Rubber Raw Materials

Impressions

The team at SOG did right with the Trident TF-1 TiNi. Though it looks like an ordinary knife, this folding knife is quite impressive. SOG includes features that outdoorsmen, especially anglers, will surely find handy such as the TiNi coated blade, SOG Assisted Technology (S.A.T.), and the noticeable and unique Groove. The Trident weighs in very nicely and has a good size handle for both small and large hands. In addition the knife has a locking feature that keeps the blade from accidentally coming open, and another mechanism to keep the sharp blade from closing when flipped open for use.

Groove: This innovative feature is what sets the Trident apart from others. The patent pending Groove system is built into the handle and makes use of the closed blade and a slot in the handle, cutting just about any type of line such parachute cord, rope, and fishing line including braided and super lines.

The Groove was first developed after Navy SEALs thought open blades were too dangerous around fragile equipment and other fellow members. After puncturing a military inflatable boat and damaging other equipment when cutting ropes with an open blade, SOG then designed this effective safe system. Now the Groove sheath is not only used on the Trident but many other SOG knives as well.

S.A.T: SOG Assisted Technology (S.A.T.) was designed to help one open the knife easily and quickly, no matter if the person uses his/her right or left hand. The patented mechanism works with a constant force that opens the blade and a variable force that wants to close it. That means when someone opens the Trident the force to open is greater than closing which will spring open the knife virtually on its own.

Field Tests:

I once read a survey somewhere about what one thing you would like to have with you if you’re stranded in the wilderness, and someone answered a durable pocket knife because it’s a tool they can rely on to cut, scrap, dig, and many more things that pertains to one’s survival. Though I hope I would never end up in a situation like that, I have to agree with that statement. A knife is important, and even more important is a knife that’s high performing and extremely reliable. We tested the SOG Trident while fishing and camping at Acadia National Park, on local lakes, and on the Pacific Ocean while targeting salmon, albacore tuna, and rockfish.

The Blade: Aside from useful features the blade is what makes or breaks a knife. Without a quality blade any knife would be a useless tool. The Trident folding knife has an outstanding blade thats ground out of high-grade AUS8 stainless steel flat stock. We used the Trident on the water, fresh and salt, and while camping carving marshmallow sticks, gutting fish, and cutting other miscellaneous items, the blade never gave in and is sharp cutting without difficulty. The Trident blade remained solid and sound throughout our tests and never failed on us once. The stainless steel blade on the Trident model is all the same but the TF-1 test unit has a black Titanium Nickel coating on it. There is a slight downside to a coating because over time its sure to become scratched even though TiNi is a very tough material. Even if the coating can be damaged after prolong use and abuse, this is the model that anglers should use because the TiNi coating not only adds surface hardness but also increases the blades resistance to corrosion.

Ergonomics:

The Trident folding knife holds nicely in your hands. The glass-reinforced Zytel handle is long enough for both large and small hands, and patterned with non-slip for a sure grip. In addition SOG molded the handle with proper curves and positioned the ridges on the handle and on top of the blade for a better hold, even when your hands are slimed by the fish.

Application:

To an angler a pocket knife is very important and can serve many purposes. One very obvious application is cutting fishing line. The blade is sharp and will cut fishing line in an instant. We tried cutting both slick lines such as mono and fluorocarbon and also braided line. With the blade flipped in the open position it easily sliced the braided line with either the serrated or fine edge section of the SOG Trident blade. With monofilament fishing line the blade doesn’t grab onto the line like it did with braided, so in order to quickly cut slippery line you must fold the line over the blade or carefully apply a quick slash – this goes for all knives. The Groove system does the same thing but allows you to cut with the knife in the closed and locked position. We found the Groove very handy and we were able to apply this feature on cutting line in a hurry, and without the fear of stabbing fellow anglers or damaging other nearby equipment. Aside from cutting fishing line with the Groove, anglers can use the SOG Trident to cut rope. In an emergency you will want a blade with a sharp edge that can quickly get you away from danger such as rope wrapped around the prop and youre about to be washed ashore or even rope wrapped around a fellow angler. Opened, the SOG Trident cuts rope very well above and underwater as we tried both of these scenarios. The Groove system can be applied to cutting only those items that can fit in the slot, so most rope is out of the question and best cut with the Trident in an open position.

Conclusion:

Having the right blade can mean life or death for some, especially to an outdoorsman whom relies on a knife thats used for survival purposes. A quality blade, solid construction, and useful features are key specifications one should consider when buying a pocket knife. The SOG Trident TF-1 has these characteristics and more. It is truly a high performing folding knife that one can trust to have at hand. The Trident has effective features like the Groove system allowing anglers to cut fishing line without opening the blade and the SOG Assisted Technology (S.A.T.) that swiftly opens the blade no matter which hand you use. The blade is ground out of a tough stainless steel and the TF-1 model is even more durable with its Titanium Nickel coating. The SOG Trident is a blade that inspires confidence to help you get the job done right.

If you want to know how to fish for trout or you have a basic understanding of trout fishing and are looking for some tips to experience more success, this article is for you. In it I will draw upon my two decades of experience fishing for trout to outline a few tips that will help anyone achieve more success when engaging in the wonderful activity known as trout fishing.

If you want to know how to fish for trout the first thing that you need to be aware of is that the size of the rod, reel, and fishing line that your reel is spooled with is of the utmost importance. This means that you want to use an ultralight rod and reel. Ultralight rods and reels are designed specially for using light fishing line and small baits, which is the next aspect of learning how to fish for trout. For a majority of trout fishing scenarios you want to use fishing line that is no heavier than six pound test. Some people prefer monofilament, some fluorocarbon, but the point is that when fishing for trout your fishing line needs to be as light as possible.

Next, we want to discuss the size of your hooks and/or lures. These need to be as small as possible. Lures should be in the 3/16 to1/2 ounce range and hooks should always be small. For treble hooks size #12 or even #18 are perfect and for single shank or gang hooks size #8, #10 or even #12 are in order. The bottom line is that small hooks are much less visible to the trout that you are attempting to catch and thus work much better.

Finally you need to be mindful of when you head out to fish for trout. What do I mean by being mindful of when you are fishing? I simply mean that when you fish is as important as the type of bait or lure that you use when it comes for fishing for trout. If you want to knowin any kind of an efficient and effective manner you need to learn the simple rules that pertain to the weather and moon and they ways in which the weather and moon impact fish behavior. By leaning about the weather and moon and planning your trout fishing trips accordingly, you will be amazed at how many more trout you will catch.

The bottom line is that the aforementioned tips and tricks will help virtually anyone achieve more trout fishing success. Add them to your repertoire sooner, rather than later and find out for your self just how effective these tips are.

As new or experienced crappie fisherman we are always looking for new information and top crappie fishing tips that will make our next crappie fishing trip more successful. I would like to share my top crappie fishing with live baits tips with you. The listing is in no particular order.

Live bait Tip#1 Use P-LINE a line that is as easy to cast as standard mono, but is as invisible as pure fluorocarbon. P-line is the manufacturer’s name. P-line is the smallest dia. line you can buy and also the strongest. It is about 3-10 times as strong as the ave. fishing line. It is almost invisible because of it diameter.

TIP#2 Use shiner minnows as bait. These small fishing will reflect the sunlight off there small bodies. If you have ever reflected the light off a mirror, these small fish have the same effect in the water. Many time the crappie are attracted by the light reflection more then the bait.

TIP#3 Make sure you get some “oxygen saturated powder” for your shiner minnows. It kills the chlorine and oxygenates the water. I also use a small portable battery operated air pump. You want to keep your minnows alive as long as possible.

Top crappie fishing tip #4 Use a #6 hook that is “red” the red color makes it look like the minnow is bleeding. The crappie see the minnow is being injured an and a easy meal.

TIP#5 What ever you do if you are not using a red hook, make sure you hide all the metal so nothing is showing. (recommend highly using the red hook)

TIP#6 Use a “true turn” #6 red hook. It works like a toggle bolt when you hook a crappie. It grabs hold of the tougher part of the crappie’s mouth. Remember crappie’s mouths are paper thin. It’s easy to rip your hook right out.

Tip#7 Use a graphite jigger pole. I personally use a “uncle bucks” jigger pole but there are many more manufactures of jigger poles out there. The jigger pole is long has a very sensitive graphite tip, and it is durable but flexible.

Top crappie fishing tip #8 When you are using a long jigger pole you lesson your chances of a “snag” when you are reeling in. Put your line right in the think of the cover if you get a hit you can bring the crappie right up through the muck and weeds with these poles. Don’t hesitate to go into cover with these poles, they are designed to take the abuse.

Tip#9 Always mark how much line you real in. this marks the depth that you are catching fish. You can do this simply by counting your real clicks.

Tip#10 Hook your shiner minnow through the lower and upper lip.

These fishing tips should make your next fishing more successful. Don’t hesitate to ad these top crappie fishing tips to your fishing arsenal. GOOD LUCK and GOOD FISHING!

With the colder nights and that first frost brings forth the beginning of steelhead season in Pennsylvania. For many anglers the arrival of the steelhead in creeks like Walnut, Elk, and 20 Mile brings a sense of excitement that is unmatched by other forms of fishing in the state. Steelhead Salmon are an extremely powerful fish that can make the drag on a reel scream and push your rod to it’s limits.
Now how do you go about fishing for these silver bullets? There are several techniques but the most common forms in Pennsylvania are fly fishing and drift fishing. In this article we’ll go into detail on how to fish for steelhead in the Pennsylvania streams and what streams to fish in Pennsylvania.Fly Fishing
First, lets talk about fly fishing and what type of gear you will need to have to tackle these fish. The following is a list of commonly used fly fishing equipment for fishing for steelhead in the PA streams.Gear
Fly Rod = 7 to 8 weight rod from 9 to 10 foot
Fly Reel = Any fly reel with a good drag. Large arbor fly reels are preferred, they pick up the fly line a lot faster and tend to have a better drag system.
Fly Line = 7 to 9 weight forward floating fly line
Leader = Taper leader from 20 to 15 to 10 pound test leader material then connect 8 to 6 pound fluorocarbon as a tippet. If water is clear use 6 then 4 pound fluorocarbon as tippet.Flies
Egg Patterns = Sucker Spawn, Blood Dots, Crystal Meth Flies, Estez Eggs

Sizes – 12, 14, 16 size nymph hooks 2X strong or 8 or 10 live bait (egg hook)
Streamers = Egg Sucking Leech, Wooly Buggers, Crystal Buggers

Sizes – 2, 4, 8, 10 salmon hooks or streamer hooks
Nymphs = Stone Flies, Prince Nymphs, Hairs Ears Nymphs

Sizes – 10, 12, 14 size nymph hooks 2X strongFly Fishing Techniques
Dead drifting with an indicator – To dead drift with a indicator simply put on a indicator or small trout bobber about 6 foot up the leader then attach some weight 2 BB sinkers or 1 3/0 sinker about a foot above the fly. You will need to move your indicator up and down your leader to find the depth of the water. To get a true dead drift your indicator should stand straight up and down and not have the appearance of dragging the bottom. (This is easier said then done; there are all types of indicators to help with getting a true dead drift)
Dead Drifting without an indicator – This is my favorite way to fish for steelhead! I use this method on the larger streams of Pennsylvania and New York with great success and you can’t beat the strike you get when a steelhead slams your fly while it is swinging or at the end of the drift. You can use this technique whether you are fishing egg patterns, streamers, or nymphs and is extremely versatile in any type of water depth or current.
First, You need to have a leader and tippet any where from 10 to 15 feet depending on the size of the creek you are fishing. If fishing Elk Creek or Walnut creek in Erie, PA you will want to keep your leader around 10 to 11 feet. Next, depending on the depth of the water you want to put a sinker any where from 3 feet to 6 feet up your line. The sinker should be a single 3/0, 7, or 5 depending on the depth and speed of the water. Finally, you should cast your fly upstream at about 1 to 2 o’clock then mend your line upstream immediately then get your fly rod high in the air then let it drift and then swing through to the end of the drift. Don’t pull the fly out of the water to quickly to cast again let it hang for a few seconds. Some of the most incredible hits are at the end of the drift. If you prefect this technique you will have some of the most fun days you have ever had fishing for steelhead.Spin Fishing with a Drift Rod
One of the most effective techniques of fishing the tributaries of Lake Erie is fishing with bait and a dead drift rod. I have seen more fish caught on skein, egg sacs, and minnows than any other technique. Fishing with bait you can consistently catch steelhead and 20 plus fish days are not uncommon when the fish are running.GearRod
8 ½ to 12 foot spinning rod or 11 to 15 foot Canadian style drift rod. (Canadian style drift rod requires a center pin reel)ReelSpinning – Good spinning reel with a front drag that generally holds 140 yds of 8lb test is standard.Center Pin – Okuma makes a affordable center pin reel that will allow you to get started with this method. Some Center Pin reels will empty your pocket book.Line
4 to 8 lb fluorocarbonIndicator / Bobber
Steelhead style drift bobber (Blackbird and Drennan make excellent floats)Hooks
Size 4 Salmon or Steelhead hook will work for most circumstances, or a size 8 octopus style.
Split Shot .You will need a variety of split shot from BB to 5′s depending on depth and currentBait
Egg Sacs, Skein, Single Salmon Eggs, Minnows, Shiners, and WormsHow to Rig
First put your drift bobber on first, generally you float will be anywhere from 4 feet to 7 feet depending on depth from your bait. Next stagger your split shots about 12 inches above your bait to 15 inches above your bait. Space your split shots anywhere from 2 to 2 inches apart. Next, tie on a salmon hook or octopus style hook. If fishing skein or egg sacs, use a size 4 hook to hold the skein on the hook. If you are fishing clear water and using single eggs use a 12 to 14 size hook.Where to fish
Elk Creek – Is the largest creek of the Erie PA streams, I would have to say that I prefer Elk creek to all the other creeks because of it’s size and the ability to do some hiking to in the woods to find a place to fish. There are many well-known holes on Elk Creek, including the mouth Elk Creek Access Area, the Legion Hole, and the Conrail Tubes on the lower sections of the creek and Foley’s End and Streuchen Flats on the upper end of the creek. At the beginning of the season focus your attention on the lower sections of the creek due to fish not being able to make it to the upper sections. Then in the spring focus on the upper sections where the steelhead will spawn.
Walnut Creek – Is the second largest creek in the Erie PA region most if not all the fishing at Walnut Creek is done at or just above the Walnut Creek Marina. This creek is full of steelhead and fishermen! It is a small stream that runs right beside the parking lot of Walnut Creek Marina and is a great place to take kids and is accessible for all people.
Twenty Mile – Is the largest of the Eastern mile streams to fish Twenty mile you will need to park along route 5 and walk to mouth. Fishing at Twenty Mile can be great when Walnut and Elk creeks are to high and muddy to fish.
Route 5 Streams – There a number of small streams that you can access by using route 5 as your guide these streams include Raccoon, Godfrey, Trout, Cascade, Four Mile, Seven Mile, Twelve Mile, and Sixteen Mile.
In conclusion, steelhead fishing is one of the most exciting fishing opportunities we have in Pennsylvania plus you have the opportunity to catch a fish that often goes over 10 pounds and fights like no other species of fish known to Pennsylvania waters. My only warning to all those thinking of going steelhead fishing is be prepared to catch the bug then spend endless hours thinking, tying flies, preparing bait and for the next chance to land that silver bullet.

Millions of people (myself included) take on the challenge every year of trying to land a few carp at our local lake. Most of us are successful, some more than others, but catching or not, I think we can all share the joy of getting out on the lake and surrounding ourselves with nature.

For those of you who are new to carp fishing, I am going to try and outline all the various bits of essential kit to give you every advantage so you can have some bragging rights down the pub on Friday night.

Firstly, let’s take a look at rods. As you would expect, Carp rods come in a huge variety of strengths (aka test curve), lengths and actions. Generally speaking though, for a good starting point, aim for a rod with a length around the 12ft mark. Shorter rods are designed for stalking your fish from a tree branch or long grass. Longer rods are generally used in distance fishing or for times when you need a bigger line pick up on strike.

Strength aka test curve refers to the amount of weight required to the tip of the rod to produce a 90 degree bend of the rod. Different strength rods work best with certain strength lines. A heavy rod with a heavy fish on the end can break a weaker rod.

The action of a carp rod describes how much of the rod bends when you put pressure on the very end. A fast action rod will bend only in the top third or less, a slower action rod will bend in the bottom third. In general, fast action rods allow a further cast, though they can tear the hooks from stronger fish.

With all the different types of fishing lines out there (monofilament, co-filament, fluorocarbon, braided, fused, and more ), you may be stuck as to what to use for carp fishing. I’m not going to confuse you with facts and detailed descriptions of every type of line out there but I it is widely believed that the ideal type of line for carp fishing is fluorocarbon. Fluorocarbon line has the same light refractive index as water which makes it virtually invisible underwater. It is also a very responsive line so you can feel every nibble. Its high density means that it sinks faster than other types of line so you can get your bait to the carp as fast as possible.

Now you’ve got a rod and some line, let’s take a look at carp bait. So eager to get themselves on shore, carp will eat almost anything in a bid to get hooked. Worms, Small fish, anything. An easier and more effective bait is simply carp bait sometimes called “boilies”. Sold in every carp fishing tackle shop, it comes in convenient pellets that you just put on the end of your hook. You can even make your own boilies from semolina, fishmeal, robin red and mixed spices.

Now get out there with your new carp tackle and catch a monster carp!

Leaders are necessary parts of sea fishing tackle. They protect the line from getting cut.

Anglers are rather divided when it comes to the question of whether a leader should form part of what is considered to be good sea fishing tackle or not. Many fishermen would rather not use leaders when they go out to fish, whilst just as many prefer not to leave out their leaders from their sea fishing tackle.

The thing is, a lot of fishermen, even the veteran ones, underestimate the importance of having a good leader in one’s sea fishing tackle. Its main function is to protect the line from being cut, frayed or tangled by fish with sharp teeth or gills. Out at sea, most fish to be caught have either sharp teeth or sharp gills, if not both. A secondary function of a leader is to make it easier for the fisherman to change hooks and lures whenever it is necessary to do so.

Before we go into a detailed discussion on leaders as part of good sea fishing tackle, we should define first what a leader is. A fishing leader is a thin piece of metal that has an eye on one end and a pin catch on the other. The fishing line is attached to the eye by threading the line through it and then knotting it securely, whilst the hooks and the lures are held in the pin catch.

There are three major types of leaders available in the market, you can either make your own or buy them from a sea fishing tackle shop. The three major types of leaders are:

1. Monofilament. Monofilament leaders are basic leaders. They are metal threads that that perform the base function of leaders – to protect the line from being cut.

2. Fluorocarbon. Fluorocarbon leaders are transparent, and this quality makes it ideal for them to be used in waters that are clear and full of wary fish. Fluorocarbon leaders are practically invisible in clear water.

3. Steel. Steel leaders are very strong. They are great for use when fishing in waters infested with fish with really sharp teeth such as barracuda, bluefish and mackerel.

There are also hybrid leaders, created from a combination of monofilament and fluorocarbon or any other material, such as plastic.

Leaders should be made part of any sea fishing tackle set because it can spell the difference between going home from a fishing trip with an empty icebox and a full one. Really, the game fish at sea can be wily and they can cut a naked line that is not protected by a leader. It would be a shame to lose a catch that way, especially when you have almost succeeded in landing it in the boat.

To make your leader more effective, you should keep the whole assembly as simple as possible. Just attach your hook and your lure to the leader and tie the whole thing to your line. If you hang any more stuff on it, you will only end up scaring the fish away.

A good leader is an essential part of your sea fishing tackle. Always have your leaders ready in your sea fishing tackle box before you sail out to sea.

Bass slow down in the winter, that’s no secret. They will move to deeper water and can be a challenge to catch but bass must eat during the winter and will move to shallow water during winter seeking warming rays of sunlight and dying shad. Shad will begin to struggle as the water temps fall and bass know that during this time shad become an easy meal. This is a great time for throwing a suspending jerkbait over main lake points where bass like to suspend within the water column but throwing deep running crankbaits like the Strike King Pro Model or the Rapala DT series in shallow water is a great wintertime presentation for catching more bass when the water is cold. The great thing about this presentation is it triggers reaction strikes from bass that aren’t seeking a meal.
Using a deep running crankbait in shallow water may seem a little backwards but it is a great way to catch cold water bass in the winter and early spring. You want the crankbait to hit the bottom as quick as possible on the retrieve and a crankbait that runs ten feet will hit the bottom soon after the first turns of the reel handle in four feet of water. Pulling the crankbait down with a long sweeping motion works great too, and allows for a pause as you reel in the slack line. These pauses are important but not as important as maintaining bottom contact with your crankbait.
It is important to get your crankbait down quick, digging into and hitting the structure and cover on the bottom. Long slow pulls provide a built-in pause to the retrieve the slack line but it also helps you feel the bottom. When the crankbait sticks to a rock or stump stop the pull or retrieve. These pauses allow your bait to float up and above the object so you can continue your retrieve. It is the contact, with the objects below, that cause the bass to react and strike at the crankbait and many times the bass will be hooked on the outside of its mouth. This is how you know you are causing the bass to react to your presentation and they are probably not feeding. This will also let you know that you have the right combination to catch a few cold water bass.
The important point of this presentation is maintaining bottom contact. The whole point of this technique is to get a reaction strike from bass that are not necessarily feeding and the more you can get your crankbait to hit something the more chances you have to get a strike from inactive bass. Sometime a fast retrieve works best especially when it glances off rocks and stumps as you retrieve.
The reason for a deep running crankbait in such shallow water is its ability to maintain contact with the bottom, and the angle that it hits the bottom keeps the hooks away from the cover which means fewer hang-ups. The steep angle of a deep running crankbait causes it to hit the bottom with force and it is this powerful contact that creates powerful reactions from sluggish bass. The quick diving angle will also help when the shoreline drops quickly into deeper water. When you pull and pause, the crankbait tends to follow the contour of the bottom and maintain bottom contact further out from the bank therefore obtaining the desired effect of this presentation.
The bass will always tell you what they want as far as color and size but it is the bottom contact and erratic deflection in the crankbait that stimulates a bass into reacting, size and color are actually secondary. A seven foot medium power fast action rod works great for this presentation. A medium to fast retrive reel will work fine. You might be burning the crankbait during this time but the ability to take up line fast comes in handy when the bass makes a sudden run towards the boat with one treble in its lip. Some anglers like the sensativity of fluorocarbon but the way these bass bite, in cold water, I prefer monfiliament. The stretch helps you get those barely hooked wintertime bass in the boat. Winter water tends to clear up on most lakes so light line may be in order and is really determined again by the size of the bass in your body of water. Eight pound test might handle any bass in your lake but in some Texas or Florida lakes eight pound test would be unheard of with any presentation. Eight pound test is probably the lightest you should go no matter what body of water you fish just by virtue of the presentation itself being hard on your line as it contacts the bottom cover and structure.
You can almost always create a reaction bite even when the bass have lock-jaw. Fishing shallow when the water is cold may go against the norm but the bass are there. Give this technique a try and you might have the shallows to yourself and no matter what mood the bass are in, you can catch a few with this method.

There are several different kinds of fishing however salmon fishing tends to be one of the most motivating and entertaining out of them. Besides having the possibility of catching a really large fish, you have the option of fishing in either a salty or fresh body of water. You can increase your chances of reeling in one of the difficult fish if you bear in mind the helpful tips we are offering up in this article.

Instead of going outside of the US looking for a great salmon fishing hole, there is no better place to fish than Lake Michigan at certain times of the year. Chinook and Coho salmon are very abundant in this lake and they swim along with other fish such as the lake and rainbow trout. Being the sixth largest lake in the world, Lake Michigan is definitely a great place to fish most of the year. Lake Michigan is actually in several different states and fishing regulations must be abided by depending upon which state you are fishing in. Parts of Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois all have Lake Michigan in them. Chartering a boat is probably your best option regardless of what state you are in, especially if you are new to the fishing game.

When choosing your fishing tackle for salmon fishing, you should make sure you buy something that’s durable and less likely to break or tangle. The last thing you want to do if you were going to fish for salmon is to buy cheap tackle for the trip. You also want a line that’s not going to be too visible to the fish. To make sure the fish are not scared, the fishing line needs to be transparent so they cannot see it. The top choice for many fishermen is Fluorocarbon line because it is so hard for the fish to see. This line is also resistant to tangling, so it’s a good choice for salmon fishing.

Other than bringing along the appropriate tackle when you go salmon fishing, you also should be set for the elements. Getting a pair of waders is also a good idea, particularly if you plan to be wading in brooks or streams. Otherwise, you can get cold very fast, especially if you are fishing in some of the Northern climates that are so good for salmon fishing. A hat, no matter if it is a typical fishing hat or a standard baseball cap, can help protect you from the sun rays and thwart the glare from disrupting you. A pair of polarized sunglasses can also be helpful. This gear will not just make you more contented, it will make it simpler for you to see and therefore up your opportunities for victory. You can spend a lifetime perfecting your salmon fishing techniques, and the more practice you get, the more you’ll learn. To accelerate the learning process, get to know local fishermen that have experience with salmon and learn techniques that they are willing to share with you. If you decide to take up salmon fishing, you will realize quickly how relaxing it can be and how enjoyable your life will become spending additional time outside.

Bass slow down in the winter, that’s no secret. They will move to deeper water and can be a challenge to catch but bass must eat during the winter and will move to shallow water during winter seeking warming rays of sunlight and dying shad. Shad will begin to struggle as the water temps fall and bass know that during this time shad become an easy meal. This is a great time for throwing a suspending jerkbait over main lake points where bass like to suspend within the water column but throwing deep running crankbaits like the Strike King Pro Model or the Rapala DT series in shallow water is a great wintertime presentation for catching more bass when the water is cold. The great thing about this presentation is it triggers reaction strikes from bass that aren’t seeking a meal.
Using a deep running crankbait in shallow water may seem a little backwards but it is a great way to catch cold water bass in the winter and early spring. You want the crankbait to hit the bottom as quick as possible on the retrieve and a crankbait that runs ten feet will hit the bottom soon after the first turns of the reel handle in four feet of water. Pulling the crankbait down with a long sweeping motion works great too, and allows for a pause as you reel in the slack line. These pauses are important but not as important as maintaining bottom contact with your crankbait.
It is important to get your crankbait down quick, digging into and hitting the structure and cover on the bottom. Long slow pulls provide a built-in pause to the retrieve the slack line but it also helps you feel the bottom. When the crankbait sticks to a rock or stump stop the pull or retrieve. These pauses allow your bait to float up and above the object so you can continue your retrieve. It is the contact, with the objects below, that cause the bass to react and strike at the crankbait and many times the bass will be hooked on the outside of its mouth. This is how you know you are causing the bass to react to your presentation and they are probably not feeding. This will also let you know that you have the right combination to catch a few cold water bass.
The important point of this presentation is maintaining bottom contact. The whole point of this technique is to get a reaction strike from bass that are not necessarily feeding and the more you can get your crankbait to hit something the more chances you have to get a strike from inactive bass. Sometime a fast retrieve works best especially when it glances off rocks and stumps as you retrieve.
The reason for a deep running crankbait in such shallow water is its ability to maintain contact with the bottom, and the angle that it hits the bottom keeps the hooks away from the cover which means fewer hang-ups. The steep angle of a deep running crankbait causes it to hit the bottom with force and it is this powerful contact that creates powerful reactions from sluggish bass. The quick diving angle will also help when the shoreline drops quickly into deeper water. When you pull and pause, the crankbait tends to follow the contour of the bottom and maintain bottom contact further out from the bank therefore obtaining the desired effect of this presentation.
The bass will always tell you what they want as far as color and size but it is the bottom contact and erratic deflection in the crankbait that stimulates a bass into reacting, size and color are actually secondary. A seven foot medium power fast action rod works great for this presentation. A medium to fast retrive reel will work fine. You might be burning the crankbait during this time but the ability to take up line fast comes in handy when the bass makes a sudden run towards the boat with one treble in its lip. Some anglers like the sensativity of fluorocarbon but the way these bass bite, in cold water, I prefer monfiliament. The stretch helps you get those barely hooked wintertime bass in the boat. Winter water tends to clear up on most lakes so light line may be in order and is really determined again by the size of the bass in your body of water. Eight pound test might handle any bass in your lake but in some Texas or Florida lakes eight pound test would be unheard of with any presentation. Eight pound test is probably the lightest you should go no matter what body of water you fish just by virtue of the presentation itself being hard on your line as it contacts the bottom cover and structure.
You can almost always create a reaction bite even when the bass have lock-jaw. Fishing shallow when the water is cold may go against the norm but the bass are there. Give this technique a try and you might have the shallows to yourself and no matter what mood the bass are in, you can catch a few with this method.

There are several different kinds of fishing however salmon fishing tends to be one of the most motivating and entertaining out of them. Besides having the possibility of catching a really large fish, you have the option of fishing in either a salty or fresh body of water. You can increase your chances of reeling in one of the difficult fish if you bear in mind the helpful tips we are offering up in this article.

Instead of going outside of the US looking for a great salmon fishing hole, there is no better place to fish than Lake Michigan at certain times of the year. Chinook and Coho salmon are very abundant in this lake and they swim along with other fish such as the lake and rainbow trout. Being the sixth largest lake in the world, Lake Michigan is definitely a great place to fish most of the year. Lake Michigan is actually in several different states and fishing regulations must be abided by depending upon which state you are fishing in. Parts of Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois all have Lake Michigan in them. Chartering a boat is probably your best option regardless of what state you are in, especially if you are new to the fishing game.

When choosing your fishing tackle for salmon fishing, you should make sure you buy something that’s durable and less likely to break or tangle. The last thing you want to do if you were going to fish for salmon is to buy cheap tackle for the trip. You also want a line that’s not going to be too visible to the fish. To make sure the fish are not scared, the fishing line needs to be transparent so they cannot see it. The top choice for many fishermen is Fluorocarbon line because it is so hard for the fish to see. This line is also resistant to tangling, so it’s a good choice for salmon fishing.

Other than bringing along the appropriate tackle when you go salmon fishing, you also should be set for the elements. Getting a pair of waders is also a good idea, particularly if you plan to be wading in brooks or streams. Otherwise, you can get cold very fast, especially if you are fishing in some of the Northern climates that are so good for salmon fishing. A hat, no matter if it is a typical fishing hat or a standard baseball cap, can help protect you from the sun rays and thwart the glare from disrupting you. A pair of polarized sunglasses can also be helpful. This gear will not just make you more contented, it will make it simpler for you to see and therefore up your opportunities for victory. You can spend a lifetime perfecting your salmon fishing techniques, and the more practice you get, the more you’ll learn. To accelerate the learning process, get to know local fishermen that have experience with salmon and learn techniques that they are willing to share with you. If you decide to take up salmon fishing, you will realize quickly how relaxing it can be and how enjoyable your life will become spending additional time outside.