18 Homemade Carp Bait Fishing Ingredients For Big Fish Catches!

Big fish come to those who wait, but those who fully prepare catch the most! Here is a formula which includes a few things many fishermen overlook and it may well make the difference between big fish success and utter disaster! By a guy who hooked a previous world record carp.

1. Fish location is not for the lazy! It’s a vital fishing ‘must do’ especially for big fish and is the universal fishing rule number one; you will not catch any fish where there aren’t any!

2. Always use a sharp hook of suitable size for your fish, and bait! A sharp hook has always caught more big fish than that old blunt beast of an old pattern hook you find in the bottom of the tackle box even if it was your favourite 5 years ago!

3. A bait that still tempts the fish you are hunting and has not already lost its ‘edge’ through previous over-use which actually repels wary fish instead! Do your own thing; homemade baits are the closest thing to a sure-fire bet of a bait; readymade baits are often a lottery in actual effectiveness; the ones you choose may already have been ‘hammered’ without your knowledge! When it comes to baits, flavors and rigs, adaptability and creativity is the name of the game. Being prepared to take risks and do new things always pays-off big-time in the end! The best baits are the ones that catch on the day after all!

4. Lady luck always helps no matter how much you prepare for your fishing! You might hook the one fish you desire within just 5 minutes of your first cast; or it might take you 10 years!

5. You will need other tackle to enable you to land the big fish you’re after including an adequate rod, reel, line and hook link and a strong enough hook not to open-out when the real pressure during the fight reaches its peak, generally on the first run or at the landing net!

6. You will need equipment to deal with the fish once hooked. You will need a big enough landing net for a start. It’s no good using a normal 42 inch carp landing net for a 6 or 7 foot long catfish, unless you are particularly skilled at ‘folding’ such beasts into such a net in the dark, on your own at night, in the rain, on a slippery wet bank! (The secret is drilled rehearsal!)

7. If you are a responsible fishermen and care for the future of your sport, then you will realise that the fish are the future. Remember, smaller fish will be the personal best fish in the future. So if you care for your fish and intend replacing it back into the water it lives in (and not cooking it for tea,) then a protective mat big enough to completely remove any danger of damage from contact with the ground is an excellent and essential bit of kit.

8. Suitable unhooking forceps are necessary (as are sharp scissors!) Often unhooking a well hooked fish with your fingers is difficult without causing undue damage due to difficult angles with a barbed hook which potentially might cause damage. Practicing your forceps skills can make hook removal simple and clean so keep them easily accessible. I’ve seen far too many so-called anglers rushing and fumbling when unhooking fish virtually ripping the hook out of them. This is completely irresponsible and utterly unnecessary and can produce wounds which last for the life of the fish! Just calm the fish down by de-stressing it with plenty of water and wet hands, being efficient, confident and quick. It’s like the old dentist joke:

“You what – you want 200 dollars for just 2 minutes work to remove my tooth; that’s a joke!” The dentist responds by asking: “Would you rather I took an hour instead!?

9. Use of fish care kits with swabs and antiseptic solution are very responsible too in helping heal the hook wound and any scale damage or fresh scrapes, or previous wounds on the skin etc. It is very possible by doing this you will enable the fish to recover from capture much faster, even put on more weight quicker in the future owing to less stress and even potentially save a fish’s life!

10. You need a venue containing the species and size of fish you are hunting; it’s no good fishing for salmon in a river devoid of them for the past 30 years or for a 30 pound carp where the biggest is 19 pounds!

11. Have all your camera equipment ready for use! When you catch your personal best fish of a life-time, you want the photos to reliably come out right; there’s nothing worse when they don’t! (No problem; just catch the same fish twice!)

12. If you fish at night take at least 2 torches and always have plenty of spare batteries. Its ‘sod’s law’ that the one night or session when the fish feed like mad is the one you find your torch packs up. (Bulbs blow too!) Head torches are very popular and cheap these days and I also use ‘glow-in the dark’ pencil torches to find my torches (and glasses) at night. I hang one on the bite alarms to indicate the position of the rods on dark nights. The dim light of a pencil torch is enough for landing big fish in the dark without spooking them off at the last minute at the net and losing them because you have a thousand candle-power lantern on the bank or have a 100 light-emitting diode torch on your head! (On some carp lakes in the UK, constant use of such torches make the banks at night look like a scene from close encounters of the third kind or club laser show rather than a natural lake-side environment; expect to see a ‘ufo’ any minute!)

13. If you fish in the heat you need water and loads more of it than you think! You ‘feel’ hydrated long after your body has become dehydrated. Most people in an out of doors setting are amazed how dehydrated they get but this is because they do not realise just how much more active we have to be outside. Everything takes effort, exertion and energy to get things done and just breathing a lot more loses you much more water and not just in hot conditions. Remember you will usually dehydrate yourself looking around and locating fish, getting yourself and your fishing gear to your swim and having set-up your tents, rods and baiting-up with ground bait if desired. From personal experience; you’re not much good as a fisherman with a heat stroke and a dehydration headache; playing a big fish with a bad headache is most un-cool!

14. Please be aware that fish when first caught come from water that is generally cooler than the air at the height of summer and they will need constantly cooling down with generous amounts of water. Fish skin and delicate vulnerable tissues as in the gills in such conditions can dry out very quickly and be damaged. So be efficient in unhooking fish and very quick with pictures, and keep fish wet! (Wetting your hands before touching your fish really reduces the heat sensitivity shock on them and covering their eyes with a wet sling or sack is very sensible and can help a fish ‘settle’ on your unhooking mat and de-stress it which is very important! I usually take at least 2 big bottles of water just for one night, so you might imagine how much I take for a 3 or 4 days and night session.

15. A bit more about fish recovery and handling. If it is very hot, keep the fish out of the sun and in the water until the last second while everything on the bank is prepared so the fish is out of the water the minimum time possible. When handling, touch the fish as little as you can to avoid stressing it and utilise your wet unhooking mat to carry it back to the water. It may take some minutes if not hours to get a big hard-fighting fish to recover from a spirited fight. During this time make sure you choose a conveniently shaded cooler margin for the fish’s and your own comfort; and be persistent! You may have to artificially work the gills of the fish and wave fresh oxygenated water into its mouth for its energy and metabolism in order for it to recover, which might take an hour or more in very hot conditions!

16. Polarising sunglasses are one of your key bits of kit because they can make you look cool when standing on the bank like an idiot, even though you might have caught no fish, be sweating gallons and look like the morning after your stag night and your gear might have been almost totally destroyed in a freak storm that the previous night! ‘Shades’ are also good for looking for signs of fish such as cleaned feeding spots and impersonating celebrities. In combination with a hat, they even shade your eyes from harmful rays direct from the sun and reflected back off the water, which can easily avoid you a nice headache after a day watching the water, or a tiny little float!

17. If you fish in the winter you will always need more warm dry windproof and waterproof clothing than you think! When your rain or snow-proof stuff gets wet and it’s raining or snowing, if you have no way to dry out; you’ll slowly freeze! A windproof fishing shelter or ‘bivvy’ with a door with zips that really work all the way down to the ground, can literally be a life-saver just as much as a life-jacket when using a boat! Comfortable anglers catch more big fish because they can focus on catching fish instead of just staying warm! (In any country, when you spend the night outside in a strong northerly wind with a minus degrees Celsius wind chill factor, clothes are not just about comfort, but avoiding hypothermia, so beware!

18. It takes practice to do anything in life consistently successfully. ‘Beginners luck’ is one not so ‘weird’ phenomenon. It is easily explained; often a new fisherman on a water with different baits and rigs, fishing unusual or less popular spots (because he is not familiar with the ‘popular’ ones,) will hit the biggest fish first. (No big surprise there; so be prepared!)

So there you have it; it’s easy, there’s nothing to catching big fish! When ‘opportunity meets preparation,’ big things will happen! This fishing bait secrets books author has many more fishing and bait edges. Just one could impact on your catches!

By Tim Richardson.

About Author

To get these unique new expert bait making and bait secrets bibles :

BIG CATFISH AND CARP BAIT SECRETS!
And: BIG CARP BAIT SECRETS! And BIG CARP FLAVOURS AND FEEDING TRIGGER SECRETS! Visit:

http://www.baitbigfish.com

Tim Richardson is a homemade carp and catfish bait maker and proven big fish angler. His unique bait making and enhancing fishing secrets guides are seriously multiplying their readers big fish catches in over 45 countries so visit this unique secrets site right NOW!

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Guided Elk Hunting vs. Drop Camp Elk Hunting

If you are looking for a hunting experience that allows you to roam far and wide and provides a real sense of accomplishment, elk hunting is definitely one of the big game sports that you should consider. When you are in a position to indulge in it, hunting is one of the activities that can provide both a great deal of physical activity and bragging rights, not to mention an impressive amount meat and a truly epic trophy at the end. If you are thinking of getting a guide for your elk hunting, take a look at a few of the facts below. Remember as you are making your decision that employing a guide is by no means something that is only done by beginning hunters; there are many reasons that an experienced hunter would take advantage of a guide as well.

Taking the area you plan to hunt in and your level of experience into consideration are the first things you need to think about. Have you hunted there before or in terrain very similar to it? If so, a guide will not be as crucial for your hunting trip. North America has many areas that sustain elk herds so there is a good chance you may be hunting in an area that is different than what you are accustomed to. What type of climate have you hunted in? Wet or dry? Are you familiar with mountain hunting or heavy forest hunting. A guide will be very beneficial to you in unfamiliar terrain and help you gain experience in areas of weakness.

Do you work well with other people? Though the guide or outfitter may be hired by you, it is important to develop a working relationship. Can you step back and take the guide's direction? Will you let him do his job? If you can't, going it alone might be best for you to have a more pleasurable hunt. Some hunters become good hunter partners with their guides and if this is something you can do, having a guide will be very beneficial and make for a great hunting experience.

Consider, too, how long you want to spend hiking around in the woods. With an experience guide, you can have a successful end to your hunt much sooner than would likely be possible without one. Go without a guide and your hunt will most likely take much longer if you are in an area that you don't know. If you have plenty of time and are in no hurry at all, this may not be a problem for you. But if your time is limited, a guide can help you make the most of the time you have by taking you to where the elk are.

Enjoying your elk hunting trip is the bottom line, so keep this in mind when considering your plans. Elk hunting with a guide can make this possible by making it easier.

About the Author

For an adventure of a lifetime, we here at kohlsoutfitting.com invite you to join us on an amazing Pack In Elk Hunting in Idaho in the Selway-Bitterroot wilderness of Idaho.

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Hunting Backpack Guidelines

An experienced hunter knows that any time you go hunting it is a good idea to have a backpack that will fit your needs and last a long time. Poorly-made hunting backpacks will spoil your good time of hunting. Most backpack companies and manufactures are aware of the needs and requirements of hunters when it comes to choosing hunting backpacks. Manufactures are focusing on making carrying backpacks less annoying. When youre shopping for a hunting backpack it is recommend that the backpack shoulder straps have padding which keeps them from digging into the shoulders while padding on the hip straps keep the weight that is focused on the hips to cause less pain while walking.

You always want to make sure that the backpack you get will not cause pain or bring you discomfort in anyway. Some tips for good hunting backpacks:

Have two straps on the backpack for more support.

Dont overload the backpack. For this reason, it is imperative that individuals carefully watch what they put into their backpacks in order to prevent overloading. Be sure to back everything that you will need but also be cautious about overloading the backpack with items you may not need. The backpack doesnt need to be used completely. Use it as if it were just a few more pockets on your pants.

The pack should be adjusted so that it fits the dimensions and size of the person wearing the backpack. Make sure it fits just right and it is not causing any discomfort or pain.

Make sure the backpack is camouflaged to the same camouflage you are wearing.

No matter what type of hunting you do or where you do it, transporting your gear will always be an important consideration on any hunt. Whether it's a short trip to the tree stand on the back forty or a day in the woods still hunting, every hunt has certain gear requirements, and that gear must be transported one way or another. Hunting backpacks should always be a necessity and with that, make it a comfortable one. Use the pack to your advantage and make it a good one.

About the Author

Jason Yates specializes in making your hunting experience just right for you by using badlands hunting backpacks with its comfort, performance, and durability. They also have a great selection of Archery Sights to help you to be a better hunter. For more information about Badland Backpacks visit BasinArcheryShop.com.

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How To prepare for Hunting Season

Hunting is and important outdoor activity and it requires a lot of preparation for each season. The way the hunting goes is that you need to prepare for the hunting season and then make sure that you can enjoy catching the deer or the turkey without any hassles as that is usually the toughest part of the hunting.

Lack of preparation will mar your chances of getting a good catch and that in turn will disappoint you no end. So it is always better to prepare for the hunting season at the earnest and do you due diligence.

The most important thing to look for is the equipment that you need to use and that means the wooden stand that you use or the special paint on the stand needs to be repainted.

There are other things that need to be taken care of. The decoy stuff for deer and turkey is a must and then comes the firearms and other hunting equipment. Make sure that your rifles and bows are in proper condition. You should check if your firearms license needs renewal. If you have never used the rifle or it is a new rifle then make sure that you have had enough practice otherwise it will tough to take aim and shoot.

The area where you will hunt also needs to be planned and earmarked. If you are going to hunt on a private land then get the landowners permission early on. Also if you going to hunt on public land then make sure that you have the proper area marked so as to not to be encroached by other hunters.

Most of the hunters start preparing for the season very early on so make sure that you connect with other hunters so that if you need to go into hunting with them.

To be in good luck and having a fair chance of having a good hunt make sure that you have practice on the equipment because otherwise as a beginner you are liable to fail.

About the Author

The birding enthusiasts will need to do digiscoping with nikon binoculars or the hunting enthusiasts can choose the nikon monarch binoculars camo

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Fishing The Flats

What's the best tasting fish in the salt water? The flat ones are, hands down, a winner. Not only are they choice for the table, but also they provide a challenge to the angler. They are unique in their feeding habits and sort of slow about biting. If you've ever seen your cork or bobber seem to be hung on something and very slowly get lower in the water, you may have a flounder about to suck up your bait. I'll tell you what occurs in the winter with these fish. During the summer they have spread out to backwater areas, swamps, back-bays, and just about everywhere. But let the cold winds blow and they become travelers. With each successive norther, they move closer to the gulf and deep water. So, the trick in early winter or late fall is to find them somewhere on a road to the gulf. Channel edgers are a good bet. They like dead shrimp, but if it's cold, you had better peel it. This is because cold water causes what I call 'sore mouths'. 'Sore mouths' simply means slow and finicky biting. You need to be patient in the winter since flounder will test your stamina. If you use a slide cork that can be adjusted, you have the right tool. You try it over and over, deeper and deeper until you see the cork start to lay over. This means that your weight and leader are on the bottom, a good way to tell how deep the water is. Measure the distance from your lead to your hook, add three inches to that distance and drag the cork up at that measure. Now your bait is three to four inches off the bottom and fair game for a hungry flatfish flounder. That's why a flounder has both eyes on one side. He doesn't need to inspect the bottom, just needs to lay on it.

About the Author

Captain Mike Scott is a retired Texas Gulf fishing guide and commercial fisherman. As Mike puts it "If you want to catch South Texas Saltwater fish, contact me." Please feel free to contact Mike for any fishing questions through AlphaLane or by using his site email in our search page. Use Mike's CID which is 119 or simply search on category 'fishing'.

Spring Bass Fishing - Catchin Them Goin To Bed!

Cold fronts disappearing, green grass returning, flowers blooming, and groundhogs dodging their own shadow are all sure signs that Spring is near! Warm days, cool nights, maybe even a St. Patrick's Day pinch or rumors of chocolate bunnies. These bring back so many memories of childhood, growing up in a rural farming community in north-central Florida.

There was one more sign that would mark the start of a new season without a doubt. Trucks, pulling boats, lined up at the boat ramp on the east shore of Lake George FL at the butt-crack of dawn, beginning the first of many quests of the year for that trophy largemouth Bass. Highly elusive and instinctual, it's by far the most coveted freshwater fish that has ever graced the "trophy wall" of any angler.

Bass fishing in this area my whole life, I was fortunate enough (because of favorable climate conditions) to fish for this species all year long. Notably, the action would significantly increase as the water temperature made it's turn upward. Along with that change in water temperature came an increase in vegetation, the start of the bedding season, and rightfully so, an increase in fishing pressure.

The southwestern shore of the lake would always experience the rise in water temperature first. This was due to extended exposure to the sun. As the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, this area of the lake remained exposed from sunrise through the hottest parts of the day. Lake George is also 9 miles wide at it's narrowest point, separating Marion and Volusia Counties. Lakes of smaller volume will have the same result, but in larger bodies of water the change will be more drastic and remain that way for an extended period of time.

It was on this southwestern shore that bass would begin preparing "beds" for laying their eggs. Now, by beds I mean a small pocket in the sandy bottom usually located in less than 3 feet of water. The female and male bass will take turns fanning with their tails to create this shallow indention in the lake bottom. After both prepare the bed it is now left to the female to maintain it and ultimately lay her eggs in it. There will only be one "sow" bass and up to 4 or 5 "buck" bass occupying one particular bed. Of course the males compete for fertilizing rights, as the female stays close to protect her prize nest.

"Okay. Enough with the biology lesson," you say? Well, to understand this fish you must know why it does what it does. You find this out and "where" this fish are at this time of year becomes pretty easy to determine. Even then, only certain presentations and bait will be the most effective in landing one of these fish. Now, on to locating these critters!

I recommend scouting an area like this thoroughly before you plan your "fishing trip." A smaller, light vessel makes it much easier to navigate the shallows. I recommend a flat-bottom aluminum boat, Carolina Skiff, or skip jack. One with a poling/spotting platform is also quite handy. Poling around the shallows will take a while but it ensures that you don't spook fish and possibly ruin their bedding areas. If in grassy, highly vegetated areas, or covered in lily pads, look for wide, open pockets within these areas. Then keep an eye out for 2-3 feet circles of white sand with a pocket in the middle of it. A good pair of polarized sunglasses does the trick for sighting these areas through the glare of the water's surface. Active beds can be identified by their freshly "fanned" appearance and when approached stealthily, you can usually see the female bass on the bed. Pay attention to this as it is important to only fish active beds. Fish that are spooked off the bed will return later when the threat decreases. After finding active beds mark them with a small buoy about 6 feet away from the bed so you don't disturb it. This will make it easier to find these areas when you come back with your rod and reel!

Now let's talk about bait and tackle for these fish. There are hundreds of artificials, live baits, and other tackle that frequent a bass anglers tackle box. The first instinct of the traditional bass angler is to tie on a rubber worm and dance it in front of the big-mouthed monster! When in fact, the last thing on the female bass' mind is feeding. She is protecting her eggs from the dangers of underwater life. The most effective bait to catch her is known as the bullhead minnow, or pimephales vigilax. The bullhead is a natural enemy of the Largemouth Bass. It's primary food source is fish eggs. They absolutely love the bass beds and in turn, the bass utterly despise the bullhead! It's the perfect bait for the job!

Remember earlier when I spoke of the "sow" and "buck" bass? Well, time for one more biology lesson! The female will be bigger than the male bass 90% of the time. She will also be the most lethargic. As mentioned before, her feeding has slowed greatly and her energy has been conserved for breeding purposes. The male bass on the other hand, are quite frisky, a traditional Spring characteristic! They are usually the first fish caught off the bed and the strike will be violent and explosive! They usually range in size from 2-6 lbs. The female is the one with the girth and weight that would look awesome above your mantle! Be patient and never leave the bed until you have caught at least two fish.

A medium action rod no shorter than 6 feet in length, a spinning or bait-casting reel equipped with 14lb test (min.) fluorocarbon low visibility line is optimal for best performance. The bullhead minnow should be rigged free line, on a 1/0 live bait hook, hooked under the dorsal fin. Make sure not to handle the bait in excess as this shortens the life span thus decreasing activity. You'll want to present the bait with a fragile, low splash cast directly behind the bed and reel up until you feel it drop into the pocket. Now wait...sometimes it takes a long time. The cast, your approach, or boat noise might have spooked the fish and you'll have to give them time to come back. As said before, the male will usually hit first like he's on a mission! The female bass, not into feeding at this point, approaches from a different angle. She will pick the bait up with her mouth, crush it to kill it, swim off the bed and drop it. This process takes just a few seconds and is very easily missed. The trick is to keep just a little slack in your line and watch your line closely. You don't want to rush your hook-set, but when you see the line move, count to three, lay into her, and hold on for the ride!

These methods have been used by bass guides for more than 30 years and have proven themselves as a high-return freshwater fishing tactic. Remember that the bass guides themselves have devoted long hours in perfecting their own means within this method and it comes with large amounts of field research and determination. There are people who pay big money to have someone hook up a bullhead minnow and set them up on big bass hot-spot. So to all of you bass guides, I'm sorry! The cat's out of the bag! Now to you readers, get out there and catch the bass of a lifetime! To you dads out there, take your kid fishing. All of my experience can attributed to my father, who knew the importance of taking his son fishing. Some of the best moments in my life were spent with worm guts on my fingers, and laughing with my dad and uncles as we pulled in the fish.

I hope that this was helpful to all of you fishermen and I hope to see you out on the water! Keep fishing!

"Give a boy a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a boy to fish, you feed him for a lifetime."

About the Author

I am a 30 year old, married, musician/songwriter that enjoys hunting, fishing, and spending time with my wife and three beautiful children.

Key West Fishing

Fishing in Key West is an imperative business for people there. You can dive in the water with snorkel, fish or swim simply about wherever along the public areas. You may observe several fishermen fishing in and wading out in the flats - a very inexpensive method in enjoying some of the finest sports fishing. All you require is a trained fishing guide for flats, the Back Country and near shore waters of Key West. Plenty of various kinds of boating and fishing charters anticipate teaching you fishing for their livelihood.

You are required to be fun-loving and stress-free to gear up for a catch at Key West. Representatives who guarantee this sport truly make their day with you and provide an opportunity to fish in the Key West, utilizing their novel charters. They provide information about your fishnet catch by pleasing you and your friends and family. You can catch a bluefish, several various pompanos fish and Jack Crevalle. You can as well enjoy with tarpons, or be pleased with few little Back fin tunas and make act with king fish.

In March the waters are warm and fishing offshore has been a bit off-track. At the start of spring, Tarpon (silver big eyed fish) fishing is allowed in shallows of Back Country Flats off the Key West. You can also catch Barracudas, Jacks, Permit, Redfish, Bonefish and Cobia. The most excellent part is you need to have a happy heart at sea for Key West fishing.

The geographical position and outline of Florida Keys provide anglers with many fishing chances. With Atlantic Ocean on south side and Gulf of Mexico on north side, it is not surprising why numerous fishing fans gather to follow a vision of a permit on fly or in catching a few fresh fish for dinner. The Florida Keys series of island flow west and south from the Miami area of Florida. The waters adjacent the isles provide many kinds of homes for fish. Shallow water area or Flats, surround loads of isles and extend into Gulf of Mexico. Anglers find this location to be most exceptional on days during the annual tarpon migration while during slow summer days you may have the entire isle to yourself.

Best time for going to Key West Tarpon Fishing is anytime you get a line in water. Tarpon are located all throughout the year in these beautiful waters which surround the Key West. Mostly the best time of day in catching the tarpon in Key West is really angler independent. With no doubt, fishing is going to be better during early morning or the later afternoon hours. Tides tend to fluctuate with the moon phases and tarpon can definitely be tidal feeders. It will be a ideal time when moon is coming up or going down. However as said, don't count for fishing tarpon in night. Most of the guides generally run night trips and have stated that tarpon fishing during night can be much enhanced than during the daytime. Tarpon are little difficult to land, however as much as hookups; it has been observed that nighttime can certainly outweigh daytime hookups. Not to worry as you'll still be able of seeing their aerial assaults, yet you get the added expectancy from being able of hearing them before seeing them if you're quiet.

The annual tarpon migration floats through Key West in start of March and stay around till July. April to June are premier months, however simply be attentive as there are plenty of anglers on water during those times. It isn't uncommon to see massive schools of these huge tarpon in those months.

About the Author

Want to have more information about Key West Fishing, please visit Key West Fishing and Key West Tarpon Fishing at key-west-fishing.org

Sensible fly fishing tackle tips for the complete novice

The real secret for buying fly fishing tackle is to try your best to have a well balanced combination, that is suited to the type of species of fish you are going after. If fishing for trout then look for rods, reel and line that will be best suited for the trout, the same goes for salmon or even sea bass.

Lets start with rods - Fly rods come in all sorts of weights and lengths, and commonly denoted by an 'AFTM' number, this this tells you the weight of fly line that the rod is best designed for. If you use the wrong line and overload the rod, or cast a line heavier than the rod is designed for, you can cause the rod serious damage. The other extreme is also a problem, with too light a line casting becomes very hard, the light line will not bend and move the rod enough to make it cast properly, so it becomes inflexible and has no whip to cast far out. Placement of the fly is of course the aim, to present the flt precisely were the fish are feeding, so you need a good casting range. It is therefore essential that you buy a rod that is suitable for your uses, and that it's matched correctly to the weight of fly line. The following should help to guide you:

Usage Rod Length Line Weight

Streams or Small Lakes 8ft - 8ft 6ins AFTM 5 - 6 Lakes 8ft 6ins - 9ft 6ins AFTM 7 - 8 Large Lakes, Reservoirs 9ft - 10ft AFTM 8 - 9

You can buy Fly rods from around £30 for beginners, prices can go over £150 for makes like Hardy or Orvis, but that's for when you advance a little, and hopefully become hooked (sorry) on fly fishing, I suggest you go for something like a shakespeare priced around £35 to get you going.

The next basic piece of kit is the reel, it's really only a line carrier but it must have certain capabilities. First it needs to at least be able to hold your fly line plus 50 metres of backing, second it needs to suit the rod as we've already discussed, so the size and weight is important. Third it needs to be smooth running,sturdy but light and it must be simple to maintain. You will need to ensure the reel is in good working order, so the reel has to be easily dismantled to clean and oil, nothing destroys line and the reel than grit or mud. But all said and done it's really just the line carrier, but that does not make it any less important. Once again you do not need to spend a fortune on the reel, in fact a good shakespeare, greys or mustang reel will do the job at around the £25 to £40 mark. It's important that you buy the reel with a spare spool or two, this is so you can keep floating line on one and sinking on the other, you can easily then just swop spools as and when you need.

Fly Line is an area that can lead to confusion, don't let it! basically as a beginner the only two you need to worry about, the floating and sinking line .Fly lines in come in a range of densities, floating, neutral density to slow, medium and fast sinking. Staring out we can just go for two, a floater for for surface feeding fish, and you guessed it a sinker for bottom feeders. When you buy the line think about the species you are going for, in fact you might consider buying both floating and sinking so you have a choice of fish to go for, and are always prepared, think forward.

The first you need to know something about is the weight forward line, the line is heaviest at the fly end or front end, and the back half(nearest the rod tip) of the line having a very thin running line, this type of line is easier to cast diastance. Second is the double tape,this type of line has the thinnest and lightest parts at the ends, it's heavier in the middle.This makes it hard to cast distances, and you need to practice a technique to cast effectively.The general idea is to cast so the middle lands first and the fly end floats and settles on the surface, this allows the fly to mimic the real fly and tempt surface feeding fish. Both lines by the way are around 30 metres in length.

Remember the type of line must correspond to the rods ATM number such as AFTM 5/6 or AFTM 7/8 etc, what is needed is our weight forward line to be the higher of the two numbers, the double taper lower. For example if your rod is the most common and popular sized 9 ft AFTM 7/8 we would buy an AFTM 8 weight forward sinker, plus an AFTM 7 double tapered floater, this ensures you will not overload the rod.

For prices I'd go for something in the £15 - £20 area, this should get a reasonably good quality line, also a spool of around 50 metres of backing cost around £3 - £5.

Hopefully this gives you a simple explanation of quite a complex subject, always ask before buying, normally good fishing shops has someone to hand who can give good advice. In fact my brother Roly has a fishing shop in Herne bay and will help out with any advice you need, contact him on 01227 372517, he's had the shop for 20 years so knows what he's talking about.

By the way if you are light on cash then you can pick up some excellent fly fishing tackle on eBay, you could do a crafty thing, get all the advice and prices from the fishing shop then see if you can buy cheaper on ebay. Only do this if you have a light budget to get started with, remember the shop owner is also trying to make a living. One word of warning always deal with ebay suppliers who have good feedback, at least 25+ positive.

That's it for the essentials, you will of course you need more items to actually start fishing like the fly, this is a whole subject on it's own. Please save this article, as my next article will be the best flies for the beginner to use, in time I will also write how to tie your own flies. Bookmark this article and call back, I will add further fly fishing related subjects, in the mean time HAPPY FISHING.

About the Author

My names Frank and I've been angler since the age of nine, builting up a wealth of experience. My brother Roly is also into fishing owning a fishing shop in Herne Bay. If you want him to quote you on tackle or just get advice please contact him on 01227 372517. To get some great bargain tackle deals please also go to Franks Fishing Tackle Site Thank you and happy fishing

A Story About Northern Pike by Gus Thomas

It was about 430 AM in a fly in Canada lake. It was light at this time as we were very far north. It was going to be another great Northern Pike fishing day. If you have not heard yet, Northern Pike are some of the most exciting fish to catch.

Well, by 5 AM we had 3 large pike in the boat. It was a great start to an even better day. By lunchtime we had boated over 20 of these monster fish.

About the Author

Just another fishing story.

Carp Fishing Tackle by Thomas the Kid

So me and my friend go on a small fishing trip to this tiny .3 acre pond that looks like more of a swamp than a pond. Anyway, do not let that discourage you.

The point of this story is that it just takes one big fish in the pond to make it worthwhile. We knew there were huge carp in there. By huge I mean 3 feet long and around 25 lbs or so. Any way, we got all of our Carp Fishing Tackle and went on the way.

A few hours later we finally hooked onto the mammoth carp we have seen so many times. Only this time, he broke our line. Oh well, perhaps next time.

About the Author

Just another of my fishing stories.

Carp Fishing Tackle