Bluegill Fishing Tips

When and Where To Fish

When early spring hits, it's bluegill season. It's fairly easy to catch bluegill at any local reservoir or stream from May through August, right off the bank. June seems to be the best month, when temperatures are between 70 and 80 in the mid-morning. Bluegill Fishing Online says the best time is when it's around 70 degrees outside.

Bluegills are about everywhere, but it is easier to catch them in ponds or lakes. Many fishermen have a secret bluegill pond. When few people fish it, the bluegill multiply and also get bigger. If you can hit a few ponds and lakes in early spring, you're almost guaranteed to catch some bluegill. After an hour, you'll be offering bluegill tips to others.

How To Fish

Let's talk about what gear to use. These are little fish, so you can buy a inexpensive pole at about any sporting store or even a place like Wal-Mart. If you're teaching children, you can start them off with a button pole so they don't have to flip the bail. Most other fishers like spinning rods. Make sure to use light line, because that's all you need, and a heavier line will possibly scare off the fish.

The simple method for catching bluegill, which works really well, is a bobber and worm. A child as young as 2 can hold a pole and watch the bobber, so it's a great way to learn how to fish. Set the bobber 1 1/2 feet above the worm, which also weighs it down in still water so you won't need weights. You can use this method to catch any small fish, including bluegills. Other great baits are crickets or other small insects that wiggle. You might need to add a splitshot weight with these baits. If you're not stopping by the store on your way out, it's perfectly fine to pull bait from your tackle box. In fact, jigs and rooster tails work great for catching bluegill. You can also land a small trout or perch on either. Jigs are easy because the head is weighted. Just tie a jig on, and you're ready to fish.

April Bass Fishing Tips

The Right Place

Bays and coves that receive sunlight but are sheltered from the wind are high-percentage areas during April. The water in the northwest part of the lake or reservoir in which you are fishing will have the warmest water, so start your search there. Pay close attention to emergent or submerged vegetation along the shoreline, boat docks that extend over shallow water, and fallen timber or trees that hang over the shoreline. Begin fishing with fast-moving baits such as spinnerbaits and try to find active fish. It's also a good idea to tie on a tube or worm and cast into the cover, too, and then work the baits slowly back to the boat.

Off the Shore

While most bass will be in their shallow spawning areas in April, some of the larger, female bass already will have moved out of the shallows. But they are generally not far away and with a little patience, you could hook one. Find the first feature outside of a spawning area--a drop-off or the inside edge of a weedline, for example--and begin fishing there. Remember that these fish are in recuperation mode, so they're probably not willing to chase quick-moving lures. Try a spinnerbait or crankbait to see if you can generate a reaction strike, but don't spend too long slinging these baits. Instead, tie on a plastic worm or a jig and pig and fish slowly along the bottom.

Try a Topwater

There is no more exciting way to catch bass than on topwater baits. And while topwaters tend to work only during specific times during the summer, bass will hit them all day during the spring. Concentrate your effort around shallow cover, especially the open water between the various pieces of cover you find. Cast the bait near the cover and then work it away from the cover and back to the boat. Poppers and buzzbaits both can be effective topwater selections, but it's important to fish them slowly. In the case of buzzbaits, reel them only fast enough to keep the blade spinning and the lure on top of the water.

Flounder Fishing Tips

Hook and Line

Hook, line, and rod and reel can all be used to catch flounder. Flounder will hit on nearly anything you present close enough to their faces. Cut bait, plastic grub or even live bait can draw a strike from a hungry flounder. A plastic grub with a bit of cut bait or the swim bladder from a cut-bait fish on the hook make a very popular combination. Flounder lie on the bottom and face up-current. They then wait for food to be carried over them by the current. They can frequently be found congregated around gaps in breakwaters and under bridge lights and any other place that would concentrate their foodstuffs, which include larval crabs, shrimp, menhaden and other small baitfish. Cast your bait up-current and allow it to drift over such areas. This is a very effective way to hook up with some nice flounder.

Gig

Flounder can be taken with a gig or spear and a light at night at low tide. Mainly in the summer months into early fall, the flounder will migrate onto broad shallow areas. Wade into the water up to your knees or less, then shine a light onto the bottom. The flounder will be visible and blinded by the light, so you can walk right up and spear the fish in the head. Spearing the fish's head instead of the body ensures you will not introduce sand into the meat. Run a stringer through the fish's mouth before withdrawing the spear so the flounder doesn't escape.

Caution

Be careful when wading for flounder. It is common to find stingrays in the same areas as flounder. Take care to drag your feet over the sandy bottom; don't pick them up to take steps. If you slide your foot into a stingray, chances are he will be startled and swim away, and you will be unharmed. However, if you step on a stingray, he will most likely barb you, and that is a most unpleasant situation.

Ice Fishing Tips for Walleye Fishing

When

Due to the nature of the walleye's vision it is mainly a night feeder. The fish has a layer of pigment that exists in its retina known as the tapetum lucidum that allows it to see when there is no light. Fish for walleyes in the early hours right before dawn, when the light is still low or from dusk until well after dark. While this may sound like a tough proposition, ice shelters, special suits to keep you warm and glow sticks (for tip-ups that allow you to see when a flag goes up) keeps things more comfortable than one would imagine. Few other fish are actively seeking to feed at night, so competition among species for your bait or lure will be mainly between the walleye and the crappie.

In lakes and river bays where the water is "dirty," meaning that its clarity is very low, walleyes will tend to feed throughout the day, allowing ice fisherman to have a chance to catch them. However, in clear water the walleye is easily spooked during the daylight hours, so fishing for them in shallow water where they are close to the ice layer will often prove fruitless. It is better to target deeper waters if one must fish in crystal clear lakes during the day and to choose overcast weather to fish under rather than cloudless "bluebird" skies.

Where

Drill multiple holes in the ice at the end of points of land that jut out into the water. Walleye will tend to be in the shallows during the first ice and make their way to deeper waters once the winter wears on. Walleyes favor moving water, so if you can locate a feeder stream or a spring, concentrate your efforts there--provided the ice is safe. Anywhere that you can see vibrant green weeds growing under the water you may find walleyes. You may also find them at what can best be described as underwater islands, where humps of the bottom stick up above the rest of the terrain. In the weedbeds, the walleyes will cruise around and above them looking for prey but typically do not go into the weeds looking for other fish.

How

It is important to avoid spooking the skittish walleyes once they have begun to bite. It's always a good idea to drill more holes than you need at first in case the fish do begin biting. This way you will not scare the fish with the noise from drilling once the bite is on. A 10-inch diameter hole is the optimal size. Tip-ups should be rigged with at least a 10-pound test braided line, while jigging rods can have between six and 10 pound test on them. When jigging under the ice for walleye it is easy to scare the fish with overactive motions of the lure. An easy up-and-down movement of a jig head, lure or spoon tipped with a piece of a minnow will suffice in most cases. Those that choose to place tip-ups in a hole and wait for a flag to go up indicating a walleye has bitten the bait can use minnows and shiners at least 3-inches long; the 6-inch long sucker minnows are the best to use and will stay alive when hooked behind the dorsal fin. However, as these minnows can be strong swimmers and may elude a walleye as it bears down on it, you should handicap it with a large split shot--a round weight that can be attached to the line. Place the split shot about 8 to 10 inches above the minnow to keep it from swimming upward and forcing it to remain down in the hole.

Sea Bass Fishing Tips

Seasonal Temperature Considerations

Take seasonal temperatures into account. Sea bass and most other fish will come closer to shore during colder months because the shallower water is warmer. During warm months, they will retreat into slightly deeper water, which is cooler and more comfortable. It should be noted that sea bass feed heavily just before a cold front arrives, then slow their feeding until a few days after it has passed.

Fishing in Different Weather Conditions

Consider the weather conditions. Bad weather also can drive fish into deeper water. Deep water is less turbulent and not as badly affected by surface rain as shallow water. If it is raining, expect to fish deep waters to catch sea bass. Many fishermen recommend using only live bait if it is raining because the fish will be on heightened alert and less likely to lunge for a brightly colored lures.

Where do Sea Bass Gather

Choose the right location. Sea bass usually feed near the edges of reefs and underwater wrecks. Smaller fish make their habitat on the deep sides where these structures drop. Bass feed on the smaller fish. Knowing where reefs and shipwrecks are located can give you an advantage when fishing for sea bass. Check local bait shops or talk to fisherman in the area and ask where their favorite places to fish are located.

What Bait Attracts Sea Bass

Use the right bait to increase your chances of catching a lot of sea bass. There are a large number of lures and weighted jigs on the market that are specifically designed for sea bass fishing. Many seasoned fishermen recommend using squid for bait. Cut the squid into strips that are around 4 inches long and place them on a snelled hook. These are fish hooks attached to a leader line with a loop at the top, which allows you to float the snell behind other lures. Leave a length of squid hanging from the hook like a tail and lure the sea bass.

Follow the Rules

Familiarize yourself with local regulations before fishing for sea bass. There is typically a limit on the number of fish that can be caught without a commercial fishing license. In most states this limit is 25 sea bass per person per day. There also might be minimum size requirements based on how much the fish weighs or how long it is from head to tale. Call the telephone number on the back of your fishing license to ask a wildlife official about local regulations for catching sea bass.

Ice Bass Fishing Tips

Equipment

Rig tip-ups with 75 to 100 yards of 20-pound test braided Dacron line. Attach to this a 4-foot long leader of fluorocarbon. This type of fishing line has the same refractive powers as water does. When immersed in the water, it is invisible to a bass. Rig this leader with a No. 4 hook and place a single split-shot a foot above it to hold the minnow or shiner down. When jigging for bass, use a medium to heavy ice fishing rod to handle the fight a bass can give through the ice. Spool on 8- to 10-pound test fluorocarbon line until you reach the line capacity on your reel. Tie on your favorite artificial jigs that produce bass for you in warm weather.

When and Where

The same depth water that holds bass in the summer might not do so in the winter. Bass tend to flock to deeper water after first ice in shallow lakes. Use topographical maps of lakes in your area to find the deepest waters. Early morning or late afternoon are prime feeding times for bass under the ice. Concentrate your efforts on deeper channels that run through large lakes. Remember that bass will be close by to where their food source is. Weeds that stay green in low light conditions offer fish a place to hide, a source of food and higher oxygen levels. In most lakes and large ponds, these weeds will attract smaller fish, which in turn will entice bass. Electronic fish finders can be of great help in locating bass and their prey through the ice.

Setting the Hook

Once a tip-up flag goes up in the air, carefully walk to it to avoid falling or scaring the fish. Bass typically will grab a bait headfirst, and then head off with it. Extended line out under the ice will indicate the bait has been taken. The reel will be moving as the bass swims off with your minnow or shiner. Remove the tip-up from the hole and grab the line so the fish will not detect anything being askew. Give a hard tug on the line to set the hook, then begin to bring the line in hand over hand. If the line suddenly stops screaming off the reel before you have a chance to set the hook wait a few seconds. Try to feel the fish by gently pulling on the line and attempt to set the hook if you can feel the fish moving.

Tips on Fishing With Copper Line

Size/Weight

First choose the depth you'll be fishing and then the weight of line you'll need.

Decide which length works best for you and the location you're fishing, and then consider the weight you'll need to use, advises Trails.com. Copper line is available in 30 lb. test and 45 lb. test, the latter being heavier and therefore considered to be more versatile.

More simply, 30 lb will drop about five to six feet for every ten yards of line reeled out. 45 lb drops seven to nine feet for the same amount of line. This may vary depending on your trolling speed (how fast you pull your line through the water) and how heavy your bait is.

Spooling

Don't go too tight when spooling copper line on your reel, according to Opti-Tackle Co. Make sure it's "just snug." Don't let the spool lie flat on the ground when winding it on your reel either, because it can cause extra loops in the line. A good way to spool the line is to hold a screwdriver in the center of the spool horizontally and allow the line to roll off the top, while another person winds it onto the reel.

Knots

To attach a leader, an Albright knot or an overhand knot will work best.

To attach a leader properly, Game and Fish magazine recommends that you tie an overhand knot in the copper line, and thread the line through that knot to tie a cinch knot around the "standing" wire.

An Albright knot will also work. Double the end of the copper line, making a loop, and thread the leader through the loop, wrapping it several times around the doubled copper line toward the end of the loop. Once you've done that, thread the leader back through and pull the knot tight, trimming the loose ends.

Deploying the Line

Reduce slack in your line to lower the copper line at a slower rate.

Copper line sinks faster than traditional line because it is heavier. To keep your slack at a minimum, Trails.com recommends that you control the rate it sinks by using a bait clicker. A clicker lets you know when you have a fish on your line. You'll hear a click, click sound. This will reduce slack and lower the copper line at a slower rate.

What Not to Do with Copper Line

Opti-Tackle Co. warns that copper line should never be attached directly to a "planner board" (a board that allows you to fish with several lines simultaneously, without becoming tangled). It will fray or weaken the copper line. Copper is a soft metal, and using a swivel or crimping it is also not advised. Copper line is not recommended for use in salt water, which will corrode and weaken the line.

Carp Fishing Tips

Bait

Carp bite on a variety of inexpensive baits, including corn, worms, potatoes, chick peas and dough balls. They also bite on commercial or homemade carp bait known as "boilies." The art of making and choosing boilies is an honored one among carp anglers. Boilies come in a variety of colors, flavors and ingredients but all basically are protein-rich pastes bound with eggs and boiled to a hardened state. Boilies offer the advantage of longevity in and out of the water. They also resist unwanted fish and can be cast long distances with accuracy.

Though commonly thought of as trash fish, carp are very choosy eaters, taking bait into their mouths several times and spitting them out before swallowing. Any sign of danger or any bait they don't like or trust will cause them to reject the bait and move on. If you find a bait flavor that works in an area, you might want to stick with it. But you also should have some alternates available in case the carp become wary.

Baiting Techniques

If you plan to fish the same area for several days, scatter some loose bait and allow the carp to find and feed on it. This attracts carp to an area and builds feeding confidence, making them more likely to take your hook bait. Some anglers prebait an area over the course of several days to several weeks. Over time, it's a great way to attract larger carp to the area. Particle bait, such as corn, chick peas, hemp seed, nuts and pellets often are used for this purpose. But make sure it is properly prepared before using.

Rigs

Placing bait directly onto a hook is a great way to have it rejected by wary carp. To avoid this, you might want to use one of many varieties of hair rigs. With a hair rig, the bait is positioned away from the hook on a "hair" so the carp will accept it. These rigs can be purchased or easily made by hand. This rigging can be incorporated with a variety of bait presentations, including a pop-up rig, where the bait floats above the bottom; a blow-back rig, where the hook remains in the mouth even when the bait is rejected; and a greedy-pig rig, which accommodates several baits on the hair to attract bigger carp.

Ice Fishing Tips for River Walleye

Timing Is Everything

Check the ice report by talking to the local Department of Natural Resources or Fish and Game office to find out if the ice in the area is thick enough to support fishing. Four inches, in most cases, is considered safe to hold a full-grown man. Early-season ice fishing for walleye is traditionally considered the best. Bait fish have a tendency to enter the river systems to avoid the deeper water predators, giving walleye a strong food supply and an active habitat in which to eat. Once the ice is thick enough, head out either in the early morning or toward dusk, avoiding the brightest part of the day, during which the light-sensitive walleye tend to become inactive. Drill your hole, or spud one, and clean it out with an ice scoop. Make sure your hole is large enough to accommodate a large walleye, which typically will weigh around 3 lbs., but you could snag one as large as 10.

Jigging Is Recommended

Walleye are light biters, so make sure to keep your eye on your pole tip or your finger on the line to feel for a bite. Use brightly colored jigs---yellow is highly recommended for the yellow perch that is a natural meal for walleye---and bait with minnows or nightcrawlers. Begin with a very active jigging technique, feeling for the weight of the walleye when you lift up. If active jigging isn't bringing in bites, slow your technique, even allowing rests in between jigs. Walleye will, typically, bite on the rest, so make be alert and prepared to set the hook.

Change It Up a Little

If typical jigging techniques aren't working, try mixing up your offers a little. If you're in deep enough water, try using a spinner bait or a spoon to attract a walleye's attention. In addition, turning your fishing line between your fingers will give your jig a spinning motion which should stand out to other fish in the area. Another technique, called "clipping," could draw some attention as well. Take a small to medium minnow and use a pair of fingernail clippers to snip off a portion of its top or bottom fin. Hook it through both lips and drop it in a hole next to your primary fishing hole. Jig actively with a minnow bait attached. The clipped minnow will swim erratically due to the imbalance the shortened fin has caused and your jig will give the appearance of an active predator fish coming to investigate, making it an easy target for larger game fish to hit. Try not to get your lines tangled and, if you do, just open one reel and pull the other line in, untangling them once you find the problem above the ice.

Staying Safe

While late season walleye have a tendency to be more aggressive as they are entering their spawning season, be mindful of the thickness of the ice you are fishing on. Be especially careful fishing near or under bridges, as ice tends to be thinner and more dangerous there.

White Bass Fishing Tips

White bass characteristics

White bass are a school-based fish that isn't known to occupy a set depth of water. These fish are found throughout most of North America and are known as a top-choice for anglers due to their taste and general size between 2 to 3 pounds, some as high as 4 to 5 pounds. The fish spawn in late spring and early summer, right about the time that water temperatures begin to reach 60 degrees.

Spring and summer techniques

Use a 5- or 6-foot rod that is capable of handling medium to medium-heavy action. Spinner baits, spoons and crank baits have all been known to have a high success rate with white bass, which feeds based primarily on sight and sound. In temporarily murky or muddied waters, which white bass do not normally habitat other than for short periods of time, vibrating spinning lures are known to work well. If you have access to a boat, troll the area looking for 15- to 40-foot depths, using a slow jigging motion behind the boat. If using a spinner or crank bait, let the lure trail behind the boat before starting a reel-and-stop technique and repeating the tactic once you've reeled your lure all the way in.

Winter techniques

Casting on open water and reeling in a spinner is not very realistic in the winter months when many areas ice over. Try using brightly colored jigs with minnows hooked through both lips as your primary bait. Jig up and down to draw attention. If you're intent on using plugs or spinner baits in the winter, try looking for a dam and casting into the calmer backwaters.

Michigan Sucker Fishing Tips

Rapidly Flowing Rivers

The main habitat of suckers is a fast flowing, cold river. Suckers prefer sandy or gravel bottom areas. Locating logical areas in a river is the first step in catching a sucker.

Cold Lakes

If you do not have access to a cold, fast-flowing river, the next best option for finding suckers is a deep, cold lake. Suckers will most likely be located in the deepest parts of the lake with a gravel bottom. You will want to use a bottom rig, since suckers will be located at the bottom of the lake.

Food

Suckers eat insects, worms, and snails. When deciding which bait to use, keep in mind what suckers eat. You probably won't have much luck if you use a lure, because suckers do not feed off other fish. Real worms, night crawlers, rubber worms, or flies (such as nymph and wet fly patterns) are probably your best bet. Suckers have a small mouth, so you want to use a small hook, such as a size 10 or smaller.

Springtime

Suckers spawn in early spring in shallow, fast-flowing tributaries. They tend to be more aggressive while spawning, so they are more likely to go after your bait.

Bass Fishing: Wii Tips

Choosing Your Lure

"Sega Bass Fishing" includes more than 20 lures, each with their preferred environment and fish type. The goal of the game is to get the biggest bass you possibly can. Fly fishing lures are great for trout and other fish types, but for the bass go with weighted lures. To choose the right weighted lure, look at the background of the level where the water meets the shore. There will be two to three colors used primarily at the shore line. Try to select a weighted lure that has these colors to attract the largest bass possible for that level. The colors will vary depending on the level, but you can change lures as many times as necessary to select the right one.

Cheats

For the aspiring novice fisherman, as if the fish weren't enough, often the timer will be your biggest enemy. Fortunately there is a cheat that can help give you a bit more breathing room. To activate this cheat, press: A, B, Y, X, Y, A, B, L, R, Y, X, A, B, A, Y, X, Y. When you hear the tournament announcer shout the word "Fish," you will see your time start and not change. When you want to finish the level, press "start" and "return to the docks."

The Key to Casting

Casting on the surface is simple enough; you hold down the A button and use the Wii-mote to make a flicking motion with your wrist. For more realism you can use your whole arm to draw back and then swing forward like a real fishing rod. The key to a successful cast is to release the A button when the controller is approximately level to the floor, with your arm fully extended. This will increase the maximum distance of your cast.

Hot Tips for September Bass Fishing

Follow Baitfish

September is often the time of year when baitfish transition from deep to shallow water and bass often follow. Clumps of baitfish can be located by sonar. Look for pieces of isolated shallow cover with baitfish nearby; these areas will often hold bass. Exactly how shallow depends on the lake; 15 feet is often a good depth, but this is not a firm rule. Creek mouths, drop-offs, points, channels, rock piles and irregularities in a weedline are good producers. Places with current are attractive to bass as well. Bass may be well-fed, in which case you will have to agitate them into biting.

Cover a Lot of Water

When you come to an area that you believe holds bass and baitfish, start by covering a lot of water with a fast-paced lure. This will catch most of the more active bass, as well as give you an idea of what specific spots within the overall area hold the most fish. Writer and fisherman Vic Attardo advocates using a buzzbait when you see bass breaking the surface or when the surface is rippled but not choppy. Poppers, crankbaits and spinnerbaits are other so-called "run-and-gun" techniques to cover water and find bass fast.

Be Thorough

Once the fast bite slows down, switch to a slower, more subtle technique and focus on small areas and specific pieces of cover. This will target bass that are too full or inactive to bite. It is important to make repeated casts to a piece of cover; making one cast and moving on will inevitably cause you to miss fish. Professional fisherman Woo Daves often casts a series of different lures to the same piece of cover in an attempt to rouse strikes. If you are fishing around wood and rocks, tie on a diving crankbait and bang it into the cover. Carolina-rigged soft plastics are also great for thoroughly exploring an area.

How Ice Fishing Tip-Ups Work

Wooden tip-ups

The most commonly used ice fishing tip-up is one that is made of wood and metal. These wooden tip-ups come in many styles but each accomplishes its task in basically the same manner. The tip-up opens up in such a way that it can be positioned over a hole made in the ice by the anglers. As the tip-up sits over the hole an arm that holds a reel will either be in the water or over the water, dropping a line down into the hole. When a fish grabs the bait on the hook at the end of the line it triggers a red or orange flag on a slender metal strip on the tip-up to go up in the air. This is achieved via a trigger mechanism that runs from the reel upwards to where the flag is attached to it. When a small notch on the reel trips this thin wire mechanism, causing it to turn, it releases the flag attached to a notch on the other end by knocking it off its "perch." This makes the flag, which has been bent over into position and placed into the notch, to spring up, alerting the angler that a fish has bitten the bait and is running with it. The ice fisherman will arrive at the tip-up, take it from the water, grab the line and set the hook before trying to pull the fish up through the hole.

Polar thermal tip-ups

A more modern type of tip-up is called a polar thermal tip-up. It is shaped like a disc and made out of tough plastic material. The polar thermal tip-up has an arm on it that folds down, dropping the reel into the water on one end, with a "T" shaped top on the other end that is perpendicular to the flat disc. When line runs off the reel it turns the arm and makes the top spin. The flag arm of a polar tip-up is a telescoping piece of metal that can be pulled out and placed so that it is held beneath the "T" top of the arm. When the reel arm spins the flag is released and goes up in the air. The angler will see the flag up and proceed to the tip-up, take it out of the hole, and set the hook to try to catch the fish. Polar thermal tip-ups sit right over a hole and cover the entire opening, keeping the hole from freezing over even in very cold conditions.

HT polar tip-up

This type of tip-up is a cross between a wooden tip-up and a polar tip-up. Made of plastic it is rectangular in shape and it has a spring loaded flag sitting on one end of it. The reel arm swings down, putting the reel into the water in the hole while the top end has the same "T" shaped trigger that the polar tip-up employs. The flag arm is tucked under the "T" and will go up when a fish takes the bait, making the reel arm spin and releasing the extended flag arm. HT Polar tip-ups are easy to deploy and easy to pick up at the end of the day.

How to Build an Ice Fishing Tip-Up

Instructions

1

Cut the 2-by-4 lumber into 24-inch sections, and then cut one end of each section into a point using the circular saw. Next cut a 2-inch by 2-inch square notch in the end of the 2-by-4 opposite the point. This is where the rod will sit, and the notches should be as even as you can get them.

2

Build the rod by cutting the 1-inch dowel rods into 28-inch sections with the circular saw. Mount the spinning reel at one end of the rod, and then screw one eyelet into the rod right in front of the reel and one at the very end of the rod, opposite the reel. Thread the fishing line through these eyelets, and then measure 8 inches from the reel end of the rod and place a nail on either side of the rod. This is what the rod will balance on when you set the tip-up.

3

Assemble the tip-up by driving the 2-by-4 into the snow near your fishing hole. Pull out some line from the reel, bait your hook and drop it through the hole. Balance your rod on the nails in the notch at the top of the 2x4 and watch for it to point or tip-up when a fish hits the bait.

Fishing Bait Tips

The options

The three most commonly used types of bait are minnows, leeches, and nightcrawlers (worms). Their sizes range from small to large, and beyond, and can be used to catch nearly any fish that swims. Other bait options include crickets, crayfish, frogs, and grasshoppers. Some of the most sought-after game fish, and the bait options to lure them, are: Sunfish (small minnows, leeches, worms, and insects); walleyes (leeches, minnows, nightcrawlers, and frogs); bass (crayfish, minnows, leeches, frogs, and nightcrawlers); pike (large minnows and frogs); muskies (large minnows and frogs).

Keep it fresh

Live bait is so effective at tempting fish to bite is because it looks and behaves naturally, even when it is impaled on a hook. But anglers must take care of their bait in order for it to be effective. All bait should be kept in cool, shaded areas that are not in the direct sunlight. Leeches and minnows must be kept in cool water with plenty of oxygen. Worms also should be kept in cool temperatures, and in moist soil or in newspaper that is moist and torn up. Keep frogs and crayfish in boxes or crates with a little bit of water. Insects can be stored in boxes. Whatever the type, it's a good idea to use the bait as soon as possible after buying or catching it.

Rigging

There are generally two rigging methods for bait: fishing it on a live-bait rig or underneath a bobber. A live-bait rig generally consists of a walking sinker, swivel, leader, and hook. Those types of rigs are especially effective for walleyes, northern pike, and bass. Some baits, especially frogs and crayfish, can be fished on a hook and nothing else. With the exception of frogs, which need air to remain active, any bait can be impaled on a hook and fished beneath a bobber. That rig, includes the bobber, a split shot sinker or two and a hook. Just make sure the bobber is big enough so the bait itself does not pull the bobber underneath the water.

Active and alive

Whenever you are fishing with bait, and no matter what type of rig you are using, make sure your bait stays alive and active. While a leech that hangs limply off the end of a hook likely would not tempt any fish to bait, the same leech, if kept fresh, would swim seductively and be far more likely to cause a fish to bite. Check your bait every so often to make sure it is fresh. To do so, hold it in your hand and see if it moves, or put the bait, with the hook still in it, in the water just off the side of the boat and make sure it swims and is active. If your bait is not active, change to one that is.

Hawaii Shore Fishing Tips

Tackle

As with any fishing excursion, it is important to have the right tackle, which will make the experience easier and more pleasant. Shore fishing requires a relatively long fishing pole, such as 12 feet in length, and a reel with a high capacity. This will ensure that if you hook a larger fish, the equipment will be strong enough to reel it in. 20 pound fishing line is recommended as a suitable line; however, for targeting smaller fish, 12 pound line will be enough. Bring some fishing weights to attach to the fishing line, so when you cast the bait will drop far enough below the water line for fish to see it.

Proper Bait

Using the proper bait off the shores of Hawaii will increase your chances of catching some of the local species. As with all fish, they each have certain preferences for food, so one bait will likely attract a particular species of fish over another. Live bait is much more effective for shore fishing than synthetic lures. Some bait options that work well with the Hawaii fish are octopus, squid, sand crabs, sand turtles or the local fish species of oama. A cheap option for bait is to head to the supermarket and pick up some frozen squid.

Try Dunking

Dunking is a popular method of fishing on Hawaii shores. It is best described as casting the weighted line and bait relatively far offshore, than anchoring your rod on the beach and waiting till a fish takes the bait. This allows the angler to sit back and relax while waiting for action or tension to appear on the fishing line. The bait will attract the fish, so it is not necessary to have constant movement on the line. Waiting could take seconds or minutes, but it is a more relaxing way of shore or beach fishing in Hawaii.

How to Remove a Fishing Rod Tip to Replace It

Instructions

1

Clip off any lure or hooks at the end of the fishing line and reel in the line entirely into the reel.

2

Grip the tip blank where it connects to the next larger rod blank moving down the rod itself. There is a ferrule connecting the two. Grip at the ferrule.

3

Twist the two rod blanks at the ferrule, gently, until the tip blank begins to come off the other blank.

4

Pull the tip up and off the remaining parts of the rod.

How to Rig an Ice Fishing Tip-Up

Instructions

How to Rig an Ice Fishing Tip-Up

1

Put enough line onto the reel of the tip-up so that any fish that takes the bait cannot "spool" your tip-up. When a fish spools a tip-up it takes all the line off of the reel and often snaps the line from the reel and escapes. Tie your line to the reel and wind enough of it around so that you have at least 30 yards of it on the reel. Use braided line that is at least 20 pound test.

2




Tie a swivel to the end of the line using a clinch knot. Send the line through the hook's eye and then double back with the line and make a total of five turns with the line around the line going into the eyes of the hook. Now put the end of your line through the first loop you made of the five above the eye of the hook and then pass it through the bigger loop that this creates. Pull the line tight and you have a clinch knot. Make sure that you slide the now tight five coils down the line aginst the eye of the hook. Once a swivel is on your line it can opened up and hooks or leaders can be attached. A swivel gives you the luxury of not having to cut the line continually as you switch set-ups.

3

Attach a leader to the swivel with the same type of clinch knot. The leader can be a piece of mono-filament line about three feet long. Utilize a higher test line, about 25 pounds, for fish like pike and a lighter test, about ten pound test, for species such as bass, walleyes, pickerel, and crappies.

4

Secure a treble hook to the leader, once again employing the clinch knot. Using a treble hook increases your chances greatly of hooking the fish. Determine the size of your hook by how large the bait you will be attaching to it is.

5

Place a split shot above the treble hook. Attach the weight about six inches above the hook to keep the bait down. Live shiners will tend to try to swim up towards the hole unless there is enough weight to keep them down. Larger shiners may require two split shots to keep them in the bite zone below the ice.

6

Fix your bait to the hook. Hook a shiner either in the lip or through the back to the rear of its dorsal fin. The tip-up is now rigged and ready to be deployed above the hole in the ice.

Tips About Steelhead Fishing

Where to Find Steelhead

According to the NOAA Office of Protected Resources, steelhead spend a large portion of their young lives in the freshwater river pools where they were spawned until moving on to the salty seawater, returning as adults once a year only to reproduce. It is on those trips back to their freshwater rivers to spawn that it is easiest to determine when and where the fish will be. Study the patterns of the river you choose on a yearly basis and develop a feel for where the steelhead return to each time for the best luck in catching larger numbers.

Locating Steelhead

Steelhead prefer water that is sheltered from the current. Look for this "holding water" behind dams or dykes, fallen trees or rock crops. The steelheads also prefer to remain separate from other fish and typically spawn on the outskirts of fishery areas. This protects their eggs from other fish.

Keys to a Successful Set

Steelhead are stealthy fish that can take the bait gently. Be aware of any bite on your line and set the hook fast and hard. A second pull to "double set" the hook is a good idea to get a firm hook. The best way to ensure a steelhead on the line is to get the bait right at the proper level of as many fish as possible. Use a float to put the bait between the surface and the riverbed for the best level to attract steelhead. Use spinners and spoons when you cast and a sinker with a large fly for fly-fishing. Use one method and practice it to perfection rather than using them all for the best results.

Know the Law

In many areas of the Pacific Northwest where the most popular steelhead fishing exists in Oregon and Washington rivers, regulations insist on catch-and-release fishing. Use a hook without barb to make the release easier on both you and the fish. Avoid pulling the fish all the way into the boat whenever possible and keep it in at least six inches of water for the best health of the released fish.