Trout Fishing Tips

Can you remember the last great Trout fishing time you had? I can remember a number of times when fishing Lake Michigan for lake Trout or steelhead trout. I live in a small town on Lake Michigan called Pentwater, Michigan and have fished Lake Michigan, Lake Huron, and Lake Superior for trout over the years.



I started out about 30 to 35 years ago in the Northport area fishing for lake trout. These Lake Trout were in 100 to 125 feet of water. This was before the introduction of salmon so the idea of down riggers was not even thought of and at the time I didn't even have wire line as that came later for me. We made our first downriggers. We used 8 or 10 inch pulleys and wire that some of the fisherman used to troll with. I don't even remember how we mounted them but they did work. We would take an open faced spinning reel with 12 to 15 pound test line and then attach cowbells onto the end of the line with a lure 18 to 24 inches behind the cowbells. To get the cowbells down on the bottom we put a three-way swivel between the main line and the cowbells, then we would attach a 18 inch leader with five bell sinkers to the three-way swivel. This would usually get the bait down to the lake bottom.



Lake trout normally stay near the bottom of the Great Lakes so as long as we could feel the bell sinkers tick the bottom we knew we were in the right place for Lake Trout.



Cowbells were used as a attractor to attract lake trout. They consisted of a string of blades 18 to 24 inches in length and the blades were usually silver in color. You drag these along the bottom with the sinkers kicking up a little sand and you can catch Lake Trout.



That was tough fishing back then but today with down riggers and a great selection of lures and all of our new electronic equipment it is much easier. By the way even with all that trouble we did catch Lake trout and after that the salmon were introduced, but that is another story.



One last note about our trout fishing sport. We must take additional steps to protect our great fishery. That means not only impose strict rules and regulations on the companies of the world today to protect our environment but also see to it that our governments enact strict regulations on the shipping companies, so they do not release any evasive aquatics into our waterways, such as the Great Lakes ( the world's largest supply of freshwater).



Have a nice day and catch lots of fish.





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E. Killian is a expert trout fishermen. He gained great knowledge of trout in his 60 plus years experience. So if you would like to benefit from his experience on trout fishing than I suggest you visit the website below:

http://www.troutfishingtackletips.com

Fishing in Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge

This 34,000-acre haven for wildlife is located on the upper Texas gulf coast.



The meandering bayous of Anahuac NWR cut through ancient floodplains creating expanses of coastal marsh and prairie bordering Galveston Bay. Prevailing breezes bring in moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, resulting in high humidity and an average annual rainfall of over 51 inches. Coastal marshes act as a huge sponge, holding and siphoning water from tropical storm tides and upstream flooding. These marshes, combined with the coastal prairie, provide a home for an abundance of wildlife, from migratory birds to alligators.



The refuge offers excellent saltwater and freshwater angling and crabbing opportunities. Six miles of shoreline along East Galveston Bay are accessible by boat or wade fishing. The East Bay Bayou Tract offers freshwater fishing opportunities from 3 bank piers and an accessible bridge. Two boat ramps provide access to East Bay and Oyster Bayou. Boating is not permitted in inland waters.



Saltwater Fishing

Some of the best wade fishing in Texas can be found on the refuge shorelines along East Galveston Bay. Whether you are wading or launching a boat, anglers looking for speckled Trout, redfish and southern flounder can enjoy free access 24 hours a day on the refuge. Two boat ramps provide access to East Bay and Oyster Bayou. * Unless otherwise noted, boating is not permitted on inland waters of the refuge except for the boat canal at the Oyster Bayou Boat Ramp.*



Freshwater Fishing

Three fishing piers along the banks of East Bay Bayou and a wooden bridge offer anglers without a boat an opportunity to catch freshwater species like crappie, large mouth bass, gar, bowfin, channel and blue catfish. Small, non-motorized boats may be launched along East Bay Bayou at the canoe launch.



Amenities: Food nearby / Lodging nearby / Bait & tackle nearby / Maps available / Public rest facilities / Hiking and nature trails / Canoeing and kayaking / Information center / No motors for boating*



*Motor size restrictions.



Address

Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge

Managed by the Texas Chenier Plain NWR Complex. 509 Washington Ave. (P.O. Box 278), Anahuac, TX 77514; (409) 267-3337; Office hours, 7:30 am-4:00 pm, Monday-Friday.



Directions to the Refuge:

Houston: Take I 10 East to Exit #812 (TX 61 or Anahuac/Hankamer exit). Head south on 61 for nearly four miles to the stop sign. Continue through. The road becomes Hwy. 562. Continue for approximately 8.5 miles to the fork in the road, which is FM 1985. At the fork, turn left and continue for an additional 4 miles to the main entrance of the refuge. Turn right on the easement road for another 3 miles. Signs will be posted.



Beaumont: Take I 10 West. Exit # 829 (Hwy. 73/124 or Winnie/Galveston exit). Head south on Hwy 124 for approximately 11 miles to FM 1985. Turn right onto FM 1985 and head west for nearly 11 miles to the main entrance of the refuge. Turn left on the easement road for another 3 miles. Signs will be posted.



Refuge is open 24 hours per day. Nearest community is Anahuac. Nearest highway is Hwy. 124.



Jay Bryce is a community manger at iFished.com. iFished.com has fishing and local information for over 40,000 lakes and fishing areas in the United States. Information includes current weather and forecasts, best times fishing charts, maps, local businesses, Fishing Store and more. iFished.com also has a large library of fishing videos, current fishing reports and fishing articles to help you catch more fish.

Fishing In The Smokies

You came to the Great Smoky Mountains to fish. You know that year-round fly-fishing is permitted in the beautiful streams of the National Park, but did you know that you can begin fishing 30 minutes before official sunrise, and must finish no later than thirty minutes after official sunset? Take this quick quiz to learn a few other rules and regulations so that you’re ready for a day of relaxing fishing.

Q: True or False: In a single day of fishing, you can keep up to five caught trout or small mouth bass.

A: True. Although the Park’s main attraction and only species native to the Southeastern United States is the Appalachian Brook Trout, it’s also common to catch wild, stream-bred rainbow trout and small mouth bass. Fishermen can keep up to five fish and any combination thereof, as long as the fish are at least seven inches long. However, once you catch five, you must stop fishing for the day.

Q: Which species of fish is federally protected within the park?

a. Spotfin Chub
b. Duskytail Darter
c. Smoky Madtom
d. Yellowfin Madtom
e. All of the above

A: (e) All of the above! All of these federally protected species live near lower Abrams creek, but if you happen to catch one, make sure to safely release it back into the water.

Q: In which Park stream can you NOT fish?

a. Anthony Creek Watershed
b. Lynn Camp Prong
c. Cosby Creek Watershed
d. Cataloochee Creek
e. Forney Creek

A: (b) Lynn Camp Prong. Fishing is allowed in all streams in the Tennessee side of the Park, except for the Lynn Camp Prong upstream and its confluence with the Thunderhead Prong. A full map of prime fishing locations, regulations, and other details can be obtained online or at any Park Visitor Center.

Q: True or False: There are no regulations on rod size and lure type within the Park.

A: False! Only hand-held rods and single-hook artificial flies or Lures can be used. Dropper flies are allowed at up to two flies per leader. Bait fishing is strictly forbidden. Be aware that all fishing tackle and equipment is subject to inspection at any time.

Q: True or False: You need a fishing license or permit in the Great Smoky National Park.

A: True. Either Tennessee or North Carolina must issue a fishing license, and anglers must be at least 13 years old. No trout stamp is required. Special licenses are available for those over 65. Licenses and permits are not available for purchase within the park, but you can obtain them in nearby towns or online. Special permits are required for fishing within Gatlinburg or Cherokee.

Q: What is the most popular way to serve trout?

a. Raw
b. Sun-baked
c. Pan-fried
d. On a bed of rice

A: (c) Pan-fried. Serving trout the old-fashioned way is a delicious ending to a day full of fishing. To prepare the trout, first cut off the head and gut, but avoid removing the skin and scales. Roll the trout in flour along with a mix of your favorite herbs and spices. Fry the trout at medium to medium-high heat until the skin is golden brown and the flesh is firm and flaky. The backbone should come out easily once the fish is thoroughly cooked. Be sure not to overcook – and enjoy!

Being informed and learning the rules is the starting point for a fun and safe day of fishing in the Smokies. Before you start angling, be sure to become familiar with the Park’s guidelines on water safety. Good luck!

And of course don’t forget that nothing can make fishing in the Smokies more pleasant than going back to a beautiful cabin for a good night’s sleep, so please visit our website at www.patriotgetaways.com to find a perfect post-fishing lair.

The Right Marine Carpet for Ski Boats, Fishing Boats, and Pontoon Boats

Usually, a ski boat’s carpet wears out in specific areas long before a boat needs the entire carpet to be replaced. Sometimes all that is needed is a section of carpet to be replaced and saves time and money. If the difference between the replacement carpet and the existing carpet is such that it keeps you up at night, you may opt for replacing the entire carpet.

Often a boat’s carpet is glued to the floor (typically found in fishing boats, pontoons, wooden floor craft, and ski boats). Replacing this type of carpet requires new marine grade boat carpet that will also be glued down with special marine carpet adhesive.

New marine carpet can match most previously installed boat carpet designs, but you can change your boat’s look completely with a new style, design, or color. You can get creative and replace only the worn out areas with accent-colored sections. It’s a choice to consider and boatcarpet.com can help you.

You must choose marine grade carpet, not carpet from the flooring store down the street, no matter how persuasive the salesman! Premium 20 oz offers a Berber texture that adds a different style to your boat, while Classic 20 oz is a cut-pile design that is very plush. Classic 16 oz and 20 oz are the industry standards for most boat manufacturers, where Premium 20 oz is found in higher end boats where styling is more important.

Boatcarpet.com supplies a great number of quality options from the most basic to the ultra lavish for the choice feeling under foot and bodies. Because marine carpet is designed and manufactured for water use, it will get wet, sandy, and dirty. If used for fishing, marine grade carpet will clean up fish blood and bait odors and stains well, in addition to enduring the sun bleaching-out the color.

Using the boat carpet color guide narrow the options to simplify the selection process. Start the process of choosing new boat carpet and request a boat carpet sample. Place samples in your boat before you purchase to ensure that you are getting the best color and style you want (not only do computer monitors vary, so does the lighting and surroundings—even the different elements in your boat will affect how the color appears). Sort by color, style, weight, and texture by using the Web site at www.boatcarpet.com

Pontoon boats are designed to transport lots of people comfortably for long trips on the water. Pontoon boats are used for all sorts of pleasure from water sports to just touring the lake. Pontoon boat manufacturers have developed improved performance and enhanced interiors including many of the comforts of home.

A pontoon boat floor can have a luxurious feel under bare feet that home carpet provides, plus endurance for more concentrated wear typically the replacement carpet will have a subtle pattern. This helps to disguise traffic areas and staining.

Shop superior boat carpet selections and see how easy it is to keep your boat looking new and appealing.

15 Carp fishing Paste Bait Tips!

Do your big carp catches need a boost?! Paste has always been outstanding carp bait and many carp anglers over-look so many great ways of applying it on hooks, rigs and exploiting it in many other ways. Why miss out on exploiting very crafty methods to fool very many more big wary carp! Here are 15 essential big fish paste tips to stimulate your thinking and your catches!

Paste baits have always been superior in many ways to boilies because they have no barrier to the release of all their attraction and in fact can be so effective in this release that they melt into the water pretty much completely; all this soluble bait is rapidly dispersed in the water and pulls the fish magnificently to your bait!

1. Fishing over paste baits means you can fish over broken down bait that more wary and more experienced big fish can very often find much more comfortable feeding with confidence over than with whole pellets and boilies!

3. Paste baits are very handy as they are sticky and can be moulded around baits, hooks, leads and anything else you like so it is easily delivered by many means that carp will not have experienced much in the recent past.

4. You can use the dough from proprietary bait company base mixes and other ingredients to make your own homemade baits for relatively little cost compared to buying silly little amounts of paste at stupid prices!

5. You can easily begin by using readymade paste from bait companies that match your free readymade baits and immediately practice using pastes and catching on them!

6. Many anglers only seem how to make a fishing paste out of scalded trout or halibut pellets for instance, but this is the tip of the tip of the ice-berg! Dough type baits are one of the easiest and quickest carp baits to make quite apart from being exceptionally effective, and they can be made from the cheapest ingredients and still keep working for big fish (and you can make a unique and different bait every single time!)

7. You can vary characteristics of your bait so it is harder, softer, less or more resilient to nuisance fish like roach, more or less buoyant, have unusual textures and incorporate all kinds of things for special effects including micro pellets and crushed seeds and nuts like hemp and tiger nuts.

8. A very basic bread flake and yeast extract bait was common beginning for many carp anglers 30 years ago getting more into catching carp, and such very simple baits still work and prove you never need to spend a fortune on expensive baits!

9. To make a carp fishing bait dough a little unusual or alternative is very easy but to make a great bait dough takes some knowledge of carp senses and specific substances and ingredients and their components but you can make small economical amounts of bait using aquatic feeds for catfish, cold water fish and koi for instance.

10. A basic starter mix can be made by adding crushed aniseed-flavour Red Band bird food, crushed Koi feed or halibut pellet powder together, with eggs or even water in the mix.

11. The legendary bird food additive called Robin Red is great in soft pastes at high or low levels and there are alternative such as Cypry Red from Willis Worms among others!

12. You can base your homemade baits on proprietary base mixes with all the trimmings such as liquid foods, betaine, butyric acid, garlic concentrate, whey protein and casein, fish meals, enhancers and sweeteners like Talin and flavours and so on, or get all your ingredients from a supermarket often much cheaper!

13. Using odd-shaped soft baits gets around the fact that most wary carp find it very much easier to avoid and reject machine-rolled uniform sized and shaped boilies and pellets!

14. You can make your homemade paste baits on the bank so they are even fresher than most readymade baits can ever be - which is a very important point!

15. If you begin with experimenting with soft bait recipes which contain a high level of soluble sugars, marine, insect, fish, liver, yeast and milk and vegetable proteins for instance and your baits will release an explosion of carp attraction far quicker than your friends boilies - so you can expect even more action!

It is a fact today on many carp waters that the so-called smaller species have grown big by consuming expensive readymade baits used in such volumes. This change of behaviours and dietary preferences in many waters shows the impact of the nutritional attraction of boilies and this attraction and your catches can be seriously multiplied by boosting certain levels of substances in your baits!

This especially includes the concentrations and levels of very specific natural attractors, feeding triggers and appetite stimulators for example. For insider information on homemade bait making and recipes, see my dedicated bait secrets site Baitbigfish now; why not improve your catches for life!

By Tim Richardson.

Now why not seize this moment to improve your catches for life with these unique fishing bibles: "BIG CARP FLAVOURS FEEDING TRIGGERS AND CARP SENSES EXPLOITATION SECRETS!" "BIG CARP AND CATFISH BAIT SECRETS!" And "BIG CARP BAIT SECRETS!" For these and much more now visit: http://www.baitbigfish.com the home of the unique world-wide proven homemade bait making and readymade bait success secrets bibles!

12 Essential Things For your Camping Trip

There is now a vast array of camping gear that a person can lug into the back country and back out again. What is really essential so that the experience is the outdoors, not the high tech gear? This article discusses twelve items that I think are essential in an outdoor adventure.

1) Shelter

At first this one seems obvious. But it need not be a tent. I have been on minamalist camping trips where we only took a tarp and some rope to use as shelter. Now this was calculated since it was past the bug season in my area. It was a nice change from carrying a tent around.

In general I would recommend using a good quality tent . One that doesn't leak, or that the zippers don't break on. The tent has to provide you with two main roles. Keeping you dry in a thunderstorm and letting you sleep free from bugs and other small critters. Good zippers are important!

Depending on your trip you will have to decide on size and weight.

2) Sleeping Bag

You have a choice of synthetic or down filled bag, and a whole series of shapes. Rectangular to mummy. The synthetic bags will keep you somewhat warm if they get wet, but they require more room than down bag. Goose down is lighter and packs smaller than a synthetic bag, but is nearly useless if it is wet.

Choose a temperature rating that suits your sleeping temperature and the coldest overnight temperatures you expect. Using a 3 season bag, winter camping can make for a sleepless night constantly shivering. The proper temperature bag is a joy to sleep in on a cold night but it is hard to get out of on a frosty morning.

3) Food and Water

Being out of doors in even the mildest of adventures, you will burn many calories. The food you choose needs to be nutritious. If you are back packing weight becomes a huge issue. For years the staple of the back-packer was dried or freeze dried meals. Light, nutritious and easy to prepare. Today some of these meals even taste good.

If you are car camping or canoeing you can afford a bit more weight and may opt for less dehydrated food and more regular food.

Water is heavy. You can carry a certain amount but if you are on a long trek into the back country you will probably have to find water. Water sources can be tainted with microbial, parasitic, or chemical pollutants. One option is to boil your water for 10 minutes. This kills most of the fauna in the water but does nothing if it is polluted by chemicals.

You can also take chemicals with you to purify the water. In extreme cases there are small backpack filtration systems that you can carry with you. Be cautious about your water since a case of diarrhea in the woods can spoil you trip.

4) Stove

Cooking your food and boiling your water become a prime importance after a long days hike. The old campfire although nostalgic and useful in a pinch is not the best solution for backwoods camping. There is always a greater risk of forest fires from a camp fire than from a stove.

There are many camp stoves on the market, using many types of fuels. Propane or butane stoves are the easiest to use but you have to pack out the used fuel cylinders. I prefer naphtha stoves but they are a little more difficult to use but give a good heat and the fuel, if used wisely, will last a good while.

Propane and Butane there is always a chance the cylinder may leak and you loose your fuel. Naphtha is a liquid you keep in a sealed aluminum bottle. A little less chance of leaking.

Visit a camping equipment store to compare models or research online .

5) Cook Gear / Mess Kit

Simply the pots and pans and plates, knife,spoon and fork you use for cooking with. The best sets are stainless steel and pack inside each other. I built my mess kit by piecing together things from a discount store. It is very simple and contains a cup, bowl /pot, knife fork and spoon, a small plate and a lid. Everything packs inside the bowl and the lid snaps on.

6) Sleeping Pad

The sleeping pad provides both insulation and cushioning from the ground. The old closed cell foam pads worked well but were a bit thin on the ground. They don't soak up water and they don't pack down very well. You end up with a big blue or orange roll on top of your pack. Cheap and serviceable.

State of the art is the new Thermarest and similar pads. They are open cell foam (like a sponge) that is covered in an air tight fabric sleeve with an air inlet. When you let the air out they pack down quite small. These pads provide good insulation and good cushion. The only drawback is if the outer shell is punctured it doesn't work anymore.

7) Hiking Boots

I am a bit old fashioned on hiking boots. I still prefer heavy durable leather boots with a toothsome sole. I believe that if you are scrambling over rocks all day that the leather will stand up better. If you are not putting your boots to a nasty rocky test the newer nylon leather combinations with a good vibram sole should work well.

You depend on your feet so much when you are hiking it is better buy a boot that is solid and durable even if it costs more. I do like Vasque boots for their design and durability. It is worth finding something that is comfortable for you. Break in you new boots a month before you go on any big trip.

8) First Aid Kit

Small and portable with things suitable for the area that you will be camping in. Band-aids, tweezers, antiseptics, pain relief, blister patches etc. The most common injuries are cuts, scrapes, bites, slivers, burns, blisters, aching cramping muscles. Try to at least cover these mishaps and any others that fit your trip.

9)Back Pack

This is what you carry all your stuff in. They come with internal frames, external frames, no frames at all. For Hiking I prefer an internal frame with good hip and shoulder padding. Again you usually get what you pay for.

Carrying a well made pack, with the right weight in it, is still working but it is hardly a chore. An over loaded pack or one that doesn't fit you can be gruelling if you have to carry it for 6 or 8 hours a day. If you can, try on packs with loads in them in the store. Don't forget the bigger the pack the more stuff you are likely to take. Good working zippers and tie strings are important if you don't want to loose things.

10) Rain Gear

Sometime it will rain when you are backpacking. I don't like the heat and the sweating when I am in a full rain suit so I prefer a poncho. It also stores smaller and can double as a ground sheet if I need it. A full rain suit in a coastal rainy climate might be worth while.

11) Hot / Cold Clothing and Hat

Outdoor clothing has developed both style and functionality. Visit a local outfitters or search on the internet for the best clothes. For Summer trips I will concentrate on cool clothes but will toss in a sweater and a windshell for chilly nights. Look at the weather forecast for when and where you will be. You may have to add a bit. If you have got it you can put it on, but you have to carry it.

Dress in layers so you can peal off as you get hot. A broad brimmed Hat keeps the bugs off as well as the sun out of your eyes. It also helps prevent heat stroke.

12) Sunscreen / Bug repellent

We should all think sunscreen now. Imagine falling asleep on the rocks after lunch, soaking up the sun with no shirt on. The the next morning finding you have a nasty sunburn and having to carry you pack again on burnt shoulders. Use suncreen, it also helps long term prevention of skin cancer.

Bug repellent depends on the time of year. In my area from the end of September to end of April is a good time to not need repellent. The other months it is a must, to keep your sanity. It is better to have it than not.

That is my list of essential things for a camping trip. There are tons of other items that I do take, but these are the ones that I find most important.


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David Robertson makes his living as an artist blacksmith, but has been an avid camper for 30 years. For more tips and suggestions about camping visit his website. www.e-webincome.com/vasque/outdoor-index.htm

Video Source: Youtube

Glenn Bongartz

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