Archive for June, 2008
Fishing Supplies
Posted in Fly Fishing Gear on the June 18, 2008
We purchased our lake home almost six years ago. We love our acre of paradise. Our lives have changed more than I would have expected when we decided to move to the lake. We spend less time on doing things that we used to enjoy like going to movies, seeing plays and going to concerts. We now spend our time fishing, boating, tubing and entertaining the many guests that come to share our lake home.
We have always enjoyed entertaining. I have found that entertaining when you live by the lake is a bit different. You need to stock up on towels, suntan lotion, sunburn lotions, water toys, fishing supplies and extra lawn chairs. Now that we live on the lake we tend to be the choice for summer and winter family gatherings. This is alright to a certain point, but there are times when my husband and I would like to pack the cooler with a couple of sandwiches and a few beers and head out onto the lake with some fishing supplies and just the two of us. This year we have decided that at least one weekend each month we will not have anyone come over and we will not go anywhere. Starting on Friday night we will let the answering machine pick up our phone calls and we are going to spend time together on the lake, in the lake and by the lake.
Prior to moving to the lake my husband did a great deal of fishing. He had a fair amount of tackle, a small fishing boat, and a portable ice fishing house. Since we have moved to the lake we have bought a bigger boat a large wheeled ice fishing house and many fishing supplies. There are times when people stop by and they do not have the right equipment for the kind of fishing that will be done, so my husband feels he needs to have the gear to outfit them. I have gotten to the point that I tell people that they do not need to bring any fishing supplies because my husband has so much of it. He had become good friends with the owner of a local bait and tackle shop. I have told the owner of the shop that if he ever runs out of fishing supplies he can send people over to our house because I think we have a larger stock than he does.
I hope that our plan to enjoy our lake home together will work out for us. We do feel so blessed living in such a beautiful area that we want to share with others, but it is important to also have some alone time.
Guidelines In Fishing
Posted in Fly Fishing Tips on the June 18, 2008
We live on a lake in central Minnesota. This lake is one of the premiere fishing lakes in the state. Many people come here on day and week fishing trips. Most people bring their own boats, but there are others that go out on launch trips or hire one of the many private fishing guides to take them out fishing. This allows for business opportunities for many people that live on the lake, but people should make sure that the fishing guides that are hired know the lake as well as the feeding patterns of the fish.
We had fished this lake for many years prior to buying our home. My husband had been fishing here when he was a young boy. With the modern technology of GPS and lake mapping on marine electronics, it is very easy to find different depths and fishing spots on the lake. After we had lived on the lake for a year my husband contacted one of the local fishing guides and asked if he could enter some his fishing spots on the lake on his GPS. This particular guide has been very successful on the lake. He told my husband that he did not want to share the fishing spots because he did not want a lot of other people fishing where he was. My husband mentioned this to a friend of ours that owns the local bait shop. The bait shop owner laughed and told my husband that this particular guide does not know how to use GPS and so he does not own a unit, which is why he did not share any of the fishing spots. The bait shop owner told us that there are no requirements to pass in order to be considered a guide. He said that many of the people that advertise their services as fishing guides simply take people out in their boats and hope to catch some fish. Some people are more successful at this than others, but there are no requirements.
I was surprised by this information. If I was going to a lake to fish I would assume that the people that are listed as fishing guides would have safety training and other certification in order to take others out onto the lake. You do have to have coast guard training if you have a launch or a boat over thirty five feet, but there are many guides that have twenty foot boats that take people out fishing. This was disappointing to my husband because one of his retirement dreams was to be a guide on the lake. Now that we live here we realize that there are more than enough people already offering to guide. I told my husband that we should look into having an actual service that would provide a more special outing than just a day in a fishing boat. We are going to plan a business around the adventure of fishing rather than just advertising guide services.
Have You Ever Tried Fly Fishing For Bass?
Posted in Fly Fishing Bass on the June 5, 2008
When you think of fly fishing, you probably think about catching trout. This is, however, not always true. You can, in fact, also fly fish for bass. Bass fishing is also becoming a very popular form of fly fishing in the USA. It is a very flexible form of fly fishing as it is possible to fish for both largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. When attempting to fly fish for bass, it is important that you first master the basics of fly fishing.
The Challenge Of Fly Fishing For Bass
When many people think of fly fishing, bass do not generally come to mind. In some instances, they do not know the ins and outs of bass fishing, or do not own the appropriate fishing equipment or a large enough boat.
Bass are great fish to fly fish for because they are durable and can live in some of the worst conditions. They are much more advanced than most fish, such as trout. Basically, fly fishing for bass is much more fun and it is definitely more of a challenge. Bass are, in fact, excellent fish to catch with a fly fishing rod. They will always present an adventurous angler with a challenge as they are large, feisty, aggressive fish that will fight to the last.
Using A Fly Rod To Catch Bass
Many people may regard it as a bit odd to go bass fly fishing. However, when it comes to fly fishing, there are many types of fish that can be caught. You can catch trout (the most popular type), pike, carp, and small- and largemouth bass.
The first thing to ensure when preparing to fly fish for bass is that you have a good, strong fly rod that will be able to reel in a bass of any size. Bass are extremely strong, aggressive fish so a lightweight fly rod will not be sufficient. They are naturally eager biters and catching them with a fly rod makes it even easier. Fly rods do, however, offer you a clear advantage when fishing for bass - the motion of the rod and the fly on the water provides a lure that bass cannot resist.
Make The Correct Choice Of Fly And Rod
If you decide that you want to try out fly fishing for bass, you should most definitely invest in a Wooly Buggers. Large dry flies such as these will help to ensure that you catch plenty of small- and largemouth bass. It is generally accepted that the larger the fly you use, the better your catch will be. Also keep in mind that it is recommended to use a dry fly when fly fishing for bass.
It is generally accepted that the larger the fly you use, the better your catch will be. Also keep in mind that it is recommended to use a dry fly when fly fishing for bass. It is, however, also possible to use a 4 to 5 weight fly rod but this makes it a bit more difficult to cast out the larger flies that are suggested for successful bass fishing. It is also a good idea to use a fly rod that has a sinking as well as a floating line. Aside from all these recommendations, it is of utmost importance to find a rod that suits your personal preferences and needs. Your rod must feel comfortable in your hands - not too heavy, nor too light. If you choose a rod with a comfortable cast, you are sure to catch bass while also having fun.
Fly fishing for bass has become very popular in the USA. Whatever your reasons, fishing for bass with a fly rod can be a very enjoyable experience! Go fly fishing for bass today!