Fishing

The best times and conditions for fishing

There is no one answer to this question. It will depend on a variety of things such as the type of fish you are fishing for, time of the year and where you are fishing. But the one thing that can be said is that you need to know the ideal conditions for your particular type of fishing if you want to be successful. These are some tips which will be useful.

The best time to fish is in the morning or during dusk through to nightfall. At this time the fish especially trout come to the surface to catch the insects hovering over the water. If you are fishing for cat fish the ideal time would be night time.

Fish will be on a feeding frenzy just before and right after stormy weather as they will not feed while the storm lasts and the surface water is rough therefore making it an ideal time to fish.

Cooler water temperature is better for fishing rather than when the water is warm as the fish tend to be sluggish and won’t take the bait readily when it is hot.

Full moon nights bring out insects at night which feed the fish and this deters them from taking the bait.

A guide to fishing etiquette

Are you planning on taking fishing as a past time? You may not be aware of it, but fishing just like any other sport has its own code of etiquette. So if you want to enjoy the experience with other anglers make sure you follow these rules.

Don’t impose on others

If there are other anglers do not start fishing right next to them. The noise you create while setting up may scare away the fish the other person was targeting. If you are fishing from a dock sit back to back.

Be quiet

Walk slowly and quietly when you need to without running, as the fish can feel the vibrations in the water. If there are kids make sure to keep them away from areas where others are fishing.

Clean up

Make sure you discard all trash including old lines and hooks, including the ones other inconsiderate anglers have left behind. Do not let any harmful substances reach the water.

Respect the fish

Keep conservation in mind and release any fish that are small or out of season. Only use legal bait to catch fish and make sure not to catch more than you need to.

The best time of the day to fish for trout

Each angler will have a different opinion on this. Spending time to figure the best time to go fishing will give you a distinct advantage in trying to catch this elusive fish.

Fish at dawn or dusk

Since trout do not have eye lids they tend to move in to deeper water when there is bright sunlight. So the best time would be early in the morning until sunlight falls over the water. The next best time would be before dusk until light fades. This would be the ideal time in warm weather. But in cold weather it is better to fish when the water is warmer as trout activity diminishes with the drop in the temperature.

Rainy weather is best

Whatever the time of the day, if it is raining this is a good time to go trout fishing. The rain will stir up the water on the lake which brings up food for the trout. They will be on a feeding frenzy chasing after the food particles making it is easier to catch them as they are less vigilant of the surroundings.
There is no rule, but keep these points in mind and determine the best time depending on the conditions.

What you need to have in your tackle box

Are you planning to spend a quiet relaxing weekend fishing at you r favorite fishing destination? Make sure that you have packed the essentials in your tackle box to ensure that you truly relax and enjoy your time. So what do you need to pack?

Spare hooks: have hooks of several sizes so that you are prepared for any sort of species of fish you will encounter.

A spare line: lines always break, get damaged and knotted. Make sure you have extra lines depending on the type of fishing you are doing. Have a thin line if you are fishing in a lake and a heavier more durable one if fishing in the sea.

Floaters: have plenty of these. These are attached to the line and sink when the fish has swallowed the bait, and gives you the signal to start reeling the fish. This will save you a lot of bait.

A hook remover to remove the hooks from the fish.

Plastic worms come in handy though the best option is live bait.

A first aid kit.

A cigarette lighter to burn the end of nylon fishing lines to prevent them from fraying.

How to prevent seasickness

Planning to go sailing this summer? Seasickness afflicts many people, both seasoned sailors and new sailors. The nausea and dizziness can take away the fun of your sailing trip. So take precautions to prevent seasickness before setting sail. Here are some tips that will help you:

1. Drink lots of water before and during sailing to keep hydrated.

2. Limit the consumption of alcohol.

3. Get a good night’s sleep before sailing.

4. Avoid spicy and oily foods and eat several small meals instead of heavy meals.

5. Sip ginger ale and eat ginger snaps or candied ginger before and during sailing as ginger has properties that will calm your stomach and prevent motion sickness.

6. Stay near the steering of the boat, as this will give a fixed horizon.

7. Keep yourself occupied while on the boat, keeping busy is known to prevent seasickness.

8. Take medication to prevent seasickness such as Dramamine, Bonine or the patch worn behind the ear known as Scopolamine.

9. Wear an acupressure wristband. Though there is no proof, many people say this has eased their seasickness.

Proper planning and being well informed about seasickness can help you combat it and enjoy your sailing vacation.

THE WORLD’S LARGEST SOLAR POWERED YACHT

“Turanor” the world’s largest solar powered yacht has arrived in Brisbane, Australia almost 250 days after setting sail from Monaco in September 2010. What is special and unique about this journey is that it was entirely powered by solar energy.

The 31 meter, 60 ton “Turanor” meaning “power of the sun” has the world’s largest rechargeable lithium battery and has 536 square meters of photovoltaic panels. It is shaped more like a space ship than a boat. This enables the boat to travel for 5 days without sunlight and its skipper Rafael Domjan said that the battery never went below 20%.

Its unique design makes it slice through the water rather than ride the waves to save energy.

The $16 million yacht is on a mission to travel around the world and become the world’s first fully solar powered yacht to do so. It has already broken world records for the fastest crossing of the Atlantic Ocean by a solar powered boat and the longest distance covered by a solar electric vehicle. It made a stop in Mexico during the United Nations World Climate Control Conference. The team expects to complete the journey by April 2012.

VOLVO PROMOTES YOUTH SAILING WITH RS:X YOUTH TOUR

The Volvo Ocean race Academy has announced the RS:X youth stopover tour. This was announced by the CEO of Volvo Ocean Race Knut Frostad in Alicante, Spain. There will be a youth program in each of the ten host ports of the Volvo Ocean Race beginning from October 2011.

To be eligible to participate, competitors must be under the age of 19 years and the selections will be carried out by the host country. Boy’s and girl’s events would be held for two days at each port and would include a series of 10 minute fleet races.

This youth stopover tour is also associated with Neil Pryde, the windsurfing designer and manufacturer and the International RS:X Windsurfing Class.

Not only will these races benefit the young local sailors who will be trained by the RS:X associations but will also be informative and entertaining for the locals at the host ports.

Volvo has been promoting youth sailing for years and sponsors the Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships each year. This year’s event will be held from July 7 to July 16 in Croatia.

The Basics of Cat Fishing

Almost every catfish enthusiast knows that rigging comprises several forms that vary from the simple to the more complex types. While it is agreed that there no particular way by which you can set your fishing line up, getting a sturdy hook along with the appropriate catfish and a solid technique is what you have to focus on. You must be willing to experiment with several catfish rigs before you find what works for you, and for many, it has been a trial and error process.

Since deep cat fishing is used in river and reservoir fishing, most people consider the deep cat fishing rig to be the most used of all. And in learning the Palomar knot, which not only prevents snagging, this will ensure that you line is tight and the rig is steady as well.

When it comes to bait, bigger fish such as Flatheads and Blues aren’t tempted by worms and dip baits so try and use perch and shad catfish bait instead. In addition to be able to catch these fish, use a circle hook (an 8/0 or 9/0) as well.

However, if you want to catch smaller cat fish, a basic bobber rig along with a number two hook has been recommended, with the latter crafted in such a way that it will be able to hold bait such as crickets, worms and other smaller bait as well.

And finally, also remember that the seasons and temperatures also play a large role in being able to help you get the catch of cat fish that you’ve wanted.

Tips to Make Dockside Boating Safer

Perhaps one of the most important things that you should take care of when you have a boat is being able to dock it properly and safely.  In most cases, the ability to do this only requires common sense.

So here is a list of Do’s and Don’ts that should help you ensure that the docking of the boat is done safely:

#1: Always remember to neatly coil the excess line both onboard and on the dock to prevent anyone else from tripping over.

#2: Another imperative must-do is to turn off all AC breakers on the boat.  After this, turn off the breaker and disconnect the power cord from the dock. The wrong way of doing this is by removing the power chord off the boat and then handing it over to someone or carrying it off the boat themselves. In the case of the latter, if you slip, you will find yourself in water with the power cord, and you know what will happen next.

#3: Turn off the VHF radio, outside lights, and instruments when not on your boat especially if you are not around.

#4: Connecting your dock water supply to the pressure side system of your boat is just another way to sink your boat. The safer way to do this is by using a hose while using the onboard water pressure pump.

#5: Never have a water tank that overflows anywhere onboard because if you leave the hose running and go ashore, the boat will eventually sink..

Tips to Catch Catfish at Night

So, is it possible for one to catch catfish at night?

Actually, the answer to that question can be a “Yes” or a “No” depending on the approach you take in catching catfish. And if you do take the right approach, you can not only catch catfish in abundance but also game fish that is commonly known as “lunkers” as well.

Since catfish feed at night, you can be sure that there will be results especially if you choose to fish at this time, and in doing so, one must remember that catfish not only have a keen sense of smell but are attracted to submerged lights.

Firstly, as you will fishing at night, make sure that you not only get lights that have to placed inside the boat but also a secondary light that you can use to re-rig your fishing poles. Apart from these two lights, you will need a light to throw some light on the water surface as well as a submerged light source to attract plankton, and which in turn will attract the bait fish.

Once they begin schooling, this is when the catfish will arrive on the scene as well, and after that, all you have to do is prepare yourself for some serious fishing action. And just so you know, it is a must to pre-rig your at least three poles as this will be tough to do when you are out these.

As a rule, catfish look for food in backwaters or the shorelines but since every body of water will have different conditions, it is best to scout the area out before making any fishing trips at night.

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