| 257. |
Weighting bobber. General Fishing
I came up with a great method to adjust your bobbers to different situations. Purchase the following
A: cigar/torpedo type slip bobber with the tube through them. Typically one of the cheaper types you can buy.
B: box of #10 Stainless steel washers
C: package of #8 "O"rings.
The washers will slide on the tube coming out of the bottom of the float and the "O" ring will hold them there. You can use the amount of washers needed to accomadate the task at hand.
LBF Member: dawsonb
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| 258. |
Pay attention to your surroundings Freshwater
Today i went to a lake that has perplexed me since i started fishing it last year. Today was the same result, with me getting frustrated and then i started looking at the shoreline and noticed little lizards all over the place in the water! So hey i was thinking switch to a zoom watermelonseed lizard, because it was very similiar to the color of the lizards in the water. Soon after, i got a good bite but lost it close to the shore, so it just shows you, if you pay attention to the details of the lake, it will eventually pay off. I didn't have much time to fish on this particular day, otherwise i think i'd have a fish or a couple fish to show for it.
LBF Member: kelam63@hotmail.com
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| 259. |
Extra Attraction General Fishing
if your fishing with tube worms (a.k.a,Gizits) and your not getting many strikes. Try sticking alka seltzer chunks and block the end with cotton
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| 260. |
Bass Freshwater
bass always sit on rocky drop offs on points in lakes, jig up and down on the these drops and you always catch bass
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| 261. |
dead minnows Ice Fishing
When you have a bucket of dead minnows, don't dump them out. Drain them and fill a ziploc bag with the minnows, and generously pour canning salt(works best) into the bag. Be sure there is a little bit of water as well. You can freeze them and take them with you next time, they work best while jigging, but the positve ions from the salt attract fish no matter what....
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| 262. |
Fishing Log General Fishing
Keeping a fishing log is like putting a giant jigsaw puzzle together. One piece of the puzzle doesn’t give much to go on. Fishing is not an exact science, but the more information you have at hand, based on past experience, the better equipped you are to consistently find fish that are feeding. Anglers can learn much from logging their catch data and other pertinent information about their fishing trips.
LBF Member: Fishingidiot
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| 263. |
Winter Month's almost gone. Saltwater
With the first of the two coldest months of the year nearly gone, in all we’ve had a relatively mild winter. Cold fronts have been relentless in their numbers and just as things begin to settle, another comes in on the back of the previous one. To be consistent in catching fish during these changes, you’ll need to find the winter hide outs in deep water, around offshore springs, or in the protection of residential canals. Wherever that is, find food and cover and you’ll be successful.
LBF Member: Fishingidiot
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| 264. |
Terrestrial Flies Fly Fishing
A good time to use terrestrials is when there is no hatch of other insects.
LBF Member: bassboy12345
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| 265. |
Salmon Freshwater
Salmon can sometimes be caught on there spawning runs using alevins or spawn bags.
LBF Member: bassboy12345
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| 266. |
Egg-Sucking Leech Fly Fishing
The egg-sucking leech fly can be used to catch panfish, bass, bluegill, trout, and salmon.My favorite colors are black leech and red egg.
LBF Member: bassboy12345
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| 267. |
mosquito Fly Fishing
The mosquito fly pattern is very effective for trout and panfish.
LBF Member: bassboy12345
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| 268. |
Mcginty Bee for Bluegill Fly Fishing
The Mcginty bee is a wondereful pattern for bluegill on ponds,lakes,or rivers.
LBF Member: bassboy12345
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| 269. |
Cheap fly Fly Fishing
Want to make some different flies or just use your own creativity to tie something new? You can use certain Styrofoams found in packing materials. They are easy to shape and make for great floating bodies. Most of these Styrofoams can also be colored using markers. One of my most successful flies I use is by tying on some hackle near the eye of the hook, then use a small rounded shape of Styrofoam, placing the hook right through the middle and pushing it up against the hackle. Then after securing the thread I place some head cement in the back of the Styrofoam to secure it.
LBF Member: rickhoffer
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| 270. |
Catfish barbs General Fishing
Catfish can stick you with the barbs, and the smaller ones are the worse! When you land a catfish, keep the fish on it's belly and locate the barb on it's back. From behind of the barb, slide your hand so the barb is between your fingers. Now you can handle the catfish without worrying about getting stuck.
LBF Member: rickhoffer
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| 271. |
Handling fish General Fishing
For catch and release, avoid using a net when landing fish unless the fish have teeth. The net can scrape off the fish oil and slime which protect it. If your handling bass by the lip, hold the bass vertical. It is possible to break a fish's jaw. If you want to hold the fish horizontal, support the tail or lower body with your other hand.
LBF Member: rickhoffer
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| 272. |
Trailers General Fishing
Out of trailers? Your heading out to go fishing but you don't have time to run to the sporting goods store? Take some rubber bands with you. Cut them to the desired length as a trailer. Double the rubber band up on your hook like you would a real worm. This will secure the band to the hook. The rubber band will produce great action, especially if you cut a long “V” shape at the end.
LBF Member: rickhoffer
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| 273. |
Hands free tackle box General Fishing
Consider using a camera waist bag as an alternative for a tackle box when bank or river fishing. The larger camera bags have bigger and deeper pockets, perfect for the small tackle containers, keys, wallet, pliers, and of course your more hands free. If your wading, you can adjust the bag around your arm and neck so the items inside do not get wet.
LBF Member: rickhoffer
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| 274. |
Bank areas Bass Fishing
When fishing from a boat locate bank areas which is not accessible from the shore. Cast a weedless bait such as a worm or a frog onto the bank edge and slowly retrieve. The chances of a bass hanging around that particular bank is more likely then those that are accessible.
LBF Member: rickhoffer
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| 275. |
Something different Bass Fishing
Next time you need to try something different to get those bass to bite, try tying on a small grub. Leave approximately 8 inches of line to tie on a larger crank bait. When retrieving, the small grub will appear to be on the run from the larger crank bait. The bass will become aggressive towards the crank bait, showing the crank bait who is boss.
LBF Member: rickhoffer
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| 276. |
Net tip General Fishing
Another net tip! Fishing from a high pier or bridge may be the only way to fish during a seasonal run when you do not have a boat. Having a net that can reach to the water can sometimes be key to bringing one home, or a fish flopping off the line as you bring it up. Using your net, drill a hole in the base of the handle. Secure a long enough rope to the end. Now you can lower your net down to the water for those big fish.
LBF Member: rickhoffer
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| 277. |
Net handle General Fishing
Ever wish your fishing net handle was just a little longer? How about much longer? Next time your at the hardware store, wander over to the paint isle. You will find those extend-able handles for twisting on paint rollers. Once home, remove the plastic end of the extend-able handle and slide into the handle of your net. Once you get the desired length, drill a hole through the net handle and the extend-able handle. Use a bolt to secure the two together. Now you have a net handle that can reach far or deep!
LBF Member: rickhoffer
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| 278. |
Trailer hook Bass Fishing
A trailer hook will get more fish in your boat! Take a disposable plastic drinking cup, cut a small circle using scissors. Place your desired size treble hook on the back of your jig, buzz bait, or spinner and gently work the plastic circle onto your main hook, just past the barb. The trailer hook will move freely and will not come off.
LBF Member: rickhoffer
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| 279. |
FInding new fishing spots General Fishing
Use an online mapping website to locate new fishing spots such as Google Maps, Map Quest, Yahoo Maps, and others. While looking at a new fishing site, you can toggle between Satellite, Terrain, and Map. Using these maps you can write down directions and you can zoom on a lake or river to note shallow and deep areas.
LBF Member: rickhoffer
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| 280. |
Hands smell like fish? General Fishing
Fishing during your lunch break can be a nice way to break up the work day. Keep a small bottle of Fast Orange hand cleaner and a roll of paper towels in your car. Before heading back to work clean your hands using the Fast Orange hand cleaner. It will get rid of most of the fish smell much more than soap and water.
LBF Member: rickhoffer
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| 281. |
Get your Trout limit Freshwater
You can catch more trout in a lake where the trout are stocked by using corn. Take a can of corn with you and toss some out in the water several times while fishing. When the trout are raised in a farm, they are feed in a similar way so the sound of the corn hitting the water will attract the trout. Use corn on your hook and you will catch your limit in no time.
LBF Member: rickhoffer
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| 282. |
Cold Front Freshwater
Consider fishing a creek or stream during a cold front. The fish are more tolerable to weather changes then those found in a lake.
LBF Member: rickhoffer
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| 283. |
Sharp hooks General Fishing
A sharp hook can be essential to landing more fish. Always carry a hook sharper with you, or sharpen your hooks before heading out to fish. To know if your hook is sharp enough, place the hook tip on your thumb nail. If the hook sticks or feels tacky when moving the hook tip across your nail, then the hook is sharp enough. If the hook slides across your nail, then your hook needs to be sharpened.
LBF Member: rickhoffer
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| 284. |
Line backwards? General Fishing
Say you put your line on backwards and now you need to remove it and put new line on. Don’t throw the old line away! Grab another reel, which can handle the line weight. Have a friend hold the reel with the backwards line, open the bail and run the line to your second reel. Once you have finished winding the line onto your second reel, you can put new line on the first reel. Doing this will save you money and your second reel has the line on correctly.
LBF Member: rickhoffer
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| 285. |
Casting tangles Freshwater
Line tangles are due to either line memory, or too much line on your reel. Soaking the spool in water before using, as this will decrease the line memory. If you have excessive line, remove some of the line on your spool before using.
LBF Member: rickhoffer
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| 286. |
Retrieving gear dropped through a hole Ice Fishing
for about 10.00 you can get a mechanics magnet on an extendable pole to retrieve lures,lighters hooks,reels, and even a flashlight i have got back with one of these.
LBF Member: Rimmer
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| 287. |
Controlled Depth Saltwater
Controlled depth fishing with lures is a method of getting baits at the same level fish are holding. Because the water column can be a very broad range, fishing somewhere in between the top and bottom might require special equipment. Downriggers are the most precise tools to lower baits to a given level. Planers, depending on the size and line diameter used to pull them, will also take baits below the surface within a certain depth range for each size planer. Covering the water column with a variety of lures fished at different depths is a sure way to locate fish. It gives you the opportunity to present your lures to more fish. That will ultimately help you catch more fish.
LBF Member: Fishingidiot
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| 288. |
Ready for Winter? Saltwater
Are you ready for winter? A cold winter can mean some slow fishing unless you’re able to find fishing areas with some kind of warmth. That may take some running around with a thermometer with readings to tenths of a degree to find the warmest areas around. Fish that have gravitated toward these areas will undoubtedly have a higher rate of metabolism, triggering a feeding response. Finding these areas with your thermometer and scoping them out on the cold days could be the tip that might help you catch more fish.
LBF Member: Fishingidiot
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| 289. |
Fish Sense General Fishing
Knowing how fish seek food is just as important as knowing where and when they do it. Fish use 3 of their senses: Hearing, smell, and sight. Of these, hearing is the most important especially for predator fish.
Smell
Fish also rely on their keen sense of smell, so anglers often release food particles, or chum, into the water to entice an nearby fish to feed. You can also apply a couple of drops of fish oil on artificial bait or lures to encourage a fish to strike. Natural baits, such as mackerel strips, need no additional fish oil unless you want to create a stronger aroma. Fish oils can be purchased at better tackle shops.
Whenever possible, avoid wearing hand cream, cologne, aftershave, and other fragrant concoctions before heading out to fish. Fish will avoid any bait or lure that has a non-bait like odor. After applying sunscreen or bug dope, wash your hands thoroughly with mild soap before handling bait or lures
LBF Member: Fishingidiot
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| 290. |
Leader. Why it's important. General Fishing
A leader is a length of monofilament of fluorocarbon line or flexible wire positioned between the main line and hook or lure. A leader can serve 2 purposes: prevent line-shy fish from seeing the more visible main line, and prevent sharp-toothed fish from biting the line in 2. Monofilament leaders are usually between 1 and 3 feel long; most wire leaders range from 6 to 24 inches.
Monofilament and fluorocarbon leaders usually have a greater pound-test rating than the main line. A swivel should be used between the leader and the main line to keep the main line from twisting.
Because of its transparency, fluorocarbon leader is best for particularly line-shy fish, such as albacore and bonito. Black flexible wire leader is also almost invisible and is effective for sharp-toothed fish, such as mackerel, bluefish, and barracuda.
If a wire leader becomes kinked when you're fighting a fish, it has been seriously weakened and should be replaced.
LBF Member: Fishingidiot
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| 291. |
Painting jig heads General Fishing
Pouring your own jig heads can be fun and save you money. For painting the lead I found Acrylique paint to be best, however it will take two or three coats. All of the materials listed here are from Michaels craft store but you can get the lead from your local garage, I use the lead weights on tires. First paint the lead head white, I use Delta’s ceramcoat white and apply three coats between drying. Next use Delta’s ceramcoat gleams, Pearl finish. Apply two coats between drying. Then for the eyes I use the small flat rounded end of a chopstick. Dip the end of the chopstick in calico red acrylique paint so only the tip gets paint on it, then press to the jig in the desired position you want the eye. Dip the chopstick in the red paint again and dot the other side of the jig head and let dry. Then using a different chopstick, which has been sharpened to a point, dip the tip of the chopstick in the black acrylique paint and dot the middle of the red eye. Repeat for the other side and let dry. Once the jig is completely dry spray with Royal Coat Hi-Gloss 1461 spray. Let dry and repeat. Now you are ready to tie on your deer hair. This combination of acrylique paints and hi-gloss finish makes the head of the jig look more realistic then a natural one toned white.
LBF Member: rickhoffer
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| 292. |
California trophy trout Freshwater
This is the time of year when the hatcheries get rid of their brood stock and plant them in lakes.These six to twenty pound trophies can be caught readily by trolling with large lures and spoons.I find J9 broken back rapalas in rainbow or bright colours and Michigan 41/2 inch spoons trolled fast catch the most for me. These trout taste terrible but make great pictures to show off.
LBF Member: met123
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| 293. |
Stone Crab Season Saltwater
Are you looking for hard bottom? Chances are pretty good that someone’s done most of the work for you. If relatively shallow water fishing is what you look to do in the bays and just off the beaches, listen up. October 15, stone crab season begins. Crabbers are dropping their traps in areas on hard rocky bottom where stonies will reside. These same locations will likely hold baitfish that will attract Spanish and king mackerel, black sea bass, grouper, mangrove snapper, and a host of other fish. Targeting these spots on your way offshore or as destination locations will definitely increase your changes of catching more fish.
LBF Member: fishingidiot
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| 294. |
Free Lining Saltwater
Free Lining is where you use no weight at all, just your leader line, your bait, and your hook. This can be good when fishing inshore. I just went out to the 2nd Bridge leading out to Honeymoon Island and I was free lining. And there was this girl that was using around a 4oz weight, and a piece of bait, and she was not catching anything. And then once I suggested for her to switch over to free lining she instantaneously got a nice size lizard fish. I also caught about a 7 inch puffer fish free lining.
If there is a strong current and your bait keeps coming back to you then you could add a medium size split-shot. But if you don't like the idea of no weight at all, then you can still use a small split-shot, and that is almost the same as free lining.
The reason free lining works a lot of people say is because of your bait will more naturally float down further, instead of a tug and a pull and a big splash that scares away the fish.
So if you use a lot of weight and not catching as much as you want, you might want to try free lining. Good luck!
LBF Member: fishingidiot
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| 295. |
Trolling Tip Saltwater
Trolling with controlled depth devices will put your lures and baits in the strike zone where fish are feeding when offshore fishing. Covering the water column will help you pinpoint where fish are holding. Aside from having a good depth recorder to mark fish, fish can be located by utilizing flat lines, planers, downriggers, and lipped artificial baits that will run at given depths at or below the surface essentially covering depths from top to bottom putting them where your targets live…and eat!
LBF Member: fishingidiot
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| 296. |
Rod Action General Fishing
Action refers to a rod's flexibility. Rod action is broken down into 4 categories: extra fast, fast, moderate or medium, and slow. Look at the picture I have attached and you should be able to understand this better.
In general, saltwater fishing rods should have moderate to extra-fast action-for greater sensitivity and because their greater overall stiffness allows you to move the fish around more effectively. Slow-action rods may be used when fishing from docks for pan-sized fish such as snapper, bluefish, or white croaker, but many slow-action rods are not suitable at all for saltwater fishing because they are too limber for most of the sought-after species.
LBF Member: Fishingidiot
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| 297. |
Clearer waters. Bad or Good? Saltwater
Cooler water temperatures means less algae in the bays, which in turn means much clearer water. On calm days sight fishing is at its best, and worst. Your ability to see fish is only matched by their ability to see you as well. Extra long casts are necessary to put baits far enough from you and the boat so fish are unaware of your presence. While many monofilaments and braided lines are visible, the use of Fluorocarbon leaders makes the connection between you and your bait invisible. While a “normal” length leader might be a couple of feet long, increasing the length of your leader to 4 or 5 feet will give you an added measure of stealth. Unwary fish are more likely to bite, and longer casts, longer leaders, and the use of a good fluorocarbon material, such as Hi-Seas will give you the stealth edge that may help you catch more fish.
LBF Member: fishingidiot
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| 298. |
Panfish Freshwater
Fishing with a panfish size 10 foam spider fly works very well.I had most luck on a still pond.Hope this helps!
LBF Member: bassboy12345
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| 299. |
Trout Freshwater
If you use power bait on a sliding bait rig, try reeling in the rig slowly. You will cover much more water and the bait will look alive in the water. Use a small #16 treble hook it holds the bait on. Remember all trout hooked with a treble hook should be kept. They die too easily.
LBF Member: met123
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| 300. |
Planter Trout Freshwater
The secret to catch planters is to use a combo of a crappie jig and a fly. I use Southern Pro tube bodies and 1\32 oz jigs.Tie a two foot leader to the hook and tie on a small fly. The trout will either hit the jig or go for the fly. It out fishes power bait every time. An ultra lite out fit is a must.
LBF Member: met123
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| 301. |
Littlefield Lake's Smelt Secret Freshwater
Littlefield Lake is one of the only inland lakes in Michigan that has a worth fishing amount of Smelt. Ice-fisherman have the best luck for the Smelt through early Ice at night using lanterns and tiny spoons with a piece of waxworm. Hope this tip helps!
LBF Member: bassboy12345
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| 302. |
Salt River, Midland county, Michigan Freshwater
The Salt River in Midland county, Michigan is loaded with nice sized smalllies. I had best luck fishing for them with Crayfish and Nightcrawlers. Hope this tip helps!
LBF Member: bassboy12345
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| 303. |
Catching Lots of Chubs Freshwater
I had great luck catching 6 in. hornyhead chub with a single piece of corn. There was a group of about 20 and we caught the 2 largest out of the group in about 3 minutes. We were fishing in the Chipppewa river in Isabella county, Michigan. Hope this tip helps!
LBF Member: bassboy12345
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| 304. |
Secret for Sunfish Freshwater
Sunfish are very easy to catch with waxworms, thats right just little, tiny waxworms. In 5 minutes I already had 2 nice sized Pumkinseeds from Sanford Lake.
LBF Member: bassboy12345
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| 305. |
Catching White Bass Freshwater
A important tip for river White Bass fisherman is to first locate a hungry, feeding school then lure them out with a jig-head or fly and you may end up with your bag limit of hungry White Bass.
LBF Member: bassboy12345
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| 306. |
Catching Dandy Smallmouths Freshwater
If you hook A crawfish under one of it's tail plates it will make a very appealing bait to a hungry river Smallmouth. I caught a very large Smallie on my first cast with this technique.
LBF Member: bassboy12345
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| 307. |
Sanford Lake Freshwater
If you want to fish at a very high panfish population try fishing at Sanford lake in Midland county, Michigan. It also has a high population of pike and muskie. Hope this tip helps!
LBF Member: bassboy12345
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| 308. |
Speearing Redhorse Freshwater
I recently went spearing for Redhorse at the Salt river in Midland county,Michigan. We speared 7 in one night. We had the best luck in the faster moving,slightly shallower, open water.Hope this tip helps!
LBF Member: bassboy12345
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| 309. |
Sight Fishing Saltwater
When fishing the flats always make sure to look for tailing fish in shallow water. Most of the time you can spot these fish before you catch them.
LBF Member: dphil33843
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| 310. |
Balls-O-Fire Greenlabel Freshwater
When going to buy salmon eggs for trout fishing look for the balls-o-fire GREEN LABEL me and my Dad caught 14 Rainbow Trout on the Cainy Fork and 3 were 21 inches (by the way trout-krilla sucks and crawlers are better but awsome for Browns).
LBF Member: Fishin-kid
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| 311. |
fake leeches Freshwater
when out on the water and nothing working for you give this a try trow a sinker and hook on the being about 1' above the sinker and rip off the the tail of a used black grub and place it on the hook and toss in you line caught lots of nice ones using this technique should try it some time.
LBF Member: NiagaraBassman
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| 312. |
HANDLING A BASS BY A LIP.... Bass Fishing
Right after you reel in a bass, feel free to handle it by its lip and it calms down. then do whatever you have to do...just remember use the right materials.
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| 313. |
Live well fish health Boating
I always add a bottle of frozen water into my live wells during summer months. keep those hogs healthy!
LBF Member: mattc1896
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| 314. |
Getting the most out of used plastics General Fishing
If your like me, After a fishing trip you have a lot of used plastics. The majority of them are tore to pieces but some just have "hook holes". I have a big ziplock bag that I keep all my used plastics in. When I get home (or find time) I take each one and inspect it to see if I can use it again.
If it is useable (not alot of damage) I will take my soldering Iron Pen tip and get it just hot enough to melt the plastic. That way it seals all the holes in the plastics. When I use all of the product in one bag, I will put Like colored baits in the same bag so they wont bleed different colors. The funny thing is, is when the color do bleed, they make some interesting shades
LBF Member: mattc1896
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| 315. |
Deep Sea fishing tip Saltwater
Next time anybody goes out deep sea fishing do this it works. Take a coke can and cut a strip out about 1/2 in wide and 4 inches long pop a hole in it and have the deckhands slip it on your line and then tie your hook. You guessed it a spinner but when you are a few miles out this works. My dad and I were selling these on the boat for a 1.00 because nobody could figure out what they were.....lol. But we caught more fish than anyone so next time you go take this tip and bring the Icy Hot b/c you will need it that night.
LBF Member: mattc1896
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| 316. |
Senko type worm fishing tip Bass Fishing
Take any size senko and Texas rig it but with NO WEIGHT....then, take a nail weigth and either slip it inside the tail of the bait or....enter on a side of the bait where the bottom bend of the hook is at and thread it in up to the head of the bait until there is no nail weight visual...
How do you know......you know if its working/falling correct if the bait is falling horizontaly...if not tune it until it does...this is the only way besides weightless that i catch fish on a senko with
LBF Member: mattc1896
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| 317. |
tip with spinner-baits General Fishing
add a red trailor hook to your spinning-baits, and eliminate those short strikes! the red hook gives it a "bleeding" look.
LBF Member: mattc1896
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| 318. |
Make your own fishing hotspots! General Fishing
If you own a privite pond, or know a place where they won't mind, try this out. Get 2 milk crates and wire tie them togther. Throw them into an area with little to no cover, and within 24 hours small fish will start to hide in it. Of course where ever the bait fish are, bass will sure be close. We threw a couple into my friends pond, and they work like magic. It kinda stinks, that you have to put plastic in the water, but it doesn't seem to effect anything.
tight lines!
LBF Member: mattc1896
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| 319. |
For better, stronger knots Freshwater
Put a little salivia on your knot before yanking it tight. It might taste kinda funky, but it will make it tighter.
LBF Member: mattc1896
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| 320. |
Pickerel fishing Freshwater
Using a red and white spoon, such as a Red Devil, when fishing for pickerel is a fairly successful method. Recently, when using a spoon smaller than you usually would, you can increase the number of bites you get and still hook the fish.
LBF Member: tjd4229
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Research
