Fishing in Pouring Rain

Sometimes a good down pour is what's needed to turn fish on, and there have been many occasions to prove just that. In my younger years, it didn't bother me, but as I'm getting older the bones can sure feel the dampness afterwards. If dressed appropriately with Gortex rain gear you can reap rewards from Mother Nature's dinner bell!

The timing has to be right! With a lengthy consistent weather window it makes for good 'get out there and fish' weather. When there is a quick weather change, like a downpour, it's enough to get the fish aggressively feeding and the action is phenomenal!

I remember a particular day fishing for Pike in a reservoir. The bite was not good at all and it made for tough fishing. It was muggy and hot and from the distance came the threat of black clouds. It was one of those instances where I watched the whole scenario unfold before my eyes. As the storm approached I thought I would pack it in and get out of the water, but with my trusty Gortex rain gear on board, I braved through it. When the down pour arrived the Pike fishing was absolutely on fire! There was a fish for every cast! Will I ever learn! From experiences like these I welcome rain storms with open arms and 'bails'!

If you notice storms arriving in the distance with lightning and thunder the best thing to do then is 'get out' and wait it out, at least until the lightning is done anyway! It's important to remember that it always works best after days of consistent weather.

A little rain never hurt anyone. Come to think of it, a down pour never hurt anyone either especially when its fish after fish action! Hey, at least we're fishing!

Born In Guelph, Ontario, Nic, his wife Lawney and their son Lorenzo now call Kitchener, Ontario their home.

Even though Nic has thirty years of fishing experience, he still feels that you can never stop learning. His love for Bass fishing has brought him to the Pro Bass Tournament trail. In his first year going professional, Nic has two top ten finishes and was a Classic Qualifier in the C.S.F.L Bassmania Pro Bass circuit, placing eighteenth over all.

But Bass fishing is not Nic's only love. In the Spring his passion turns to downrigging for salmon, where he competes in Salmon Derbies. Already, he has a first place win under his belt. And if that's not enough to keep him busy, you can find him chasing Walleye, Pike, and even Muskie. You name it, Nic will fish for it.

http://www.probassfishing.ca has fulfilled a life long dream for Nic. Not only because of his active tournament angling and multi species fishing, but because he gets to share it.

How to Make a Fishing Pole Dog Toy For Cheap

Does your dog have a lot of energy & is making you crazy? Do you not feel like tiring yourself out while trying to tire out your dog? You can make this fun toy for your dog without spending the 20 or 30 dollars that the pet stores charge for it.

Why do dogs like this toy? Most dogs, especially dogs with high prey drives like border collies & German shepherd dogs, have an inborn desire to chase things that run away from them. When you drag the end of this toy in front of your dog, it simulates an small animal running away from your dog & it wants to chase and catch it. You get to stay in one place and not get tired while your dog gets a great work out. Also, the squirrels in your yard will thank you!

Supplies

An old broomstick with the broom part cut off,
6 feet of rope,
2 old socks or long scraps fabric,
Duct tape

Instructions

STEP 1-Take your rope and tie a knot in one end, then make a knot 2 inches below the first knot.
take about 2 feet of duct tape and tape the rope to one end of the broomstick, between the knots.

STEP 2 - Bundle the two socks together and tie the remaining end of the rope around them securely.

TADA, you're done!! Now you have a 'fishing pole' toy for your dog! You made it by yourself & made it from materials that you had around your home!!

To play with the new toy that you have made, just have your dog chase it in a circle around you. You can also make your dog jump for it by suspending the 'sock' end in the air.

Karen Friesecke is the owner of www.doggiestylish.com She spends her time making hand crafted dog collars & writing about all things dog!

Ice Fishing For Trout

Now that the winter has officially settled on us like a lazy dog lying on his bed next to the fireplace, ice fishing is really starting to heat up. One of the most popular fish to target when fishing through the ice are trout, and in this article I will outline a few tips that will help you catch more fish when ice fishing for trout. Add one (or all) of these simple ice fishing tips to your ice fishing repertoire and you will begin experiencing more ice fishing success.

When discussing ice fishing, I think it's important to reiterate safe ice thicknesses. I realize this info is "old hat" to experienced ice fihermen, but it's nonetheless worth mentioning for anyone who might be new to the idea of fishing on a frozen body of water. In almost all cases four inches of ice is considered safe for walking and fishing through the ice. I personally like to see six inches of ice, but this isn't necessary.

The following tips are being listed in no particular order. Use the ones that feel right to you, discard the rest, but all of the following ice fishing tips are effective.

1. Be On The Ice When The Trout Are Most Active: So how the heck do you know when the trout are the most active? Simple, by paying attention to the weather and moon and planning your fishing trips accordingly. The weather and moon have an amazing affect on the feeding behavior of trout and using this information to your advantage can be a big help when ice fishing for trout. Not only this, but when fishing through the ice the warmer parts of the day are generally more productive than the colder parts of the day.



2. Small Jigs Tipped With Bait Are Effective: Small jigs, either traditional twister tails or marabou, tipped with meal worms or maggots can be very effective when trout fishing through the ice. A key is to not provide much jigging action to your jig. As a matter of fact jigging you rod every few minutes should suffice. Trout are extremely sluggish under the ice and a lot of movement can "spook" them.



3. Powerbait Is Effective: I realize that this may sound strange, but if the body of water you are fishing on contains "stocked" trout, Powerbait can be very effective when ice fishing. A great technique when ice fishing for stocked trout is to us a set of gang-hooks with a small ball of Powerbait covering each hook on a set of gang-hooks. This ice fishing rig can be fished on a rod or a tip up.



4. Small Spoons Are Effective: Small spoons such as "Little Cleo's" can be quite effective when fishing through the ice for trout. Just as with jigs, any jigging action should be minimal in many cases. Small spoons can also be tipped with maggots or meal worms for more trout attracting power.

The bottom line is that when fishing for trout through the ice these tips have helped me over the past two decades and I know they will do the same for you. Now get out there and begin starring through a hole in the ice!

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 25 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his five year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.

Learn When Fish Are Most Active For FREE - http://www.jrwfishing.com/signup.html

Fly Fishing - Fly Tying

Fly tying can be easy and fun. It is important not only to select the right knot for a particular job but to tie it properly. Poorly Tied knots will mean lost fish. In this article, we discuss a few basic steps to follow when fly tying all knots for fly fishing, followed by some ingenious ways you can obtain free fly tying materials.

Three Basic Steps

Lubricate knots: Before you tighten a knot, lubricate it with saliva or by dipping it in the water. This will help the knot slide and seat properly. Lubrication also decreases excessive heat which dramatically weakens monofilament. Heat is generated by the friction created when knots are drawn up tight.

Seat the knot: Tighten knots with a steady, continuous pull. Make sure the knot is tight and secure. After it is tied, pull on the line and leader to make sure it holds. It is better to test it now than when a fish is on.

Trim neatly: Use nippers to trim the material as close as possible without nicking or damaging the fly tying knot.

Free Fly Tying Materials Around Your Home A quick browse around your house may yield some inexpensive and creative fly tying materials. If you need some glow ball material so you can tie a few eggs try the yarn you have in the house. Use some colors you think might work well. Pull a few strands off and begin tying your eggs. Mixed a few colors just to see what patterns you get.

These have been reported to work really well on the Colorado river. POW! Fish go for the egg. Cast after cast will yield some nice trout in the 16-24" range. The best pattern is an orange yarn with a pink strand.

Consider also some of the following fly tying materials:

Dubbing Dryer Lint - Choose the right color close to dry and then pull the lint out and use as common dubbing materials.

Brush the Dog - Several breeds such as Chows have thick undercoats. The fur makes a great natural material for dubbing.

Feathers A look around the yard or park can yield some interesting feathers to use for tying. Just a note however, wild birds are known for mites so take steps to insure you don't end up infecting your purchased features with these nasty critters.

Suggestions for avoiding mites:

Zap the materials in the microwave for 30sec. Put them in a plastic baggy and freeze them for a few days.

Stay away from dead birds. They could have been infected with a disease.

Foam body Packing foam commonly used for electronics work great. Just cut off a small strip and presto you have your body material. Need a different color than white, pull out a permanent marker such as a Sharpe and apply the desired color.

Furs Any old stuffed animals laying around? Some synthetic furs will work well on your hand tied flies.

Just take a look around the house and you will find items to substitute your traditional fly tying materials. Its a great way to save a few dollars and expand your creativity. You might even find that perfect combination to land that Fly Fishing trophy!

Another alternative is too take a trip to the local craft store. They also are a great resource for Fly Tying materials such as feathers, furs, threads, beads, etc.

For a goldmine of information about fly tying and everything else about fly fishing you'll ever need to know, visit Fly Fishing Guide