because of the fact that you're using light line and such, being patient while fighting large fish is integral to success. Let the fish "do the work" and tire themselves out. Just remember, being patient is integral to ultra light fishing success.

These simple tips will help you out and make you more successful as and ultra light fisherman. How do I know this? Because I use every single one of these tips and they help me on almost every fishing trip. Do be careful though. Ultra light fishing is highly addictive, so you could very well end up hooked!

Fishing Lure Tips and Tricks

I was fishing with a friend the other day and we were doing the normal debate about who knows more about fishing. He told me something that I never even gave a thought about. Of course I acted like I already knew about it, but he won't know until he reads this that I didn't!

What I am talking about is super glue in soft baits. No, not to get the fish to stick to them when they bite! If you're using soft baits, they have a tendency to slide down the hook after catching a couple of fish or after about 100 casts. Here is what you do -Slide the soft bait down the hook (eye end). Put a drop of super glue on the hook and slide the soft bait back to the eye of the hook. Now you have no more slipping bait! In addition, this will increase the life of the soft bait, and, of course, more fish strikes, since the bait will always be on the hook properly. This is a must for lures like D.O.A. shrimp.

Tube rattles are something else you may or may not have tried or ever heard about. You put these rattles into your soft bait to add noise. This can dramatically increase your catch or size of fish. A lot of people don't think about noises that fish and baits make, they just think about their sight and smell, but sound is a big part of catching fish. Sound travels approximately 4 times faster through water than it does through air. This is also why it is said again and again to be quiet when you're fishing in a boat; just the bang of a hatch door could spook the fish that you were after. Anyway, you can also use super glue to hold these tube rattles in place.

One more thing to use with soft baits are bait weights. These are like the tube rattles, as they are put into the soft bait, but placement is important. For instance, on a worm you may want to put the weight at the end of the worm to help in casting under docks and structure. Or you may want to place it by the shaft of the hook in order to get faster drop on your bait. Experiment with this and I am sure you will find many uses for these. You can also adjust the weight by cutting off sections of the weight with line pliers. These work great with StrikeKing ZTOO soft baits because these are a floating bait and sometimes you just may want a little weight to get it just under the surface.

On to hard baits like suspended and top water plugs. Really, these baits are great just as they are, but the big complaint that I always hear is that the hooks and the rings are not strong enough. You can switch these out. Buy a better grade of hook and ring than what is on the lure. Try to stay with the same size hook and ring, because these lures have been designed to use a certain size hook and changing size can dramatically change how these lures work. However, using a stronger hook and ring can make the difference in landing a record fish or just having an exaggerated fish story.

Now let's do something about your fishing pole. It's important to have good quality fishing gear to catch quality fish over and over again. So, you went out and spent good money on a good rod and reel and think that you're all set. Well, maybe yes, but maybe no. Did you know that pole and reel balance is very important in catching fish? With the reel on the pole, the pole should balance in your hand - the tip should not drop. There are balance weights that you can put onto the butt end of your pole to help to balance it. This will increase the feeling of a hit significantly so you can set the hook on a strike. Also, it will give you more comfort when you are making a lot of casts. So, the next time you pick up your fishing pole, see how it fits in your hand and check the balance.

If you know other little tips and tricks like these that can help other anglers out, please tell them, but better yet, tell me! I like learning new things, and that's what I do this for is to help other anglers learn. Every time I go fishing, I learn something new. It may be something as simple as a new knot, or not to try to catch a fish with a gator sitting on the bank next to you, but I am always learning and isn't that part of fishing?!

How to Fish For Rainbow Trout - Tips to Make You More Successful

Are you new to trout fishing? Or maybe just want some tips to help you catch more rainbow trout on your next trout fishing outing? Well, in this article I'll outline some tips that will help you be a much more effective rainbow trout angler. If you want to know how to fish for rainbow trout this article is definitely for you.

These tips come both from 20 plus years of personal experience and from the best trout fisherman I've ever had the pleasure of knowing. This man has since passed on to another plane of existence, but before he left he taught me a ton about how to fish for rainbow trout. These tips will certainly make you more successful when fishing for these beautiful fish.

The fist thing to consider when fishing for rainbow trout is the size of your gear, and by 'gear' I'm referring to your rod, reel, line, and the manner in which you carry your lures, tackle and bait. When it comes to your fishing rod and reel when trout fishing, in most instances an ultra light rod and reel are what's needed. Your reel should be spooled with six pound test at most, with four pound test being ideal.

The best way to carry your tackle when fishing for rainbow trout is a fishing vest. Fishing vests have a ton of pockets for your tackle, weights, swivels, extra line, water bottles, etc. Many times when you fish for rainbow trout you will be wading and being able to carry all of your fishing tackle with you in a convenient manner is of the utmost importance. A fishing vest is definitely the way to go when fishing for freshwater trout of any kind.

The next thing to consider when fishing for trout is how you want to carry your bait. One of the best baits for rainbow trout is worms and the best way to carry worms while fishing is a bait bag. A bait bag simply clips to your fishing vest and carries your worms while fishing. In other words, the worms are removed from their original container and transferred to the bait bag. This way your bait is always at your fingertips waiting to be used. When it comes to rainbow trout tips this is one of the best. A bait bag is all but invaluable to the wading river fisherman.

Another piece of gear that helps immensely when fishing for trout is gang hooks. Whether you want to fi trout with live bait or you want to fish with synthetic trout bait such as Powerbait, gang hooks are a great idea.

Another great tackle idea is the use of small spinners such as rooster tails. When I say small I mean it, because I'm talking about spinners in the 1/32-1/16 weight class. Small spinners are great artificial bait for trout. One of my personal favorites is the Rooster Tail. Having a variety of small Rooster Tails (or other small spinners) is a must for any fishing vest.

If you want to know how to fish for rainbow trout, these tips will help you immensely. Never forget that there is no "tip" that will help you like spending time on the water fishing. The more time that you can spend on the water, the more successful you will be.

Fishing Rules and Regulations - Why Bother?

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What constitutes breaking the rules?

This weekend I had an opportunity to film something that happened right in front of our cottage. I was observing a gentleman fishing by himself in a boat. I gave him credit for the fact that it was raining and he must be a real trouper to be out there.

However, upon watching him I realized that he was going back and forth from the front to the back and he was actually fishing with two fishing rods. Although you are entitled to fish in some major waters with two rods you are Not allowed to do it in the majority of lakes and streams within Ontario. Purchasing a license and asking the questions would have been a great idea before he decided to head out and fish.

In Canada we have very strict regulations that seem somewhat confusing at times and it is very important to not assume that your regulations are the same as other areas. (A good example would be in Ontario -- If you are going to be fishing North of Hwy 7 then you would find that your season actually opens one week later then if you fished South of Hwy 7. Although the difference is only a week it could result in the loss of your boat for the season and heavy fines.)

You should always know what the local regulations are on the lakes that you will be fishing. There are many local tackle and bait shops that are usually able to define the regulations and give you a quick yes or no if you are not positive of what the rules are for the area.

If you are a visitor to Canada and your planning a fishing trip or a quick run to a local stream you are encouraged to make sure that you know the rules. Licensing is required and will differ in price according to where and how long you will require it. Remember if you do not find out what the regulations are you may find the consequences could be a very big unexpected expense in your vacation.

Licensing provides all of us the opportunity to make sure that we have future species stocked in our lakes. Rules and regulations although they sometimes seem like they are not necessary, they actually ensure that we do not over fish or disturb the natural habitats.

Fishing with two rods... well that is just plain stupid. When we told the gentleman with the two rods that we had him on tape he immediately put one rod away. He didn't even question if there was a rule not to do it. It sure makes you think that although he was aware of the rule He just simply thought he was above it.

It's our responsibility to find out the regulations that govern where we fish. Don't assume they are the same as home.

Remember today we have Video and You Tube so it's not worth breaking the rules - Our Fish count on it.

Wisconsin Walleye Fishing Tips

Are you catching good numbers and big walleyes in Wisconsin? Whether you are or are not, one thing stands. Having all of the secrets of walleye fishing at your finger tips will help you catch more and bigger walleyes on a consistent basis. Knowledge is the key to successful walleye fishing.

Wisconsin is a great state for walleye fishing. To me it's a troller's paradise. Rivers, off colored flowages, Green bay - all of these places beg for dynamic crankbait presentations. Then you have many other places to fish as well. Koshkonong, the Mississippi, Winnebago, Lake St. Croix, Long Lake, or the sumo sauger factory - Lake Wisconsin. This list hardly scratches the surface for what Wisconsin offers for walleye fishing. Let's dive right in and look at some basic methods to use for cranking shallow walleyes in the spring time in shallow off colored lakes or flowing tributaries used for spawning.

10 or 12 foot trolling rods out the side and 7 footers out the back will make shallow water trolling a snap. In shallow lakes you want to watch that 8 or 10 foot basin contour. Choose shorelines or rocky points where a deeper basin contour line sweeps up nearby. You may be trollling in as shallow as 2 or 3 feet deep so be sure to use the electric for stealth. Don't worry, during the early spring period you'll be using spinner speeds of 1 to 1.3 to work cranks along the banks. Cover water and keep those baits constantly tickling the tops of the rocks. The entire process of finessing crankbaits along feels more like your trolling jigs or live bait rigging at a fast speed. The only difference? Big walleyes!

Use these basic cranking strategies this spring and I'm certain you'll find the fish catching power of a crankbait works like no other method. You can also visit our website for many unheard of secrets and tactics for walleye fishing Wisconsin's waters.

Sport Fishing Holiday Destination Fit for Non Anglers - Nature Tour at Plummer's Arctic Fishing NWT

It was one incredible week! Plummers Arctic Fishing Lodge tucked in the northeast part of Great Bear Lake, in the Northwest Territories, Canada. Almost nine (9) years have passed, yet I can transport myself back with all the sights, sounds and feelings as if it were yesterday. My recollection of that Plummers experience is as vivid as the hundreds of photographs and video footage captured during this dream working vacation. The hospitality, the gourmet meals and the unending attention to detail exhibited by Chummy Plummer and his staff at the Great Bear Lake Lodge provided the rooted harmony that balanced the sometimes overwhelming awe of nature that constantly and completely surrounded us. Mother Nature reigns supreme in this Arctic wilderness. People are insignificant participants in the daily cycle of life in this true north.

This 'up close and personal' touch with nature makes Plummers Great Bear Lake a must-go-to Nature Vacation destination. A rustic destination that has now been discovered for its "not just for anglers" amenities. Ideal for capturing first-rate photographs. And perfect enough for President George Bush, Senior, along with a few of his closest Canadian friends, to visit every summer.

Visiting remote Canada, north of the Arctic Circle, in late August was one of those 'planets-all-lining-up' opportunities. Accompanied by my business associate John, our week long adventure leaves memories as crisp as the early northern morning air. And what better way to start our morning than hearing a Plummer's staffer call out "Coffee gentlemen." A carafe of steaming coffee placed outside of our door accompanied our 6 am wake-up call each day. That first coffee of the day set the pace for the short walk to the lodge dining building and for a 'whatever your heart desires' breakfast.

Just flying to The Great Bear Lodge is something in itself. We flew out of Winnipeg, Manitoba on a Boeing 737 Jet, first landing at the Great Slave Lake Lodge on a gravel runway and then on to the Great Bear Lake Lodge, once again landing on a gravel runway! The jet had special flanges behind the front wheel to prevent stones from being ejected into the jet engines. It is something else to look out the airplane window to the rear of the plane as it lifts off and seeing a cloud of dust coming off the runway. Once airborne, it sure looked like some good ol' boys were rippin' up a gravel road below us!

The fishing on this Lake is nothing short of THE BEST. Great Bear Lake is the eighth-largest lake in the world and fourth largest in North America. Awesome! Incredible! Some o f the world's largest lake trout have been reeled in on Great Bear Lake - 72 lbs . Seventy-two pounds makes this fish over 140 years old! It's sport fishing only at Plummers. All catch and release. Plummers practices strict conservation rules, so there will be plenty of fish to catch for centuries to come.

For every two anglers there is a guide assigned for the week. He or she takes care of operating the boat (18 foot aluminum), determining the best location to fish each day, preparing the fresh fish lunches on one of the hundreds of islands (now there's a culinary treat!) and any fishing tips/tricks. John and I were not preoccupied with fishing and so we turned our attention to aggravating our guide, a young University of Manitoba student named Kelly. And we drove him to the limit; asking him all sorts of stupid questions. We did have some coaching from a few of the Plummer's staff on the top 'best stupid questions' to ask, so we mixed them in with our earnest questions:

"So how many pounds of potatoes do they go through in a season at this lodge?" (Stupid)

"How many trout do you figure are in Great Bear?" (Stupid)

"How big is this lake anyway?" (Earnest)

"How much Red River Cereal do they go through in a season?" (Stupid)

"Who is that lady that drops the coffee carafe at our door each morning?" (Stupid)

"How many gulls do you think are on this lake?" (Stupid) Gulls, nature's garbage disposal crew, always showed up when the guide was finished cleaning the trout for lunch.

"How cold is this water?" (Earnest ) If you are wondering, 42- 45 degrees Fahrenheit is the correct answer.

John and I arrived at Plummers with only our clothing and camera equipment. No need to bring any fishing gear of your own. Plummers equipped us with all the rod, reel and tackle gear we needed. They did a great job because, as novice anglers, John and I caught over 40 fish between us! An activity that we never tired of was enjoying the afternoon Northern Sun and scouting out the many islands that dotted 'The Bear'. Much to our guide Kelly's chagrin, we really weren't there for the fishin' - we were the sightseer type of tourist that comes to Plummers. The solitude afforded us with the gentle rhythm of the trolling boat and the anticipation of when we would see the next eagle, or caribou or musk-ox on 'The Bear' shores was just the ticket to help two hardworking executives from the big city of Ottawa, Ontario to unwind.

We became known to other guests at the lodge as the two 'anglers' to stay away from! Perfect! Come to think of it, we always had fishing places completely to ourselves. Bob Izumi was filming a show for his "Real Fishing" TV series at the same time as our visit. Even he didn't seem the least bit interested at my elation that I had snagged what our guide said was the smallest trout he'd ever seen - less than 1 pound 'soaking wet'! Kelly said the lure weighed more than my prize catch! Now there is fishing talent I don't often forget to boast about! John was on the opposite end of the scale from me as far as being a sports fisherman. He did capture, and I mean capture, a trout that was the size of a dog - a 34 plus pounds! Wow! Ya gotta see the pictures!

I went camera crazy here! Images of fishing in the 9 p.m. dusk light, casting right off the lodge's shore. Wolves near the camp, caribou that hadn't been seen this far south of the Arctic Circle so late in the summer season! The ultimate trip within the trip was our fly-out to the Tree River Camp, Nunavut. This camp consisted of eight (8) tarpaulin-roofed, stilted bunk houses and a cook house in the middle of 'no where north'. Flat tundra and low bush were contrasted by mountainous visas that could only be described as a "black grand canyon", moon-like terrain. We were on the Canadian Shield. Tree River itself is edged with hardened mud river banks where arctic squirrel-gopher-like creatures known as 'sik-sik' were housed in borrows within the river banks. The camp cook, Carol, and her helper, Mary, treated us to a incredible dinner of roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. To top off this sumptuous meal we had ice cream and cake for dessert. Did I say we were in a remote camp on the Arctic Ocean? Sure felt like the Ritz!

We unsuccessfully tried our hand at Arctic Char fishing. Enough of that story! With our guide Kelly we continued with our boating down the Tree River river to touch upon the shores of the Arctic Ocean. We stood next to an authentic inukshuk, saw weather bleached caribou bones, ate some not-so-sweet blueberries and walked the bluff at the mouth of Tree River. We scanned the Arctic ocean waters and could see a sliver of land on the horizon. Victoria Island maybe?

A desolate yet primitive beautiful land in August, we imagined how harsh the winter climate must be to those living here in Canada's north. No time for those chilly thoughts now! The late August sun was warm; perfect for standing near the cliff shore while watching seals play in the mouth of Tree River below us. At that moment we felt as though we were a small speck in the northern universe. I'm certain it was the solid black rock of the Canadian Shield beneath our feet that kept us from being swallowed up by this "Arctic Vortex". Everywhere I turned there was a photo to be taken. My Canon EOS A4 'photo-exercised' through 20 rolls of film that trip. I scanned these pictures and share some of the best ones with the world. Go to Flickr.com and search on "plummers arctic fishing".

Returning to our base camp at Great Bear, we fished a couple of more days and then continued this incredible nature trip with one more memorable experience: we jumped into the frigid Arctic Circle waters of Great Bear Lake. Good news! We did receive a special Plummer's tee-shirt for our stupidity to brave this dunking. Printed on the tee-shirt is " I was Stupid enough to Swim in the Arctic Circle". Yes, in our finest dress of long red underwear we jumped off the wharf at the Plummers Lodge into the 43 degree Fahrenheit water! For the record, at that temperature everything shrinks! To this day, my tee-shirt is proudly displayed in our family room.

Plummer's Arctic Fishing is one of those destinations you should put on your must do list. "GREAT FISHING OUR CLAIM, MOTHER NATURE OUR FRAME." What a perfect way to experience the beauty of Canada's north. Take your whole family on a trip of their lifetime!

Fishing When It's Cold Outside

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Have you ever went trout fishing when it's cold outside? If you have you know that it's a little different than trout fishing when the weather is more tolerable. The last time I went trout fishing, it was 39 degrees outside, and after catching a trout and subsequently releasing it, my hands became so cold I thought I was going to have to shoot myself just to stop the pain!

Cold hands is just one of the problems that occur when we are fishing when it's cold outside. In this article, I'm going to discuss some tricks and tips to help you not only stay warm, but also catch more fish when the weather isn't cooperating like it does during certain times of the year.

Staying warm is a key to fishing when it's cold outside. Not only your hands, but also your body. That's why layering is so important. I realize you've heard this about a million times, but it's still true. You can always take layers off, but it's much more difficult to add them when you're already cold. I'd always rather be too warm than too cold.

The first tip is concerning your bait or lures. The rule when the weather's cold is this: upsize or downsize dramatically. We either want to use very large lures/bait or the opposite end of the spectrum, very small bait/lures. Many Ice fishermen realize this (as you may know). The basic reason is this: fish are cold blooded, and as water temperatures cool, the fishes metabolism slows down. As the fishes metabolism slows down, their inclination to feed is less. Therefore they want to expend as little energy as possible getting food. Thus, eating big meals so they don't have to get food as often, or small meals that are east to catch.

The bottom line is that cold weather means fishing is normally more difficult. Another great tip is to make sure that you're fishing when the fish are the most active. What do I mean by this? There are certain times of the day and month that fish are more active (thus feeding) than others. These times of the day and month are tied directly to the moon phases and the weather. So understanding how the weather and moon affect fishing is of the utmost importance to any angler, especially in cold weather.

Let's go back to our hands for a moment. The scenario I started this article with is no fun at all, and one of the best ways to avoid a situation such as it, is to wear a quality pair of fingerless gloves/glove liners. If you fish like I do, you need the use of unfettered fingers when fishing, yet your hands need protection from the elements. This is why quality fingerless gloves are such an important part of my fishing repertoire during cold weather.

The bottom line is that fishing during cold weather simply means that the rules have changed a little bit. All you have to do is vary your approach a little bit, and you'll be fine. Try one or all of these tips and your cold weather fishing excursion will be much more comfortable and successful.