Local Bass Fishing
March 15, 2008
If you are like me, you love to fish at the drop of a hat. While I do plan fishing trips, I also like to go on a whim.
Sometimes the urge strikes out of nowhere and I get up and go right now. Or, maybe I want to stop on the way home from work (or go instead of work like any bass fisherman worth his salt would do).
But then again, living in the city, there are not many places I can get to quickly enough to accommodate this habit. Most of the lakes in my area are over an hour’s drive away, which is reasonable unless you are in a hurry.
After being frustrated by this, I decided to start a campaign to help scratch the itch a little bit. Talking to people didn’t help much because very few of them were privy to any local fishing holes. So I turned to the Internet.
Bingo. I discovered a bunch of local parks that had ponds in them stocked with largemouth bass and catfish. So with that information and the help of Yahoo maps, I set out to learn every fishing hole in every local park that I could find. I’m still working on it.
River Rafting in Colorado
March 14, 2008
The sport of river rafting was practically invented in Colorado. In the late 1960s Bill Dvorak came up with many safety standards for equipment and many guidelines for proper rafting technique. His Dvorak Expeditions company was the first licensed river recreation outfitter in the country. In the decades since, river rafting has become a hugely popular pastime in Colorado and around the world. Colorado river rafting is some of the best in the world. Some of the most notable of Colorado’s many rivers are the Arkansas River, the Colorado River, and the Dolores River. Each one offers rafters a unique and exciting experience.
The Arkansas River starts near Leadville, Colorado and extends through the Midwest, cutting through Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas before emptying into the Mississippi River. There are many beautiful and famous sights on the Arkansas River, including Royal Gorge and Big Horn Sheep Canyon. The rapids on the Arkansas River range from class II all the way to Class V, depending on the part of the river. There are countless excursions offered on different stretches of the Arkansas River lasting from a half day to several days.
Fishing the Points
March 13, 2008
Sometimes bass fishing in a big lake can be overwhelming. Do you fish deep? Fish the banks? Are they out in open water? What? This will depend on the lake, the time of year, the time of day and many other factors such as air and water temperature. There is no short answer; no hard and fast rule. But mostly, to put yourself on fish, you are going to be looking for cover and structure. Cover is vegetation and things like that where bass can hide. Structure is things like drop offs, road beds, creeks, stumps and such. There is a good way to combine these and that is to look for points on the lake; especially points near quick drop offs and creek channels. Points are areas of the shore that come to a ‘point’ in the lake. Often these will be on the outside of, or the entrance to, coves, but not always. That’s just to give you an idea of how one might look. It simply sticks out from the rest of the shoreline. Quick drop offs are important because bass will hang around these points and depend on the drop offs as an escape route in case trouble comes calling. So if you see a point in just a few feet of water, and see that not too far from the point the water quickly gets deep, this point might be a good prospect for holding fish. The point itself should be fished thoroughly, but you should also seek bass along the sides of points, especially if there is cover like grass, weeds, reeds, etc. If the point is off of a cove, very early morning or the evening might be a good time to fish the cove. But, as the day progresses hit the points. If you don’t find the bass on the point, try the deeper water next to the point. They may have retreated to it as the daylight and the heat came. Bass try to avoid sunlight because it hurts their eyes. I prefer to use plastics on points; worms, crawfish and lizards. I like to Texas Rig these to be weedless. I also like to use a Carolina Rig which helps to keep the bait in the strike zone longer and gives it a little more action. You could also do well using a spinnerbait or crankbait. So, very early in the morning hit the coves. As the bite slows, you will want to move out to the points where the fish have gone. Then, as that bite slows, try fishing plastics in the deeper waters next to the points. As evening comes on, you will reverse this process, heading back to the points, then into the coves. It’s important to understand the movement of the fish and keep up with them. Certainly, you will find a lone drifter now and then, but using this method you will be much more likely to be consistent in your catch. After all, you are out there to catch bass, right? Good luck.
River Rafting in Washington State
March 12, 2008
The great state of Washington offers some of the best white-water rafting in the entire country. There are around 15 rivers in Washington state that are great for river rafting. Some of the most famous are the Klickitat, the Yakima, and the Skagit rivers. Each offers a unique Washington river rafting experience.
There are several river recreation outfitters in Washington that specialize in river rafting tours on a variety of Washington rivers. These tours can vary in length from one afternoon to several days. The outfitters usually arrange for accommodations on tours lasting multiple days. Each river recreation outfitter offers trips for rafters at different skill levels. Some of the rivers are rated Class V, which is the rating for the most hazardous rivers navigable, while others are Class I, which means they are a leisurely float suitable for the whole family. Most outfitters offer river tours from May through August, with tours on particular rivers continuing through the fall.
The Klickitat River provides some of the most exciting rafting that Washington has to offer. In the early spring months, runoff created by melting snow from Mt. Adams and the Goat Rock Wilderness drains into the river. This water provides some great rapids, creating adventurous Class III rapids. The river is between 17 and 21 miles long, depending on the water level, and takes about a day to navigate.
Trout Fishing Techniques
March 11, 2008
One of the most popular trout fishing techniques is called trolling. Trolling is popular as far as trout fishing techniques go because on still bodies of fresh water like lakes and ponds, the act of fishing for trout is meant to be as relaxing and enjoyable as the act of catching trout is exhilarating.
Of all the trout fishing techniques available, trolling is one of the easiest to perform. It can be done by all experience levels from beginner to expert and by all ages from six to sixty. But don’t let this fool you. Although trolling is one of the easiest trout fishing techniques, it is also one of the most effective. A well-executed troll in a stocked lake will give you very satisfying results.
What you’ll need for trolling is a fishing boat equipped with oars or a motor for propulsion, your rod and reel, your troll (blade string) and a lure. You will let your troll and lure out behind your moving boat, using both the length of your line and the speed of your boat to determine how deep you’ll be fishing. When fishing anytime between spring and fall, in most lakes, you should aim for about 15 to 50 feet down from the surface.
A Review of Popular River Rafting Trips and Services
March 10, 2008
Organized river rafting trips are a good idea for novices and experts alike. River rafting tours provide all of the equipment, guidance, and instruction necessary. If the trip covers several days, the rafting company may provide camping accommodations as well. Trips are available for rafters of all skill levels, from beginners rafting for the first time, to skilled experts looking for the toughest rivers in the country.
River rafting tours are offered on many major rivers in the country. Trips are available in many different lengths, varying from an afternoon to a two week trek. River rafting trips designed for families as well as trips that cater to experienced rafters are available almost anywhere. While much river rafting is done in the Southwest, it is by no means the only place for a river rafting adventure. North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and many other states have great rivers for rafting.
A couple of well-established river rafting outfitters are Dvorak Expeditions, California River Rafting Excitement, and the Nantahala Outdoor Center. All three of these companies offer great guides, top-of-the-line equipment, and routes on some of the best rivers.
Back To Fish School….Baitfish 101
March 10, 2008
Class Is In Session…. Baitfish 101
Okay.
So you would think that in this information age we fishermen and fisherwomen would have all the knowledge of baitfishing at our fingertips.
Evidently, some of us have been slow to enter this information age, so as a public service I am going to pass along some rather “common sense” information that apparently isn’t being absorbed by the fishing world.
This information is being sent, with the hope that if 200 people read this article and then they tell 200 people and so on and so forth,maybe, just maybe enough people will get the message.
I have enlisted Professor R. O. Tenone, the famous expert on natural fish carnage, to explain the use of “live baitfish” and it’s effect on lakes and rivers. We join the professor midstream on his lecture…..
…….”Zo class, as you can zee ze Goldfish, why making a very nice pet for ze vindowzil and bringing zmiles to zee faces of zee many kids, makes a very poor choice when uzing it azz bait for catching zee big one!”
“Vy you ask?”
River Rafting: An Overview
March 9, 2008
White-water rafting can be one of the most exhilarating experiences of a lifetime. River rafters see breathtaking scenery, get great exercise, and experience terrific adventure. There are great places to go river rafting all over the world, but many of the best rivers for white-water rafting are here in the United States.
It’s a good idea to contact a licensed river rafting agency to plan a rafting trip. These agencies, found near most major rivers, provide trained guides and planned routes for rafting rides. Many agencies also provide training for novice river rafters. These services are especially good for people rafting for the first time.
River rafting has been a sport for decades. The person generally credited with inventing river rafting is Bill Dvorak. In 1969, Dvorak was the first person issued a river recreation outfitters license when he formed Dvorak Expeditions in Salida, Colorado. Dvorak created many of the safety guidelines and license requirements for equipment used in white-water rafting. He came up with the idea of having guides lead rafting tours.
Update Alaska: News From The Front
March 8, 2008
Stopped into The Fishin’ Hole the other day, which happens to be one of my favorite fishing tackle/outfitter/sandwich shops. (Talk about your one stop shopping!!)
I was looking for a good 8 weight line to take to Alaska.
What I came away with was an update from about four different people who had just returned from Alaska.
Now, for those of you that have been following my upcoming maiden trip to The Last Frontier -you know that I am headed up there in a week from now. So it was nice to hear some first hand reports on what is going on, and how the fishing is doing.
Of course I am a little concerned that right there in the tiny town of Shady Cove, Oregon–there were four people who have recently been to Alaska right there at that given moment in that fishing tackle/outfitter/sandwich shop! If you take the ratio of those four people at that given time and the odds that they had been to Alaska and multply that out over the entire nation…. well….. you come up with a pretty dang high number!
And to think I was worried about the mosquitoes.
A Review of Inflatable Boat Manufacturers
March 7, 2008
There are many manufacturers of inflatable boats on the market today. Included below is an overview of each of the key manufacturers.
Zodiac Inflatable Boats: Zodiac Inflatable Boats can be set up in no time, stored in a closet at home, transported in the trunk of the user’s car, or kept in a locker on board. Zodiac Inflatable Boats are for safe, economical, hassle free boating. Their models are Cadet S, Cadet Yachtline, Cadet Fastroller, Touring S, Futura S, Futura Fastroller, and Futura Sport.
Avon Inflatable Boats: Since 1959, Avon Inflatable Boats have produced over 200,000 inflatable and rigid inflatable boats, from the traditional Redstart Dinghy to highly sophisticated 8 meter Searider rigid hull craft, and encompassing a very comprehensive range, covering all sectors of leisure, commercial, rescue and defense needs. Avon makes all their products in the same factory, to the same exacting standards, not only for the user’s enjoyment, but also for their total safety and security.
Sevylor Inflatable Boats: Sevylor makes a wide range of products to meet the needs of most recreational boat users. Sevylor Inflatable Boat models include the Sevylor SV series, the HF series, the XR series, the K series, the Sun series, the SVX series, and the T series.
