Fishing

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In this article I will discuss the best artificial lures you can use to catch Largemouth Bass. Each is good only in the specific situations I will describe.

In my opinion the spinnerbait is hands down the number one bass catching lure on the market. When selecting a spinnerbait to use you have to choose between two different varieties of blades. Spinnerbaits with willow leaf blades are designed to attract the bass primarily through sight. Spinnerbaits with a blade that is round with a cupped end are designed to create vibration and attract bass through sound.

Spinnerbaits are without a doubt the most versatile artificial lure you can effectively use. By varying your retrieve you can use them as a topwater bait or fish them effectively as much as four feet below the surface of the water. They are also somewhat weedless. This feature allows them to be used in the heaviest of cover. One of my favorite techniques with a spinnerbait is to retrieve it into small pockets of the weeds, especially lily pads. You will be amazed at how many strikes you will get while the bait is simply falling into one of these pockets.

The key concept to remember when fishing a spinnerbait is to be thorough. If you start by retrieving it near the surface make sure to try it also a few feet under the water if you are not having success. Carry a variety of colors and styles in your tackle box. It is a bait that will work, just be patient and use your full arsenal of styles.

As you fish deeper water two other artificial lures become the weapon of choice when trying to catch Largemouth Bass. The key factor in determining which to use is the activity level of the fish.

If the fish are very active and feeding heavily the crankbait becomes the lure of choice. Crankbaits also come in a variety of styles and must be matched to the fishing conditions. As always it helps to know what the bass are feeding on naturally. You can then match the body shape and color to the natural forage.

You also need to be concerned with the depth in which the bass are feeding. All crankbaits are designed to be retrieved at specific depths. This is accomplished by the size, shape and angle of the plastic lip near where you tie your line to the bait. When fishing a crankbait I like to use one that runs near the bottom, sometimes even bouncing off the bottom, much like a forage fish avoiding a predator.

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/bass-fishing-lures-the-best-artificial-lures-398029.html

Is there one lure that will work best for all type of bass fishing? Veterans of this sport fishing will be quick to tell you that it really depends on why the bass is striking the lure. It could be an instant reaction to a foreign object in the water, an attempt to defend their territory against what is seen as a predator or because the fish wants something to eat. It is highly unlikely that the bass would be trying to defend its territory unless you cast out your line near a nest. Therefore, a bright and shiny lure would grab attention, as would one containing food.

Most of the time the best type of lure to use for fishing bass is shad. However, most shad grow larger than bass, so you need to look for the threadfin shad, which are the main food of bass. Shad tend to be deep in the water during the summer months, which makes it harder for the bass to feed on. This is one time of the year when you are most likely to be really lucky in catching bass because of the scarcity of the food source. You also have to realize that bass are most active during the afternoon hours and do not actively hunt for food once the sun goes down.

Another good lure for catching bass is carp. During the spring, there are a lot of newly-hatched carp in the waters on which bass do feed. During this season, they would be easily attracted by a gold or bronze colored lure shaped like a carp. If there are a lot of carp in the water, though, for the bass to feed on, you will have a hard time getting one to nibble or bite on your lure.

During bass tournaments, you can choose to use a worm, spinnerbait or topbait. Each of these has its advantages and disadvantages. Most bass fishermen like to use crankbaits because of their versatility. You can fish them from anywhere, such as on top of the water, right down to the bottom or somewhere in between. If you want these lures to suspend, then you can add weights to them.

You should make sure your hook is sharp and don’t automatically assume that split rings will last forever. They will get rusty, which will weaken them and cause breakage. You should inspect them regularly and replace them with new ones as soon as you notice any damage. Think about the depth of water that you are fishing in when choosing crankbaits. In a river that is 10-12 feet deep, you should use a crankbait that runs at least 15 feet. Using a light line will also let your lure go deeper.

There are different materials in lures as well. Plastic lures are very light and are easier to throw, but wooden ones have more buoyancy in the water. If you are fishing in really cold water, then your best bet with a crankbait lure would be to use a flat sided one and if the water is not clear, use a lure that rattles to attract the attention of the bass.

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/fishing-articles/the-best-bass-fishing-lures-to-use-481296.html

Are you a fan of crappie fishing? If you want to learn as much as you can about crappie fishing- fishing records for your area, crappie fishing reports for other parts of the country or reports for where you may be traveling, then you need to know how to locate crappie fishing reports. With these, you can obtain valuable information that will help you know where to fish and also what methods are most productive in the body of water that you choose to fish in.

Crappie fishing reports will give you a great deal of valuable information about a particular fishing area. For example, you can find out details and information about the fishing zone itself as well as valuable information about the fish that have been caught there. You can find out the records for biggest or heaviest crappie caught and much more. You can also find out records for the most crappie caught in a particular area.

Here is what some example crappie fishing reports may tell you about a particular area, zone or body of water (From Texas Parks and Wildlife):

Water lightly stained; 56 degrees; 0.87′ low. Black bass are fair on dark jigs suspended in timber and along rocky drop-offs. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.

Water lightly stained; 46 degrees; 73.50′ low. Black bass are fair on jigs and live bait. Crappie are fair on minnows and jigs.

Water turbid; 53 degrees; 1.99′ low. Crappie are fair near pavilion pilings. White bass and hybrid striped bass are fair on live shad in front of the dry spillway and dam. Channel catfish are fair drift fishing with shad and on trotlines. Boat launching is difficult due to low water conditions.

Water lightly stained; 74 degrees (80 degrees at discharge); 0.40′ low. Black bass are fair on soft plastics and Rat-L-Traps in 10 – 12 feet. Striped bass are slow. White bass are slow. Crappie are slow.

These are great examples of fishing reports and the type of information you can obtain from them before you set out to fish in a particular area. Now the question remains of where do you find these reports?

Best Places to Get Crappie Fishing Reports

If you want to know more about crappie fishing in a particular area- such as where you live or where you will be traveling to fish- where are some of the best places for you to get crappie fishing reports? How can you find reports that you can trust in and rely on? Well, there are many organizations that are designed to helping you find updated reports. For example, if you live in Texas, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is a great place to get your crappie fishing reports.

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/crappie-fishing-reports-what-are-the-best-places-to-get-crappie-fishing-reports-for-a-local-area-398004.html

We will try to outline the proper conditions and methods for using each of them.

The spinnerbait is perhaps the number one lure for Largemouth Bass. It is a lure that is quite versatile and able to be used in many different conditions with many different presentations.

Spinnerbaits come in two main styles. The Willow Leaf Spinnerbait has a blade that is shaped like a willow leaf. The large amount of area for the sunlight to reflect off makes this bait designed for visual attraction. It is best used in conditions where you have available light to use to your advantage. It also works best in clear water where the visual range of a fish is at its longest.

Indiana style spinnerbaits employ a blade that is both circular and is cupped at the edges. This bait is designed to provide attraction though sound. It is used successfully in murky water and especially late at night when the available sunlight is either low or non existent.

The presentation you use when casting a spinnerbait can vary based on conditions. This lure is somewhat weedless and can be used most effectively through moderate to light weed cover. I like to use spinnerbaits in lily pads.

I vary my retrieve, sometimes allowing the bait to cruise between the pads at various different depths between the surfaces of the water and two to three feet below the surface. If this method does not work I will try a stop and go retrieve that causes the bait to occasionally drop in pockets of the pads.

Often you will notice the strike occurs as the bait begins its drop. You must be cognizant of this fact and be ready to set your hook.

Crankbaits are designed for catching active Largemouth Bass in deeper water. Visually they appear more like a fish than any other bait you will use. The first key consideration is selecting which crankbait to use. There are two factors to lead to the answer of this question:

1) You should try to match the shape and color of the bait to the forage fish of the Largemouth Bass you are angling for. In lakes where shad are the preferred forage species a round silvery crankbait is in order. In rivers where the forage is generally much smaller minnows you would change to a different color and smaller sized bait.

2) The running depth of crankbaits vary, you must choose the right one for the area you are fishing. Ideally a crankbait will have a running depth very close to the bottom. You will in fact like the bait to occasionally hit the bottom. By vary the speed of your retrieve and angle of the rod you can alter this factor somewhat. The primary running depth however is influenced most by the design of the bait itself. The key determining factor is the clear plastic lip near the eye hole. The size and angle of this lip determines how deep the bait runs when it is retrieved.

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/best-largemouth-bass-fishing-lures-520123.html

The evolution of fishing gear and accessories along with the development of the bass fishing industry brought about the development of various lures specifically used for different fish species.

There are many types or class of lures and they all depend on what type of fish works for them. Many only work for specific types but some cover a wide range of species of fish.Below are some of the typical lures used for fishing.

Light Standard Casting Lures

For Standard casting lures, they are mostly able to attract a wide range of fish varieties from albacore, bluefish, bonita, oho and crappies. These lures are also excellent for certain species of bass fish and work best when retrieved from water at low to medium speed. They pass through water with undetectably synthetic material.

Their sizes are excellent for lightweight fish and a host of freshwater species. They range from 1/16 oz. to 3 oz.

The hand painted eye is enticing enough to allow schooling of fish. This feature allows for more chances of trapping one of the target fish in the water.

Heavy Standard Casting Lures

Heavy Standard Casting Lures are excellent for quite heavy fish specifically, walleye and bass. While the lightweight lures are used in most circumstances, it was shown that heavy counterparts provide more reliable fishing output.

Moreover, the heavy standard lures are able to catch fish than diamond and light standard casting lures.

Long Casting/Jigging Lures

Perhaps the most popular among the fishing lures are the long, tapered jigging lures. They are perhaps the most commonly used fishing lures among the fishermen in Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Just recently, it was found out that the long casting lures work best for catching trout and pike. They were also found to effectively catch stripers and bluefish. They can catch tuna and walleye in a breeze!

Unlike heavy standard lures, this gear won’t produce good fish-catch output up to 180-200 ft under water but be sure to effectively match your lure color, bait and related accessories to maximize performance.

Deadly Diamond Lures

These lures are one of the smallest with sizes ranging from 1/8 to 1oz. They can seamlessly attract attention among fish and could form a school of fish in a minute!

The reason is it lies on its structural surface formation and cut. The top handle is cut like a diamond and causes the reflection of light striking on its surface. The diamond lures are best for catching bass fish varieties, crappie and stripers although they work on a small range of fish species.

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/the-best-fishing-lures-to-use-547222.html

You are planning a trip and need to know what the best saltwater fishing lures are. What is out there on the market? Will the huge range of different types of lures all work for you? Should you invest in them? Many anglers spend hours trying to determine the best saltwater fishing lures for their game, but it simply does not need to be so complex.

Saltwater fishing is a very popular pastime, and knowing what lures to use can be an invaluable aid to enjoying yourself and catching your limit. There are a few types of lures you should be familiar with before you begin to decide with what you wish to stock your tackle box. Here is a look at some of the best choices you will find.

* Spoons are so called, because they actually look like the bowl of a spoon. These are very simplistic lures. They give a flicking, side to side motion that attracts the fish. They are inexpensive and simple to use.

* Spinners consist of a blade that sits on a spindle that rotates when being reeled in or let out on the water. This action catches the light, mimicking the scales and movement of baitfish. Small spinners work well with seatrout and mullet, while larger spinners work well with fish like pike.

* Surface lures are very popular, and one of the main reasons is that, since they are used on the surface of the water, they can be seen, and game fish actually leap out of the water to take the lure. This visual is incredibly fulfilling, and most saltwater fishermen tend to enjoy this show! Another reason to use surface lures is when you are fishing in heavily weeded areas, the surface action can minimize snags.

* Suspending plugs are a good choice when fishing weedbeds, rocks, or near the banks. The neutral resistance and natural buoyancy ensures that when it has reached the target depth and is undisturbed, it will remain at the target depth. If you just tug your line to cause your plug to look alive to your prey, you are sure to find a taker!

* Floating drivers really are a good choice, because they cover multiple depths from over 15 feet to just below the water line. Consider the shape and size of your floating drivers’ vane and body size, because these are the factors that will determine the movement of this lure in the water.

* If you plan to fish deep water, sinking plugs are another good choice. If you count for your depth, you can be assured you are fishing the same depth consistently and you can begin to retrieve as soon as your lure has reached the desired depth as well. Once you determine the depth at which the fish are biting, it is easy to keep your depth at that level and maximize your catch.

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/saltwater-fishing-lures-what-are-the-best-lures-269214.html

Even when you have the right bluefish fishing lure you have to have the right bait to get a bite. The right bait for your lure will have you bringing back catch after catch every time that you go out fishing. Blue fish are particular in what they will go after, so putting the right bait on your lure can make all the difference for you, it can make or break your fishing trip. Bluefish are predatory so they tend to like cut bait and they prefer actual fish, so it is not wise to use artificial bait.

Menhaden or Bunker

Menhaden otherwise known as bunker is an excellent choice of bait to use with your bluefish fishing lure. These sardine like fish have a strong flavor that attracts bluefish. Any type of bottom fish like menhaden or bunker will work well as bait for a fishing lure. You can even use anchovies. Some of the other bottom feeder fish in this category of bait would include, jacks, weakfish, grunts, shrimp and squid.

Mullet

Mullet is another excellent fish that can be used with your bluefish fishing lure. Mullet have a round silvery body with dark blue and green stripes on their sides. Mullet can be used as bait for your lure live, dead, whole or cut. Most fisherman use mullet whole hooked through the nose. Some chop it into small chunks. Either way it is a very popular choice of bait for catching bluefish.

Mackerel and Herring

These are two more types of fish that you can use on your bluefish fishing lure to yield successful results. These baits are a little more expensive if you are buying them, but if you are catching your own bait they are a good choice. If you catch and prepare your own bait make sure that you put mackerel and herring on ice right away and freeze it immediately when you get home if you aren’t using it that day. These fish lose their flavor quickly so to be used effectively as bait on your lure they need to be properly preserved.

Hopkins Artificial Bait

Although artificial bait isn’t the optimal choice for your lure, it can work if you buy the right kind. Hopkins is the artificial bait that is most commonly recommended for bluefish fishing lures, but there are other types that work as well. Those would include, top water popper or pony tails.

There are several other baits that work well for bluefish lures. Those baits would include, ladyfish, eels and killifish. The real importance to selecting a bluefish fishing lure bait must be placed on using a fresh bait regardless of which bait that you choose.

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/what-is-the-best-bait-for-your-bluefish-fishing-lure-494951.html

Any angler can tell you that when fishing in saltwater the type of lure you use will be very important. Years ago live bait was really the only option you had when saltwater fishing. As you well know that is no longer the case. Today there are so many different lures to choose from, how do you know which ones will work the best for you and when?

To help you decide which saltwater fishing lures are the best and when you should use them, below are some of the top lures available and a brief description of each.

* Jigs – The jig is considered to be one the best lures available because it is the perfect lure that will catch almost any species of fish. However, to get this kind of results you do need to know how to use it correctly. There are several methods that can be used such as drifting, trolling and casting. When drift fishing you lower the lure to the bottom of the water and then make it move around so the fish will notice it. This can be done by making a fast jerking motion upward with the tip of the rod and then allowing it to drift back into position. When it reaches bottom, begin again.

Trolling with jigs is very effective and is done by using several of the same rods and lures at the same time. Casting also works well when using a jig as your saltwater fishing lure. Jigs come in many different sizes. However, the most popular sizes range from 1/8 ounce to 11/2 ounce. The jig is designed with a heavy head and a skirt wrapped around the hook that is made from feathers, nylon, plastic or similar material. They come in a wide variety of colors and style.

* Spoons – The best spoons to use when saltwater fishing are made from stainless steel, nickel or chrome. The smaller size spoons are best for using with spinning gear and normally have treble hooks. Use the larger spoons when trolling for the bigger catfish. Spoons will wobble and produce bright flashes of light through the water that attracts the attention of the fish. It is best to use a slow to medium speed when retrieving the line with a spoon lure.

* Plastic lures – There are a large number of plastic lures available that you can use to fish with. They are designed to resemble many different types of live bait from the worm to the shrimp. Most of them are designed to produce some type of action when reeled through the water that makes them appear to be alive to the fish. This captures their attention and brings them your way.

* Rubber lures – Just like the plastic lures, rubber lures can refer to a large variety of items that resembles all types of live bait. They are basically used the same way as the plastic lures, except many are designed where the hook can be run through for a more realistic effect. You will find that both plastic and rubber lures produce some great results when saltwater fishing.

* Metal Squids – The metal squid is one of the oldest artificial saltwater lure. You will find many different sizes, weights and colors available. When using metal squids you need to make them look realistic and alive so the fish will be attracted to them. Some of the best times to use the metal squids are when water is rough. Remember to keep the slack out of your line or the lure will begin to sink and the fish will lose interest. Adjust the reeling action to match the tide and current you are fishing in to get the best results.

* Spinners – Spinners work great when trolling rivers, bays and inlets. It doesn’t matter what blade shape the spinners have but you do need to make sure that are suitable for the saltwater. Therefore, the stain-less steel, chrome and nickel plated are the best choices. Spinners can be used alone or with other bait. You can try them both ways to see which one produces the best results for you at any given time.

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/the-best-saltwater-fishing-lure-308351.html

The state of Michigan can be described as having been blessed with the best of nature’s beauty and so attracts tourists and fishermen from all over the world. Over 50 percent of Michigan is afforested and boasts of over 10,000 lakes that are best suited for fishing all species of game – at least fresh water species. Even when it comes to ice fishing Michigan has the best locations to offer anglers from the world over because most of the rivers and lakes freeze over in the winter months.

Among the many species of fish that are found the most popular is perhaps the Pike. The Northern Pike is found abundantly in the lakes of Michigan, however, when it comes to catching one you are up against the most cunning and elusive species of fish in the world. This is what makes fishing fir Pike one of the favorite pastimes of every angler worth his tackle no matter where the reins from in the world.

Though these fish will not be found in every lake in Michigan there are found in most of the lakes and a little research will prove fruitful in locating this elusive Piscean. Anglers demand for this fish is such that the authorities have started breeding and stocking the lakes with Pike just to keep the fishing tourist traffic coming as this is huge revenue for the state. This is also why there are regulations about the size of a fish you can remove from the lake. So, caution is advised, if you are caught with an extra small Pike you are likely to be fined and repeated misdemeanors will get you rapped on across your knuckles and called a naughty boy – you may even be made to stand in the corner of a jail cell if you are extra bad.

The best place to fish for Pike is in the lakes of Munuscong Bay, in Chippewa County – perhaps the best place to get some of the best bites. Many good trophies have been caught and mounted here. Then there is Drummond Island where you can get some very good specimens of Yellow Perch, Whitefish and Walleye.

The other locations that you can go fishing and are guaranteed to find a spot that is not crowded include:
• Mackinac County
• The Big Manistique Lake
• South Manistique Lake
• The Au Train Lake
• Munising Bay
• Little Bay de Noc
• Horseshoe Lake
• Big Shag Lake

It is best to try out the smaller lakes as these are little known lakes and are also good for ice fishing as these small water bodies freeze up faster in the winter than the larger lakes. They also have a greater variety of fish that are eager to bite and make an anglers day. So, come to Michigan and ask around, if you don’t already know your way around. You are sure to find the perfect spot to make your fishing excision a memorable one.

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/fishing-articles/michigan-pike-fishing-how-to-get-the-best-game-776086.html

Almost any seasoned fisher knows how important it is to store their bluefish fishing lures correctly so that they do not become tangled and damaged. While most people think that a tackle box is the best way to store their fishing gear, other methods of storage can be used as well. Additionally, you should make sure that whatever type of storage container is used, you are storing your bluefish fishing lures the correct way so that they do not become tangled and damaged.

4. Store bought tackle boxes. A store bought tackle box is of course the number one way that fishermen will choose to store their bluefish fishing lures. While a store bought tackle box will work adequately enough, you should make sure that your lures are not just thrown into the box, which can result in a tangled mess. Instead, choose a tackle box that has divided compartments so that you can store each bluefish fishing lure individually, which will help prevent tangling and reduce damage to your lure.

3. Homemade tackle boxes. You can also opt to make your own tackle box to store your bluefish fishing lures. If you are handy, you can build a box out of wood and place your dividers in the box to your own specifications. Just make sure you coat the wood with a sealant, so that if it gets wet while you are fishing it will not warp or rot. Make sure you have enough compartments so that you can still store each of your lures separately and still have room for other fishing gear.

2. Makeup boxes. This is a great option for the ladies that love to fish, but can be used by men as well. Not all makeup kits are girly looking, and many are very plain. No one would ever know your box was originally a makeup kit! The benefit to makeup boxes is that they often come with many different storage compartments, so it is very easy for you to separate your bluefish fishing lures from one another to help prevent them from getting tangled.

1. Food Storage Containers. Another way that you can store your fishing lures is to place them in individual food storage containers. These multiple containers can then be placed in one larger box, or even up on a shelf if you are not planning on loosing them. This is a great way to store your fishing lures and protect them, and since food storage containers can be found in all shapes and sizes, you will have no problems finding containers that will fit each of your lures. What’s even better, is that most storage containers are see through, so you will easily be able to see which lure is in which container, but they will be better protected than with any other form of storage.

Source: ArticlesBase
http://www.articlesbase.com/sports-and-fitness-articles/best-4-ways-to-store-your-bluefish-fishing-lures-487577.html