Fishing

Fishing is an activity of hunting fish or aquatic animals such as cool water fish, warm water fish, various types of shellfish as well as squid, octopus and turtles with a rod, line and hook. It is a popular, ancient practice involving many techniques and traditions. Also called angling, fishing originated as a means of seeking food for survival.

Fishing traces its roots back to the Mesolithic period that began about 10,000 years ago. It is the major occupation of many coastal inhabitants. The catches vary according to the season and fishing place. Basically, there are three types of fishing - beach, rock fishing, and boat fishing.

The method of fishing varies according to the region, technology available and species being fished. Fishing tackle, fishing rods, fishing reels, hooks and fishing lures are commonly used fishing equipment. Some of the traditional fishing techniques are hand fishing, spear and bow fishing, kite fishing and dynamite or blast fishing.

Fishing for commercial purposes has become a big business. Trawling, seining, drift netting, hand lining, long lining, gillnetting and diving are common commercial fishing techniques. Recreational fishing is mainly for pleasure or competition and is done with a rod, line and hooks attached to any of a wide range of lures or baits. Fishing competitions are organized for fishermen to compete for prizes. Falls River Drainage, New Jersey Striper Fishing, Connecticut Striper Fishing, Conasauga River, Lake Logan Martin and Lake Amistad are some of the best fishing destinations. Fishing clubs offer countless opportunities for fishing from streams to rivers, canals, and lakes.

tommie@toppayingkeywords.com Fishing provides detailed information on Fishing, Fly Fishing, Fishing Boats, Deep Sea Fishing and more. Fishing is affiliated with Deep Sea Fishing Boats.

The Deep Sea Fishing Charter

Deep sea fishing is considered a sport where amateur or professional fishermen embark into the deepest parts of the water in search of a catch. The types of fish associated with the deep sea are those that live below what is called the “photic zone” of the ocean. In the deep sea, some of the oddest creatures have been known to dwell. The names given to these fish are just as fascinating, including the lanternfish, cookiecutter shark, anglerfish, and the flashlight fish.

When deep sea fishing, you should keep in mind that there are several endangered varieties of fish to avoid during your adventures. Due to the high levels of commercial fishing, species like the spiny eel and the onion-eye grenadier are nearing extinction.

What is a Deep Sea Fishing Charter?

Deep sea fishing charters are boats ran by a company or individual that will take tourists out on the water for a fishing experience they will never forget. Depending on the time of year, the type of fish you will expect to catch varies. Checking the calendars for the area you wish to engage in deep sea fishing is recommended if this is of concern to you.

When participating in a deep sea fishing charter, you can decide whether you wish to bottom fish or troll. Sometimes, both options are selected. If trolling doesn’t seem to produce the results you had hoped for, deep sea fishing charters can pull close to the reef and let you have your way with the fish in that area. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the term, trolling means that you cast a baited line in the water and wait for fish to latch on, while slowly driving the boat.

If you have your mind set on catching a particular fish, you should be aware of where they reside. This means you may have to travel quite a ways to hire a deep sea fishing charter to accomplish your goal. There are deep sea fishing charters located all over the globe.

Common Deep Sea Fishing Charter Options & Locations

Deep sea fishing charters are available in a wide-range of locations about the United States, as well as around the world. Some of the more popular deep sea fishing charters has been established around the Florida area, such as Pensacola, Key Largo, Key West, and Tampa Bay. Additional deep sea fishing opportunities can be found in Biloxi, Mississippi; New Jersey; New Hampshire; Hawaii; Charleston, South Carolina; Orange Beach, Alabama; Cape Cod; British Columbia; and the Gulf of Mexico. More exotic destinations for deep sea fishing include Phuket; Mexico; and the Bahamas.

An example of a deep sea fishing charter may include fishing for a full day, which is about 8 hours of fun. Departure times usually start at 7:30 in the morning. Sometimes, 6-hour charters and 3-hour options are available. In the Florida Keys, there is a deep sea fishing charter that offers swordfish trips, where participants leave the dock at 3 pm and return about 4:00 in the morning. The going rate for this selection is close to $1300. There is also sunrise to sunset deep sea fishing options.

In Cancun, there are deep sea fishing charters that provide all-inclusive packages. While you are on the hunt for Kingfish, Barracuda, Tuna, Wahoo and Blue Marlin, you will rest assured knowing that you have obtained a boat captain, crew, fishing tackle, bait, beer, soda, water, a fishing license, as well as port fees and taxes, all through one package rate. Keep in mind, after a pleasant deep sea fishing trip, it is polite to tip the crew.

About The Author

David Evermon has been involved in many environment related projects, writing on many subjects related to the environment and his hobbies, David writes articles about Deep Sea Fishing at http://deepseafishing.advice-tips.com.

The Challenges Of Saltwater Fishing

Whether you are fishing out in the sea or in a river, there are always challenges to get round. It is necessary to have patience and try your utmost to catch the fish when they finally turn up.

First of all, you will need to get a fishing license from your local government and the laws regarding fishing are different depending on what state you live in.For salt water fishing you will have to get a boat. Depending on how many people join you, the vessel size would vary from a row boat to a yacht.

In shore fishing can be done on a fifteen foot sailboat with a cuddy forward to shelter passengers from the rain. The boat needs to be sturdy so that waves or bumps along the beach and rocks don’t affect it but it shouldn’t be too heavy.

Start by throwing your line out at the edges not the middle so that it doesn’t scare the fish away. You will encourage the fish in the middle by sticking to the edges. A cod line will be a benefit to a person who wants to go “down below”. You can use a perch line as well. If it is mackerel fishing season, you can benefit from a mackerel jig too.

The best time to start fishing is on ebb tide. That is early in the morning because that would make your day more productive and if the wind it light or fair, it would help you on your journey home. Try to find a spot where the locals go fishing. That is your best bet for a successful day.

Don’t be too impatient, many anglers would move from one spot onto the next and this motion may reduce your chances that day. Start from the shallowest spot to the deepest, throwing your line out a few times without changing your bait.

Another thing that may affect your fishing chances are sharks. If you have one following you, pour fish blood onto a newspaper or a paper towel. Roll it into a ball and throw it overboard. The sharks will follow the current and the fish will return thereby increasing your likelihood of obtaining fish.

About The Author

Brian Kendall is a staff writer at http://www.thesailingzone.com and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including http://www.outdoorsportsenthusiast.com.

Maine Fishing Landlocked Atlantic Salomon

Landlocked Salmon Atlantic Salmon are know only in the State of Maine. Some of the other names are Sebago Salmon or Quananiche and the scientific name is Salmo Salar. The average size is 16-18 inches and 1-2 pounds, but 3-5 pound fish are not uncommon. Adults are generally silvery wiyh a slightly forked tail and small x-shaped marking on the back and iper sides. Juvenile salmon have a dark red spot between each pair of parr marks. Mature males develop a kype or hooked jaw, during the spawning season.

Landlocked salmon are a freshwater form of the sea run Atlantic Salmon. Prior to 1868, landlocked salmon populations occurred in only four river basins in Maine, St.Croix including West Grand Lake in Washington County, the union, including Green Lake in Hancock County, the Penobscot, including Sebec Lake in Piscataquis, County, and the Presumpscot, including Sebago Lake in Cumberland County.

Today, landlocked salmon provide the primary fishery in 176 lakes comprising nearly 500,000 acres. They are present and provide incideatal fisheries in an additional 127 waters comprising about 160,000 acres. Maine supports one of the larges sport fisheries for this species in the world. Landlocked salmon also provide good fisheries in 44 rivers and streams totaling about 290 miles.

Hatchery stockings are needed to maintain fisheries in 127 lakes. These lakes do not sufficient amounts of suitable spawning and nursery areas to produce wild salmon. Without regular stockings, salmon in these lakes would disappear entirely, or their numbers would be very, very low. About 123,000 salmon were stocked annually in Maine lakes from 1996 to 2000.

Natural reproduction supports salmon fisheries in 49 lakes. These are lakes that have sufficient spawning and nursery habitat to produce enough salmon to support good fisheries. Most of these waters are located in western and northern Maine. Salmon spawn in lake outlets or inlets during the period from mid October to late November. Eggs are buried in gravel from 4-12 inches deep and remain there until hatching early the following spring.

Young salmon spend from 1 to 4 years in a stream environment prior to migrating to a lake. Recent studies in Maine show most wild salmon spend 2 years as stream dweelers. In wild salmon populations, most males spawn first at ages 3 and 4, although a few spawn at ages 1 and 2. Females usually spawn first at ages 4 and 5. Spawning runs of wild salmon may be composed of fish ranging in age from 1 to 10 but 3, 4 and 5 year old individuals make up the bulk of most runs. Landlocked salmon may be repeat spawners, but most fish observed on spawning runs are spawning for the first time. Salmon may spawn in consecutive or alternate years, some may spawn in consecutive years then skip a year, and some may skip 2 or 3 years between spawning.

Salmon populations sustained by natural reproduction often more older age fish those supported by stocking, wild salmon usually exhibit slower growth do hatchery salmon, so they reach legal size and harvested 1 or 2 years later. The oldest landlocked salmon on record in Maine was years old.

Rainbow smelts are the principal forage species for salmon in Maine lakes. Without adequate numbers of smelt, salmon growth and body conition will be poor, markedly reducing value as a sportfish. Maintain adequate numbers of smelt for forage is the most important element of salmon management in Maine. Extensive studies conducted in Maine clearly show that salmon growth rates, and consequently the size of fish available to anglers, is best in lakes with excellent water that do not have large populations of other smelt predators, particularly lake trout.

From 1996 to 2000 Maine open water anglers voluntarily released over 60% of their catch of legal salmon, ice anglers released about 25% of their legal salmon catch. Catch and release of salmon has improved fishing in many lakes, but in others it has resulted in depressed smelt populations and smaller salmon, because there are too many salmon. Maine fishery biologists have responded by reducing stocking rates by implementing fishing regulations designed to restore a reasonable balance between numbers of smelts and salmon.

Hatchery salmon generally provide fisheries for larger fish than do wild salmon because the number of smelt predators can be strictly controlled. Therefore, precise management for particular types of fisheries, such as those emphasizing trophy fish, is usually best achieved with hatchery stocks rather than wild stocks.

From 1996 to 2000, the average size of salmon harvested from all Maine lakes was 17.4 inches and 1.7 pounds, the largest since department fishery biologists began conducting scientific creel surveys in the 1950’s.

About The Author

Ronald Moody - I'm doing a web site on Maine fishing products and information on Maine fishing, my web adress is http://www.fishingzoo.com and i'm going to do camping products in the up coming months.

Walleye Fishing Tips

Here is a simple walleye fishing tip that I use for one area of a lake I fish frequenly on Manitoulin Island and the lake is Mindemoya lake. This walleye fishing tip will work on most lakes of various sizes anywhere walleye are caught.

I have been catching walleye for over 50 years all across Canada. During that time I have learned a lot of things about fishing. But always remember that you can usually learn some new tricks and tips at any time.

Over the many years that I have fished this area I see so many anglers full of enthusiasm and expectations come and leave just frustrated with their experience fishing walleye. This fishing tip will help eliminate that frustration. It may not make you an expert, but it will make a difference in your fishing results.

Lake Mindemoya is not a large lake but to know where certain features of the lake are is great information to have. Depth, where to find shoals, sunken islands or structure that walleye love and frequent. My favorite spot on this lake is what is called Grassy Island and in the north west corner of the lake. It is actually what I call a sunken island because the only time it is actually visible from anywhere is in the summer when the reeds and grass are growing. In fact the hottest time of the summer is a great time for fishing walleye.

Now the first thing is of course is your rod and reel, sounds simple but be sure to use good fishing equipment. A light action graphite rod and reel with 6 or 8 pound test line is sufficient to catch and land most large walleyes.

The last thing is of course the simplest the hook. A plain unadorned ball-headed jig is king here. It is simple and easy to use, and deadly. Use 1/4 ounce as much as possible. If you have a problem finding the bottom you can move up to 3/8 ounce till you get used to finding the bottom.

These jigs have no action of their own, so that is up to the angler, short hops seem to work best but do not be afraid to experiment. Try to maintain contact with the bottom at all times, but try not to bounce on slack line. This can cause you to get snagged more often.

Jigs are great for catch and release, most of the time the walleye will be hooked in the top lip. Unhooking is fast and easy for you and the fish.

Tip jigs with either a minnow or a leech. I like to use leeches but at times minnows will work best. I usually carry both so I can test which is working best that day or for the area you are fishing.

Well now put this all together and lets catch those walleyes. Off the edge of this grassy island or sunken island as I call it there is a drop off and the walleye hold to this at different depths at different times of the day. Deeper during the heat of the day and closer in the evening.

The area I fish I am usually able to drift slowly over this reef from one end to the other and preset my jig and bait offering easily plus with great success. If you use electronics of any kind of course you can find these walleyes and where they are holding up. Also if it is too windy to drift the way you want a trolling motor can keep you in the thick of the action or even anchor.

Walleye do not like bright light and most anglers think that the best time for fishing walleye is early morning or in the evening and even after dark. But on Mindemoya Lake in the heat of summer you have an algae growth that clouds the water somewhat and makes for great fishing even in the heat of the day. As simple as this walleye fishing tip seems, remember it works and just experiment and you will succeed.

So to wrap this up if you ever get to my favorite place on earth, Manitoulin Island and happen to be near grassy island on Mindemoya Lake say hello to the oldtimer you see out there all alone in his Lund boat. Do not be afraid to ask questions, because he will have fish! Get out there and enjoy nature and relax!

About The Author

Jack Phillips has been an avid Canadian angler for over 50 years. Fishing Canada provides solid advice walleye fishing tips, bass, pike, muskie, a variety of trout, arctic char bass and more. Idea's on when and where to go on your next trip to Canada. Ice fishing tips. Delicious fish recipes also!
http://www.fishingcanadaonline.info

Fishing Sea Walls And Riprap

Tired of fishing with your GPS and finding nothing, tired of dragging that Carolina rig all over the bottom of the lake, tired of trying to come across that magic spot on the lake. Well you may be ready to try your hand at fishing rocky riprap or seawalls, those obvious shoreline, hugging features found on lakes, rivers and reservoirs across the county. These forms of cover can held bass throughout the year. These spots are simple to find and are easy to fish. Here are some tip for fishing riprap and seawalls.

SEAWALL PATTERN: When theres a large surface mat of water hyacinths has blown up against a long stretch of seawall. When you tie on a Gary Yamamoto custem bait 3 inches fat baby craw, with a big bullet weight and begin picking the floating vegation apart. Fishing floating mats against a seawall or near the seawall, there’s usually clean water underneath it all the way to the wall. This is a good spot do to combined horizontal cover with vertical and its open underneath. That crawl space will attract a lot of space.

Flip right through the top of the mat and start at the deep edge. But don’t forget to fish the seam between the mat and the seawall.

GIVE THE SEAWALL A HUG: One technique is paralleling the wall with hard plastic lures and buzz baits. Also hugging the wall with a lizard, tube, worm and creature is just as important. One of the most important things if your pitching against the wall is to get the bait to fall as close to the wall If you are using a baitcaster you have to feed line out to allow the bait to fall up against the wall. If you are using a spinning reel it’s the same just don’t close the bell until the bait hits the bottom. The other you can do is pitch the lure toward the wall and have it hit 1 to 3 inches before the wall, and then peel off line. It tends to fall more toward the wall.

FALL PATTERN: When fall comes the bass are migrating into and out of creeks, so the riprap provides an easy, dependable way to intercept bass. Fishing in the fall the bass are moving shallow or coming back out and they have to go through bridges to do that. So riprap along bridges would be a prime pattern Some good lures for this would be a shad colored crank bait like Rebel Wee R or 5A and 6A Bombers to crank the rocks, also the bomber long A jerk bait is another good choice. Cast parallel to the rock line and concentrate on deflecting the lure as often as possible. The biggest key in the fall is repetitive casting, you ask why, because the bass have seen lures all summer. So its important to cast repetition to a good looking area like a point of the riprap or a tree or brush laying down along the riprap.

PARALLEL PARKING FOR BASS: When it comes to bass fish there are not to many hard and fast rules but when you come across a seawall and lines of riprap, one rule rings come to mind. Take a casting angle that enables them to be paralleled with a lure. Another lure of choice for fishing seawalls and riprap or bulkheads are throwing a topwater and spinner baits in the morning, then a lipless crank bait or shallow diving crank bait later in the day. But regardless of the lure, always parallel them as much as possible and at least 45 degrees them, depending on the water depth and position the fish are in. Remember to put your lure as close to the wall as possible, or even bang it off the wall as you bring it back to the boat.

RIPRAP ROADMAP: Riprap can be intimidating to some fisherman or woman. Whether it is the foundation of a bridge, current break or erosion control for a stretch of shoreline, riprap can look over whelming in some situations. You may have riprap two miles long and it all looks the same, so where do you start bass fishing. You got to understand what lies beneath the surface is not exactly the same. Its important to locate irregular features in an otherwise uniform line of riprap. So you look for visible things like logs, treetop or flotsam that has drifted against the rocks or an unusually large rock is always worth fishing. But there are concealed irregular features that will hold a lot more bass. On lakes, a small ditch or creek may run into the riprap and come to a stop. Usually, a bridge crosses a channel and there will be a culvert nearby on one side of the riprap foundation. This can be an outstanding spot.0

About The Author

Ronald Moody has been an avid fisherman for over 40 years. He enjoys all types of fishing, but especially likes salt-water fishing; he has been all over the country practicing his hobby. He is the owner and operator of http://www.fishingzoo.com, a website dedicated to inform fisherman about Maine fishing, fishing locations, and fish supply products. Visitors are welcome to copy and paste this article on their website as long as the following information is sourced: Maine Fishing by Ronald Moody.

Bass Fishing in Shallow Water

Bass Fishing in Shallow Water

Bass fish, including the largemouth are notorious for feeding in shallow waters. For this reason novice anglers will use contour maps, or depth finders to locate areas where bass flock together. Since bass will scatter in shallow waters, it is important to find structures where fish group. Novice anglers will avoid frightening bass in shallow water as well. The fish tend to fright easily. Moreover, anglers will move around the waters, scouting the areas. As well, novice anglers will use a variety of lures, particular the presentations (Lures) that retract swiftly. NOTE: When bass join in schools, it is easiest to catch more than one fish.

Anglers who hunt bass often return to locations where they had previously caught fish. For this reason, bass anglers will mark areas to reduce confusion. Take markers with you if you intend to head off on a bass fishing trip. Novice anglers also recommend that you avoid making noises that scare the fish. If you use a boat while fishing, make sure that you avoid running the overboard. In addition, cast your line in areas that do not shadow the fish. Furthermore, when you cast your line, make sure that you extend it away from the boat. The distance you cast often brings good results.

How to choose bass bait:

Anglers often use crankbait or spinnerbait to catch largemouth bass, or related bass. The bait is one of the easiest to retract, or replace quickly. Spinnerbait rotates in the water, especially when the line is reeled in. In brushy or weedy areas, anglers will use weed-less presentations to avoid entrapment, i.e. entangling their line. In brush clumps, anglers will use rods that are rigged with plastic bait, such as artificial worms. The rod and lures assist anglers in working sufficiently. Tip: In deep water, using bread dough, I have caught some of the largest bass in Florida waters.

Fishing:

Anglers will consider casts, fan-cast, spot-cast, position, movement, and lures when fishing. The lures are factored into the structure. For instance, if bass structure is shallow anglers will consider poppers, Texas-Riggs, Floating Weed-less lures, such as the artificial worms, buzz bait, etc. Anglers will also consider spinnerbait, crankbait, artificial minnows, spinners, weed-less spoon, and so on.

Holding your catch

When anglers cast spinnerbait in shallow structures, the angler will direct his catch away from the bushes, weeds, trees, etc, to avoid entwining. To fan-cast, anglers will direct their boat to flat waters. Anglers will gradually and quietly, use their troll motor to manipulate the boat to avoid disturbing the fish.

Boat position plays a part in bass fishing as well. Anglers will often quietly move their boat to the center waters, or channels of the creek before casting. The lure is retrieved at the point of drop off. In addition, the angler may move his boat along the channels and continue casting his line in various parts of the water. Use your maps, or depth finder for best results.

Areas in the water where the shorelines have slopes, the angler will move slowly. In addition, the angler will maintain his boat at a distance to avoid frightening the fish, as well as avoid weeds. During spot-cast, anglers will search for areas, such as flats, sunken islands, clumps where thick weed resides, single bushes or trees, etc. Bass tend to dwell in these areas.

NOTE: Always cast your line toward the wind for best results.

Shallow bass fishing structures differ from deep-water fishing. It is important to learn that deep-water bass fishing is more, extreme than common shallow water bass fishing.

About The Author

Byron Branfield
Dedicated Bass
http://www.dedicatedbass.info

Fishing - Just the Basics

I've been fishing for over 50 years and even more frequently in the last 10 years; during this time I have learned a lot of countless things about fishing in general. The most important is that you can never know it all. Even a novice can show an old timer a trick or two.

Over the years I've seen hundreds of anglers come to the areas I fish full of enthusiasm and determination and they end up leaving frustrated and confused. With just a little advice this could have made for a better experience and more than likely created another fishing addict like myself. It may take some time to turn you into that pro, but the enjoyment of the sport would be more easily realised.

When starting out the very first thing you want is just basic information on where and when to fish. Sounds easy and generally just ask other anglers, lodge owners, bait store owners, heck just ask.

Now for the fishing equipment, the rod and reel. Sounds simple enough, but maybe not. As in most other sports, cheap or poor equipment will result in poor results. As an example I met a fellow from southern Ontario (Toronto) while fishing here at home for Northern pike and asked him how the fishing was. His remark was that he was going to rent a boat and give it a try. So I asked him if he would like to go out with me that evening and he accepted. I met him at the dock and told him to load his gear in the boat and offered him a life jacket and away we went. I did not notice what he had loaded at first except he had a nice big new tackle box, as we moved away I asked where is your rod and reel. He went on to open his new tackle box and proceeded to pull out one of those pocket fisherman rigs. Of course I had a hard time from not laughing out loud, but went on to offer him one of my other rigs already in the boat.

Once we hit the area I intended to troll he went on to politely say he wanted to use his own rod but asked what one of his lures he should use for northern pike. He had one large red and white spoon and I told him to use that and made sure he let out enough line for what we were doing. I believe I was praying for him to get the first strike and sure enough he did after about 15 minutes or so and the fun began.

Now this pike he had on was I guessed about 15 pounds, not that big but the struggle with that little, short toy he had was hilarious to watch. I did not believe he would get the fish to the boat but he did although to fast, I had the net and told him to slow down, he did not hear me as I leaned over to net the fish he had it reeled up to about 2 feet from the tip of that little rod, all that pike did was lean on the line and he was gone.

I must add here that he also had no leader on that rig. After that he was so excited and of course wanted to keep fishing, but asked if he could use one of my other rods which was fine because I wanted to see him really hook and land a nice fish. To shorten this story he did land 2 more northerns and a small walleye. Oh yes I did catch a fish, one walleye and one pike, but we had a new fishing addict here. The next day he went into town to the Canadian Tire store and got properly equipped.

I imagine that young man from southern Ontario had some great tall tales to tell when he got home. I wonder how big that one that got away is Now!

A light action graphite spinning rod and reel will handle most fish you will want to catch, plus it is light enough for the beginner to feel even the light hit of those walleye.

So just get out there relax, take your time. Bring some coffee or lunch or even better catch your lunch and cook on one of the many small islands all over these northern lakes. Mostly just enjoy it all the fresh air, wildlife and scenery. Enjoy it all while your watching that loon, deer or even a moose feeding, a big walleye might just swim up and inhale your bait sending that twitch up your line through your rod to your fingers. Set the hook and there's lunch!

Well that's enough from me time for supper and a 5 minute stroll down to the river and make a few casts and see what happens.

About The Author

Jack Phillips has been an avid Canadian angler for over 50 years. Fishing Canada provides solid advice for walleye, bass, pike, muskie, a variety of trout, arctic char bass and more. Idea's on when and where to go on your next trip to Canada. Ice fishing tips. Delicious fish recipes also. http://www.fishingcanadaonline.info

Benefits of Fishing Tackle Box Organization

There are all different kinds of fishermen throughout the world. Some have been reeling in the "big one" for decades, whereas others can only dream of the day when the "big one" bites. Many fishermen like freshwater lakes, some like rivers or streams, and then there are those who prefer the ocean. Regardless of age, experience, or preference, there is one must: the right equipment and an organized tackle box.

Most fishermen have accumulated various lures, tackle, rods, and reels over the years. They have developed favorites, and they certainly have discovered which equipment works best in which conditions. Being prepared with the right equipment to suit the fishing conditions will make or break a fishing trip. One way to prepare yourself as a fisherman is to have an organized tackle box.

Organizing all of your gear, especially what is located in your tackle box, has many advantages. Some of these include:

1. Many fishermen don't fish in the same fishing spot every time they go out. In fact, some may fish in the ocean one day and on the lake the next. If your gear is organized according to what conditions you will be fishing in, you will most likely have a more successful trip. Better yet, organize two different tackle boxes; one for freshwater fishing and the other for saltwater fishing.

2. No tangled lures! That is the worst; you get out onto the water and are all set to go, only to find that all of your lures are tangled into a huge mess. You end up spending half of your time fixing the jumbled mess. By using a tackle box that is designed to separate lures and keep them from tangling with other lures you are going to save yourself a lot of time.

3. Quick lure exchange. Whether you are in the middle of a tournament or just enjoying a Saturday afternoon, no one likes wasting time changing their lures. With a tackle box that is organized you are bound to spend more time with your line in the water.

If you haven't yet bought a tackle box, or are looking into an upgrade for better organizational benefits, consider these aspects before buying:

1. Durability. You definitely don't want your nicely organized tackle box falling apart on you. Pick a strong plastic or a metal that won't rust. Fishing is not for pansies, your tackle box shouldn't be built like one either.

2. Is it waterproof and watertight? Most tackle boxes are made of material that is waterproof, but can water still creep inside through the cracks? This could form mold on your expensive equipment if there is not adequate ventilation. Some boxes come with removable parts to air out wet lures and remove any water that snuck in.

3. The size and function of your tackle box should largely depend on your intended use. Tournament fishermen need to have quick access to different lures and a fairly light box. The same goes for shore fishermen; they have to carry their tackle box to the shore, so it would make sense to consider weight when purchasing a new tackle box. On the other hand, many fishermen use the same boat and prefer to store their tackle box on board. In this case, they can afford to have a bit more weight in exchange for extra storage or waterproofing features.

4. It is always nice to have a little extra space for gear other than lures, weights, etc. A compartment for a pair of pliers (with quick access) is a plus. Some tackle boxes even come with a spot for a flashlight; always handy when fishing at dawn or dusk.

There are many things to think about and prepare before any fishing trip. An organized tackle box will ensure arriving on the water with the right equipment every time!

About The Author

John Packer is an avid fisherman and recommends GoFishin.com, http://www.gofishin.com, for all your fishing tackle needs based on their wide selection, super discount prices, and great service.

Simple Trout Fishing

Here's a really simple way... to catch stream trout using your spinning rod.

If you have ever wanted to fish for trout in a stream but are frustrated by the thought of equipping, learning, and mastering fly casting, here is an alternative. You can be on a stream, fishing and catching trout with a minimum of expense and frustration.

All trout respond to salmon eggs used for bait.

This method of fishing salmon eggs is simple, deadly, and does not kill the trout. Almost all the trout hooked will be caught in the mouth, just like fishing with the fly.

The few components can be purchased at any fishing supply stop, even at a fly fishing shop.

Your shopping list of items to start is very short. The heart of the method is to use a very small float as a strike indicator to float the salmon eggs naturally in the current of the stream.

The small Styrofoam floats used as strike indicators for fly fishing nymphs are ideal. Purchase a few floats that are 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch in diameter. The purpose of the float is to indicate when a trout takes the salmon egg.

Beneath the float about 12 inches attach a very sharp hook.

The first choice in hooks are the extremely sharp Gamatszu hook in size eight. If these are not available, Owner hooks are just as good.

A distant third choice is the Eagle Claw Laser sharp brand of hooks.

You may need some very small split shot weights if the line on your spinning reel is larger than six pound test.

If you need to add weight to the rig to cast it, place one very small, 1/8 inch, split shot directly below the float.

This will provide a little casting weight without killing the natural action of the salmon egg.

Salmon eggs are the first choice for bait.

The bright red processed salmon eggs are found almost every where fishing supplies are sold in trout country. The Green Label Patzutkes brand are a favorite. These are usually less than 1/4 inch in diameter. Place two or three of these salmon eggs on the hook. It is not necessary to cover the entire length of the size 8 hook.

The casting style is a "flip" of the bait into the water.

Merely swing the bait with the bail open on your spinning reel or button held down on the spin cast reel. Control the line with your hand that does not hole the rod. This is exactly the same technique that bass fishermen call "flipping". The casting distance is only a few feet at best.

Flip the float into the head of an eddy or just behind a rock. Let the float be carried down stream until the current straightens out your line and the salmon egg is forced to the top of the water.

The strike is very subtle.

When a trout takes a salmon egg, the float will quickly dip under the water. This "dip" will happen quickly and then the float will surface and continue downstream as normal.

Set the hook as soon as you see the "dip". A lot of the time you will have a trout hooked in the lip or the corner of the mouth. The trout can be returned unharmed to the water if you are practicing catch and release.

At first, you may set the hook and simply pull the float and hook away with nothing. This is very common until you develop the "feel" for striking quickly. Set the hook at every indication of a "dip" and you will be surprised at how many trout you will hook.

This method can be used with a fly.

If you are fishing in a restricted "fly and lure only" water, replace the salmon eggs with a size 14 or 16 dark colored nymph fly. The same technique is used to present the fly but the strike of the trout will be even slighter and quicker. You will have a lot more misses as the trout take and reject the fly very quickly.

The salmon egg makes them hold on a bit longer so that you have time to react.

------------------------------------------------------------

This method can produce a lot of trout for very little outlay of cash and time.

You will be amazed at the number of trout you can hook standing in one spot. If you fish quietly, a good feeding run will produce several trout.

Practice conservation please. Don't use this method to kill a lot of trout. Take a few for dinner if you so desire but only what you can consume.

About The Author

Lee McPherron
Retired in Denver, Colorado
Author of "Toyota Motorhome Handbook"
http://www.thorntonnetsales.com

Salmon Fishing Tackle

Like the hunter with his gun, or the pugilist with his glove, fishing has its tackle. A best friend, a prized possession, the relationship is much like Tiger Woods and his True Temper Dynamic Gold Driver. A reciprocated coexistence with both ends benefiting each other’s facility: Woods with his precision swing and the trusty driver converting the force to several yards.

The angler with his skill is expressed on the tip of the line. Some are good in presenting the bait, fine tuned jiggling and mooching. Others are good in choosing appropriate decoys, lure, color and scent combination that is irresistible to a certain fish. Other’s smell the fishes a hundred yards distant, paying even the minutest details in underwater growth and crevices.

The salmon angler is expressed with his salmon fishing tackle. Not just any tackles, it must be intended for the specific game. A stout graphite construction rod will be too stiff for the soft jiggling intended for the river trout, and the fly tackle intended for blue water fishes might be too stiff for the soft and deft touch intended for the Chinook.

So get your salmon fishing tackle. Remember, salmons require specific salmon fishing tackles to trick them into biting. Not an all around tackle for every situation but a salmon fishing tackle optimal for a specific fishing art.

Here are some good ideas for any salmon fishing tackles.

Fly Fishing Tackles

While landing a tarpon on a fly requires above human skill and dexterity, landing a Chinook on a fly CAN be done. In fact it has been done a countless time. Use a double handed rod is the best and it should have a relatively long rod around 10 feet. And this rod should have ample power especially in the butt section to effectively handle even a 10 pound freaking Chinook. Compensate choosing your salmon fishing tackle with your strength, or you may risk losing lifting strength. Remember, the longer the rod, the heavier will it be on landing a salmon.

The Airflo SLS Fly Rod Special at GFS: http://www.gofishingshop.co.uk is a mean 10ft fly rod that should be swift enough to deliver the snag but robust to handle a King salmon on the line, provided the line won’t snap.

The Winston LT Fly Rod is also one salmon fishing tackle that comes highly recommended. Soft tips are so essential for deft handling and Winston LT Fly Rod is prevalent with them. Care to take a look? It’s available at: http://www.tcoflyfishing.com

Salmons are among the fish species that have remarkably sensitive sense of smell, so throwing them just about anything won’t work at all. Use a strong smelling cured salmon roe is one of the best baiting technique. Since salmon roe can be quite a rare find, you can substitute them with smelt or minnows.

About The Author

Milos Pesic is an avid fisherman and owner of popular and comprehensive Salmon Fishing web site. For more articles and resources on Salmon Fishing related topics, Salmon Fishing equipment, tips and trips, visit his site at:

=>http://salmon-fishing.need-to-know.net/

The Challenges Of Saltwater Fishing

Whether you are fishing out in the sea or in a river, there are always challenges to get round. It is necessary to have patience and try your utmost to catch the fish when they finally turn up.

First of all, you will need to get a fishing license from your local government and the laws regarding fishing are different depending on what state you live in.For salt water fishing you will have to get a boat. Depending on how many people join you, the vessel size would vary from a row boat to a yacht.

In shore fishing can be done on a fifteen foot sailboat with a cuddy forward to shelter passengers from the rain. The boat needs to be sturdy so that waves or bumps along the beach and rocks don’t affect it but it shouldn’t be too heavy.

Start by throwing your line out at the edges not the middle so that it doesn’t scare the fish away. You will encourage the fish in the middle by sticking to the edges. A cod line will be a benefit to a person who wants to go “down below”. You can use a perch line as well. If it is mackerel fishing season, you can benefit from a mackerel jig too.

The best time to start fishing is on ebb tide. That is early in the morning because that would make your day more productive and if the wind it light or fair, it would help you on your journey home. Try to find a spot where the locals go fishing. That is your best bet for a successful day.

Don’t be too impatient, many anglers would move from one spot onto the next and this motion may reduce your chances that day. Start from the shallowest spot to the deepest, throwing your line out a few times without changing your bait.

Another thing that may affect your fishing chances are sharks. If you have one following you, pour fish blood onto a newspaper or a paper towel. Roll it into a ball and throw it overboard. The sharks will follow the current and the fish will return thereby increasing your likelihood of obtaining fish.

About The Author

Brian Kendall is a staff writer at http://www.thesailingzone.com and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including http://www.outdoorsportsenthusiast.com.

Guidelines in Buying Koi Fish

If you are thinking of purchasing Koi fish, there are several guidelines that you must first consider before buying. It is important that you must first be acquainted with what there is to know regarding Koi fish. It is also important that you must not hastily buy the first Koi fish that you like, because you might be disappointed buying them. Remember, Koi fish are ornamental pet fish that is usually enjoyed for a long time (for those who do not know, Koi fish can live as long as six decades or sixty years and can also grow as long as three feet).Koi fish is a Japanese-bred fish that is related to the carp family and is primarily designed as an ornament. Koi fish are major attractions to homeowners and pet lovers because of the immense beauty and coloring.

Guidelines in Buying Koi fish

Nowadays, there are many people that are captivated by the dazzling and magnificent beauty of Koi fish. Most of them are enticed to collect numerous and sometimes expensive Koi fish. The most dazzling and magnificent Koi fish can cost as much as half a million dollars. Koi fish can be purchased on your local pet shop or through a public or private source, or through amateur or expert Koi fish breeders or collectors. A pond set up for a collection of Koi fish cannot be completed at once with just a wink of an eye. Accumulating and gathering Koi fishes for breeding usually takes time. Accumulating sufficient amount of Koi fish collections is surely an investment that accounts to sufficient money, heartache, and time devotions.

Things that you must expect when buying Koi fish

Most people have lots of expectations when buying Koi fish. Mostly these expectations are the main reason why they want to buy these beautiful ornamental pet fishes. For the most part, it is important that you will be the one to choose your own personal taste when it comes to the type or variety of the Koi fish that you want to obtain. If you are planning to purchase Koi fish, it is important that you first consider several factors such as the variety of the Koi fish, quality, the price range and where you will be buying the Koi fish. Most of all always make sure that your budget for the Koi fish is sufficient enough. Bear in mind that it is essential that you must have sufficient or adequate funds to sustain the maintenance of the Koi fish (such as foods, maintenance and in some cases, medications).

Keep in mind that having Koi fish is not as easy as other types of pets. These dazzling ornamental pet fish require extra effort in keeping them (such as garden pond or aquarium maintenance, foods, electricity for the filter, etc.). They typically need added attention especially during spring season. That is when the water temperature of the garden pond or aquarium becomes erratic, of which can cause consequences.

http://www.about-koi-fish.com/buying-guides/

About The Author

Sherlock Four is a writer and author of http://www.about-koi-fish.com

Sucker Fishing - Learn the facts that can help you catch the trophies

The sucker fish family of the Cypriniformes order, also known as Catostomidae, is a family of freshwater fish with 80 species, native to North America, eastern Siberia and east central China, particularly in rivers but also in any other freshwater environment. Catostomidae is abundant in northern Minnesota, where they are harvested and smoked.

Suckers feed on insects, dwelling organisms such as worms and crustaceans and worms, as well as small fish for the larger suckers. All species are characterized by their mouth, located on the underside of the head, having thick, fleshy lips that give them their name because it enables the fish to attach to rocks in the quicker flowing waters.

Sucker species include the Genus Carpiodes, with the River carpsucker (Carpiodes carpio), Quillback (Carpiodes cyprinus), Carpiodes dialuzona, and Highfin carpsucker (Carpiodes velifer). The Genus Catostomus include Utah sucker (Catostomus Ardens), Yaqui sucker (Catostomus bernardini), Cahita sucker (Catostomus cahita), Sacramento sucker (Catostomus occidentalis), Mountain sucker (Catostomus platyrhynchus), and Rio Grande sucker (Catostomus plebeius) among others.

Suckers of the Genus Chasmistes species include Shortnose sucker (Chasmistes brevirostris) and June sucker (Chasmistes liorus). Genus Cycleptus with Blue sucker (Cycleptus elongatus) as the most representative, Genus Deltistes with the Creek chubsucker (Erimyzon oblongus) and the Lake hubsucker (Erimyzon sucetta).

There are many other species such as the Genus Hypentelium, Genus Ictiobus, Genus Minytrema, Genus Moxostoma, Genus Myxocyprinus, Chinese sucker, Genus Thoburnia, and Genus Xyrauchen. All of them less than 2 feet (60 cm) in length, with the largest species reaching nearly 40 inches (1 m) in size.

Sucker is not fished for recreationally in North America and not highly prized for their flesh; however, there are some of them appreciated by fisherman and anglers, including the Quillback, Highfin Carpsucker, Lake Chubsucker, Sharpfin Chubsucker, Spotted Sucker, River Redhorse, Blacktail Redhorse, and Grayfin Redhorse.

Quillbacks live in large streams and creeks if permanent pools are present, although in Florida they are restricted to the larger rivers avoiding entering into the smaller tributary streams. Quillbacks can be caught at the Escambia, Choctawhatchee and Apalachicola rivers with no danger of population decline.

Carpsuckers are basically commercial fish in some areas of the central United States, because they are good to eat, although basically bony. Small species are important food items for game fishes. Large variety of suckers can be found in north Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, and Wisconsin, northward from Louisiana to the Texas-Oklahoma border and particularly along the Gulf Coast, from Louisiana eastward to the Choctawhatchee River of Florida.

There is a website that has great information on most species of freshwater fish. It has details that pertain to each species of fish such as habitat, spawning, eating habits, the best lures and baits and more, the website is called: Fishing Stringer, and can be found at this url:

http://www.fishingstringer.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2007

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

About The Author

Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970's-80's.

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http://www.rb59.com

Trout Fishing Guide

trout you are after and their feeding habits to better understand and plan your approach.

There are three very popular types of trout:

• Speckled trout (brook trout)
• Rainbow trout
• Brown trout

The species and type will depend on where you are fishing at and what part of the world you are in.

Brook trout (speckled trout) thrive in smaller streams of good water quality, in pools of water more shallow than where you typically find other types of trout. They are smaller in size than other trouts but can be very aggressive.

Rainbow trout are typically native to the west coast of USA but due to stocking, they are found in many other areas as well. They occupy large water of streams and rivers and have different habitats than the other two types. They are famous for their "tail-walking" which is similar to water acrobats and is quite exciting for many fishermen to watch.

The Brown trout is larger in size compared to the Brook trout and the Rainbow trout. It is found in abundance in many areas of Europe and USA. This type of trout are usually more difficult to catch as they are wary of fishing lures and bait and not aggressive as the brook trout. More patience are required when fishing for brown trout. They are usually found in deeper pools of water and most often feed early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

Before you set off for your trout fishing trip, do you homework. Find out as much about the area/ streams/rivers that you will be fishing on. Are there many fishermen fishing there too? What's the temperature and climate? Is the area a public or government owned that has regulations? Go on the internet and join a forum so you can ask around people who have fished there before.

The more you know about the area and the fish that you plan to catch, they more successful you will be in your trout fishing attempts.

To learn more about fishing, tips and news, please visit http://fishing-funsite.com

About The Author

Soh Suad Hun is the webmaster of http://fishing-funsite.com

Bulrush Bass Fishing

The bulrush (bullrush, reeds) is often confused with cattails. Bulrush tends to grow in slightly deeper waters and have more of a circular cross section as compared to the semicircular section of the cattail.

Depending on the time of year and bass feeding habits, bulrush often dominate in fish catches over cattails. I believe it's primarily due to the depth of the water (it grows in deeper water). The larger bass tend to migrate to the first structure they come to when actively feeding, and the bulrush is often closer to these deeper water migration routes.

My personal favorite technique for fishing bulrush is to pitch a Texas rigged worm. I tend to use a harder, straight tailed worm over a ribbon tailed one. The reason is that the ribbon tail will often wrap around the bulrush stem thereby wasting time and aggravating the fisherman as well as spooking fish. My favorite worm for pitching is the Zoom trickworm in the Junebug (purple/green flack) pattern. The weight I use with the Texas rig varies with water depth and wind. The shallower the water, the lighter I go. A lighter weight gives the worm a more natural fall and can get more strikes, however if too light, the worm may catch on the bulrush stems and not finish it's way to the bottom. The windier the day is, the heavier I go. This gives me better control during the pitch as well as better feel for what's biting on the other end of my line. Too light of a weight on a windy day will throw off your pitches and often get your wrapped around a bulrush stem.

The only time I resort to heavy weights is when I'm flipping matted cover in the bulrush. I'll use 1/2 - 1 oz weights in this type of situation. If matted cover exists in bulrush, you've got to get your flippin stick out and flip the mats. If you don't you will lose out on many opportunities to catch above average bass. In working the bulrush patches/lines start back from the bulrush approx. 10-15 feet and pitch. Pitch forward of the boat if possible and restrict any side pitches or back of the boat pitches. The reason for this is that the bass are often spooked by the boat passage, and by pitching sideways or towards the rear of the boat you are often pitching to spooked fish or fish that have moved due to being spooked.

Always be a line watcher, whether pitching, casting or flippin a soft plastic. Any twitch of the line or sideways motion of the line often indicates a strike, so reel down and set the hook even if you don't feel the typical thump!

When pitching, work both deep into the bulrush patch and to the outside edge of the bulrush. Try to make contact with the stems whenever possible, but don't neglect the open pockets and also work right in the middle of those pockets.

If you follow these tips, I'm sure you will be doing more catching with less fishing!

About The Author

Paul Bruessow

20 years as a avid bass fisherman in Florida fishing local and club tournaments. Websites: http://www.floridabassfishing.us and http://www.floridabasslakes.com

Betta Fish Is The Perfect Pet Fish

I still remember the first time I saw two beautiful looking fish in a friend's house. One fish was blue and the other was red, and they were swimming majestically in their fishbowls. That was my first encounter with a fish species known as Betta fish or Betta Splendens or Siamese Fighting Fish (three names that refer to one fish).

Up until today, I'm still keeping a few of them in my house, and they make perfect pet fish for my family. Every member of my family loves them.

Why do I like most about Betta fish, you may ask. Definitely, I have many different reasons, but here are three of them.

1. Betta fish are beautiful pet.

It's a tropical fish that comes with different colors such as red, blue and yellow. Some Betta fish have more than one color on their bodies. Believe it or not! I can spend hours looking at how Betta fish move in their bowls but even if you don't know a thing about Betta fish, you will be mesmerized by their colors alone.

2. Betta fish are easy to care.

Betta fish are hardy type of fish and they can live in a small container. A small fishbowl is enough to house one Betta fish, but be aware that two male Betta fish shouldn't be placed in one container. Or else, these two Betta fish might fight until death (that's why they are also called Siamese fighting fish).

3. Betta fish are responsive.

If you have a Betta fish in a small fishbowl and you move closer to the fish, you'll see that your fish will turn its head to look at you. That's what makes me fall in love with Betta fish. They are responsive to your presence and aware that you are there, unlike many other pet fish.

So, you can now consider if you want to adopt Betta fish as your family pet or for your kids. They are lovable creatures and you will know it immediately one you have a Betta in your house.

About The Author

Rosalinda Zamora is a betta fish lover. To get FREE info about caring for betta fish, go to http://www.BettaFishSecret.com and she'll surprise you with more awesome articles from betta fish experts.

Perch Fishing - Learn the facts that can help you catch the trophies

The yellow perch is a fish that is prevalent in quite a few different areas. Some areas that have yellow perch in the lakes and rivers are Canada, the Great Lakes region and even through Pennsylvania all the way to South Carolina.

These sought after fish are also seen in other states such as Iowa, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana and Utah. It is important to learn about the habitat and habits of the yellow perch in order to know the best ways to catch these types of fish.

The yellow perch is found in the states listed above in the many lakes and rivers which permeate those regions. These fish tend to eat during daylight hours and maintain an active lifestyle, so to speak. The yellow perch are most still when it is nighttime, which makes it easy for daytime fishermen to catch this type of species. The yellow perch is part of the Percidae fish family and is related to the walleye and the sauger.

As for the spawning habits of the yellow perch, these fish tend to do so at nighttime in 50-degree water temperature. They produce quite a bit of eggs and are said to spawn anywhere from 4,000 to 40,000 eggs. The spawning period of the yellow perch occurs in the springtime.

As for unusual characteristics, the yellow perch has a unique defense mechanism to protect against predators. When the yellow perch is threatened, it will raise its spiny fins to inflict injury on the predator and protect itself. The sharp fins usually do the trick with regard to warding off enemies.

For those who like to fish for yellow perch, there are a few tips which may help in yielding the best catch. First and foremost, since yellow perch are most active during the daytime, it is wise for fishermen to fish during daylight hours to increase the odds of catching one. Another tip relates to the bait and lures to use for catching yellow perch. Since yellow perch are caught quite easily due to their fondness for a wide array of items, one can use almost any type of bait or artificial lure to reel in the yellow perch.

The yellow perch makes a wonderful catch for fishermen of all skill levels. If one is looking to fish during daylight hours and lives in one of the many areas above, the chances of catching a yellow perch are more than likely.

There is a website that has great information on most species of freshwater fish. It has details that pertain to each species of fish such as habitat, spawning, eating habits, the best lures and baits and more, the website is called: Fishing Stringer, and can be found at this url:

http://www.fishingstringer.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2007

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

About The Author

Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970's-80's.

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http://www.rb59.com

Trout Fishing - Learn the facts that can help you catch the trophies

There are many different types of fish which individuals fish for exclusively these days. One variety of fish which is highly sought after by fishermen everywhere is the trout. There are many different subspecies of trout which come in a variety of colors, lengths and weights. This freshwater fish is touted as one of the favorites among game fish found in lakes, rivers and streams.

Most of the different subspecies of trout are found in cold water lakes, streams and rivers. They tend to migrate from place to place and swim in the various areas of the water. They are found throughout the United States as well as parts of Asia and Europe. As for the menu items which trout desire, they mainly feed on aquatic flies such as mayflies and dragonflies. Zooplankton and small fish are also a delicacy for certain types of trout, depending on where they are located.

One of the interesting characteristics about the trout is that they have fins which are lacking in spines. This tends to separate them from some of their other fish counterparts. As for their average age and size, this tends to vary greatly among the various subspecies of trout. In general, trout tend to live many years and can get to great sizes, some even topping over 50 lbs. or more.

There are a few things which trout fishermen can do in order to yield the best catch. First and foremost, those who fish for trout may find that they will catch the most trout by using a particular fishing method. Those who use fly fishing techniques will be most likely to catch the most trout in the fastest time possible. It is important to point out however that rod fishing is also an option.

Trout are attracted to certain types of bait and lures. Some which yield the most interest from trout include spoons, jigs, flies, salmon eggs and worms. Once the trout bites, it is important to set the hook as quickly as possible. In order to catch as many trout as possible, it is important that one engages in their fishing as quietly as they can. As trout are easily scared off, it is important to move slowly and use a natural looking bait or lure so as to be effective in catching this popular fish.

There is a website that has great information on most species of freshwater fish. It has details that pertain to each species of fish such as habitat, spawning, eating habits, the best lures and baits and more, the website is called: Fishing Stringer, and can be found at this url:

http://www.fishingstringer.com

By Robert W. Benjamin

Copyright © 2007

You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter, or on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.

About The Author

Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970's-80's.

Get a Credit Card or Fast Cash Loan!

http://www.rb59.com

Tournament Bass Fishing, Is it for You?

I remember my dad taking me and my brothers fishing in Michigan many years ago. We would often go to a local river, lake or cut to fish for perch, bluegills or anything else that would hit. Often, the fish weren't biting and my dad and brothers would want to pack up and go home. I would almost always ask to stay a little bit longer but usually the answer was a vote, and I normally lost.

I distinctly remember a trip to a Michigan cut, off of Lake Huron, when supposedly the perch were running. After a couple of hours soaking minnows, we had not caught a thing. My dad had a friend who lived within a mile of the cut and told us to pack it up and we'll all get warmer at his buddies house. I complained as usual and asked him if I could stay because I thought the fish would start biting when the water started warming up later in the day. He took a while to answer and replied "Paul, aren't you cold? Let's warm up at my buddy's place. Besides, the fish aren't biting." Of course my answer was, "Dad, please can I stay longer? I know they'll start biting." Dad said, " You know Paul, you must love fishing. I'll tell you what, you can fish for a couple of hours and I'll take Mark and Matt with me unless they want to stay." Was I ever happy and of course my brothers didn't want to stay, so they took off with dad.

It was cold, about 40 degrees and I checked/changed my minnow every 5 minutes or so. I'd cast up the cut, down the cut, changed my spot but nothing seemed to want my bait. I was watching my line (no bobber) when finally I got a bite. Jerked on the pole and reeled in a 10" perch. Within about 10 minutes I caught about 5 perch, stringered them all up and time expired as my dad and brothers came to pick me up. Darn, I wish they had stayed at my dad's buddies house a little longer.

Well guess what, they were so surprised that I caught some fish, we got to stay a couple more hours and we came home with a nice bucket of yellow bellied perch (Mmmm, these were delicious).

Prerequisites for a Tournament Bass Fisherman:

So what's my point? The point is that you either love to fish, even if they aren't biting or you like to do it once in awhile. If you love fishing as I do, you can be very competitive in bass tournaments, while if you only want to fish once in awhile, you won't be too successful. If you are the latter, just fish for fun and save your tournament entry money.

Another prerequisite for a good bass tournament fisherman is the will to compete. If you are laid back, just like to cast your line out and wait for the fish to hit, then tournament fishing isn't for you. I grew up playing baseball, running some track and enjoyed these sports. I also had a bunch of brothers, so competition has been instilled in my personality. In fact, whenever I get together with my best bass fishing buddy (met him in Gainesville, Florida while going to UF for my degree) either fishing for fun or prefishing for a tournament, we are always raz each other. If he has more fish, he'll yell something my way saying something like "So, when you going to learn how to fish" or " That's a sissy bait your throwing, no wonder you can't catch any fish!" Big fish also has the braggin rights and usually we tease each other with sayings like this, "How many more dinks ya gonna catch?" or "My one fish outweighs all 3 of yours", etc. It's always competitive, so if you have this spirit in your blood, then you can be a good tournament fisherman.

How to Start Bass Fishing in Tournaments:

OK- So you think you have met the prereqs and want to tournament fish. Here's my first suggestion, join a local bass club. There are many published bass club lists on the internet, so just Google with "Bass clubs your state" for a list to start with. You could also inquire at a local lake and talk to some fishermen there.

There are two types of bass clubs: 1- Draw tournament and 2- Team tournaments. The draw clubs have boaters and non-boaters prior to the tournament launch, the boaters are paired with non boaters through a random draw out of a hat. If possible, try this club style 1st and fish a few tournaments as a non-boater. You will be surprised how much you didn't know about bass fishing when you see how your boater partner fishes. It's great to learn from more experienced anglers!

The team type clubs have the same non boater and boater teamed up all year long. If you have a good fishing buddy that you want to fish with, go ahead and join this type. The main disadvantage of this style of tournament fishing is that your learning curve for competitive fishing is much longer because you don't have any experienced tournament fishermen to learn from. You'll miss out on some special tips on how to flip, pitch, sidearm cast, prevent splashes during pitching, Texas rig correctly, etc. If you do this style, read a lot of online information and perhaps subscribe to Bassin' or Bassmaster magazine (I think FLW also has one).

So, you followed my recommendation and want to join a draw style club tournament so what's next. You will usually need to attend their club meetings. In the south, there's usually one club meeting a month while in the north it maybe as often as twice a month because of their limited fishing season. At the club meeting they usually discuss new members, tournament results, payouts, the next tournaments location and a sundry of items. In that meeting, you usually decide to go boater or non boater. After this, the boater is paired with the non boater and you'll find out who your partner will be. If there are more boaters than non boaters, it's usually worked out who will be the boater through a rule or through negotiation between the paired boaters. During the meeting, get your partners phone number so you can call him. During this meeting, the boat launch position is usually announced as well.

Prior to the actual tournament call your partner. When you get a hold of him ask him the following questions:

1- Do you want me to come to your house and we can go together or do you want to just meet at the ramp? Tell him you will share all gas expenses with him which is the norm for draw tournaments or team tournaments for that matter. Of course you don't have to pay for his truck gas if he says just meet him at the ramp. You will always need to split the cost of the boat gas!

2- How many rods can I bring and how much tackle ? Can I bring my cooler or do you have one for my drinks? If the boater has a small boat, he may ask you to downsize the amount of equipment to bring. This is a common courtesy, besides you are using his boat aren't you?

3- Do I need to bring my lifejacket? Lifejackets are a mandatory item for bass tournaments, however your boating partner may already have 2 and your extra one may only crowd the boat. Ask him just in case he doesn't have an extra, or he doesn't like strangers using them out of courtesy.

4- What time do you want me at your house or ramp? There's nothing more aggravating to a boater than a late non boater. Usually the boater will "pad" the travel time with an hour or so to allow for gas stops, snack stops and possible flat tires. So if your are not spending the night before at a local hotel near the lake, be ready to get up very early to make the trip to the boaters house or be ready for an early pickup by the boater. Just be ready when the boater asks you to be.

5- Would you like me to make some sandwiches for you? Although not a mandatory question, it is a nice offer and the boater will be more willing to help you during the tournament.

I probably forgot some questions, but please ask the ones I listed. Things will go a lot more smooth if you do.

Pre Tournament Preparation

Prefishing: The most neglected part of pre-tournament preparation is the lack of pre-fishing. If you are a boater or non-boater, just like a class in high school or college, if you don't do your homework you will not do well on your test. Just think of the tournament as a test and pre-fishing as homework.

Pre-fishing involves checking out the lake where the tournament is to take place prior to the actual tournament. No matter how many times you have been successful on this lake in the past, you should pre-fish to find the dominant pattern for the current weather conditions, water levels, cover and time of the year. Try to pre-fish as close to possible to the tournament date. During prefishing, never stick more than 2 fish in one spot, and if the fish are not very active such as in cold fronts, you may want to limits it to 1 fish. After that, use hooks with the barbs removed if you want further verification that the bass concentration is good and don't set the hook on any more hits in that area. If you are sight fishing, just use your GPS to mark the spots and maybe toss a hook less bait to verify that the fish would be willing to hit the bait.

Try a variety of baits and locations during prefishing. GPS all of the spots that produced fish and note the cover/depth and weather conditions when/where you caught fish. If you are the non-boater, it is still your obligation to pre-fish if you have a boat. You need to help your partner as much as possible, and you never know as you may have better spots than your boating partner. Try prefishing with a partner. The partner does not have to be your boater/non boater, but the more lines in the water with various baits, the more likely you will find the successful pattern.

Fishing Tackle: Make sure your reels have good line on them i.e. the line is not old or has not taken too much set resulting in tight curly loops. Replace the line if necessary. Lube up your reels if time permits.

Retie all lures with fresh knots while removing the 1st couple of feet of line. You never know if you have nicks or knot abrasion from your last fishing trip. If you still have plastics on your hook, throw them away, leave the hook barren until the day of the tournament, then put on your soft plastic. This retains the smell/scent of the bait.

Be sure you have adequate fish scent for your soft plastics as well as enough toothpicks for Texas rigged baits. Make sure you pack your pliers and clippers.

Sharpen all of your hooks. If possible replace your worm hooks with new ones. Crankbaits such as Rattletraps often have dull hooks. Replace them with sharper ones like Gamagatzu's.

While pre-fishing, tune your lipped crankbaits by bending the eye so they run straight.

Finally, use a rod cover if possible prior to storing the rods in your rod locker (it's also good for the non boater). This will not only protect the rods, but will prevent the rods from tangling inside your box.

Boat Gear and Tow Vehicle: As a boater you need to check the following:

1- 2 cycle oil reservoir is filled and take an extra gallon if possible.

2- Fill up the gas tank or at least put in enough to last the whole tournament.

3- Charge up your trolling motor batteries and big motor battery.

4- Check your trailer tires/tow vehicle tires for air pressure and lube the trailer wheel bearings via the zerk fitting.

5- Fill up your tow vehicle and check the oil and antifreeze.

6- Bring an inexpensive 12V air inflator and tire plug kit. These work great in case you get a screw/nail in either your tow vehicle or trailer tire.

7- Make sure your vehicle jack will work on your trailer, if not you may need to buy a bottle jack for your trailer in case it gets a flat.

8- Make sure your spare tires have air in them.

9- Always hook up your safety chains when towing and check your winch strap/cable for any signs of wear.

10- Be sure to plug in your trailer lights

11- Put in your boat plug just to be on the safe side. If it is raining you can always bilge or pull out your plug at the ramp. It's better than trying to get the boat back on the trailer when it's sinking because you forgot to put the plug in!

12- Check your boat lights out to make sure they work.

13- Make sure you bring your raingear and lifejackets.

14- Make sure you have non expired flares, fire extinguishers and whistle or horn.

15- Check your boat registration/trailer registration. I leave these in a compartment in my boat.

16- Pack your float markers.

17- Bring your fishfinder and GPS.

18- Check all your trailer and tow vehicle lights.

19- Bring your weigh in bags.

There's probably some other things, but this list should always be checked.

Boat Ramp Launch Preparation and Launch: 1st, make sure you leave early enough to get to the boat ramp at least one hour before safelight. Safelight does not equal sunrise! It is usually 30 minute to an hour before sunrise. Bass tournaments start the launch process at safelight.

Bass tournament fishermen are often impatient. That's their competitive nature going to work and rookies at boat ramps are often aggravating to tournament fishing pros. The main reason is the amount of time the rookies take to launch their boat.

When you get to the ramp and you are approaching a line of boats switch to your parking lights only (as long as you can see in front of you). This helps the fishermen who are launching their boats see the ramp and the path their boat is taking while they back up. Bright headlights in their eyes while backing up blinds them!

While in line, both you and your partner need to make launch preparations. here's the list:

1- Keep your parking lights on and exit the vehicle.

2- Remove your boat straps, transom saver and double check that your boat plug is in.

3- If a vehicle ahead of you pulls up, get back in your vehicle and pull up again. This will prevent a line forming that goes out to the main highway.

4- Prime your fuel bulb in your boat.

5- Put in your boat lights.

6- Lower your motor to a lower position, but not to low as to hit the ground while going over bumps/grade.

7- Make sure everything is out of the tow vehicle and in your boat that you are going to take. If there is a boat check in the line, open up your livewells and your compartments so the check can be done quickly.

8- If you are next in line to launch, line up the tow vehicle and boat to the ramp. If the non boater can, have him back in the boat with you in it. Make sure you tell him to close all windows, bring the keys and lock up the vehicle after he parks. Tell him to watch you for hand signals as the backup lights will light you up and that you will be having him stop when the tires first touch water. This is so you can undo the bow strap/cable. Also have him open up the side window so he can here you just in case something happens or he misunderstands your hand signals. Usually a come here motion with your hands means keep backing up while a palm forward (like a policeman stop) means stop. Tell him to take his time. A point to the left or right means that the boat needs to go that way, while a straight back come here means to go straight back.

9- When the tires 1st hit the water (this is approx. and may vary according to what you like), indicate a stop. Go to the front and undo your bow strap. Get back in the boat driver seat, and have the non boater come back until the boat is floating, then give him the stop signal. Give him the go forward signal (motion forward) so he can park.

10- Lower your motor the rest of the way for carbureted motors (not necessary for EFI systems) and put your idle bar in the best position to start . Prime the motor by holding the key in (most motors) and start the motors. Get out of the way of the ramp as soon as you can and find a spot to beach or dock.

11- Turn on your boat lights.

12- Warm your engine until it's warm enough that it will be easy to start at launch time. Then turn it off.

13- Plug your livewells.

14- While your partner makes his way back to your boat, get the rods out you are going to use and strap them in with your Rod Savers or bungies on your front deck.

15- Use your flashlight and get your soft plastics on.

16- Now your ready for the pre-tournament meeting.

Pre-tournament meeting:

This meeting is usually held when all fishermen have launched their boats. It may start before if there are late arrivers, but those late arrivals will just miss the meeting.

During the meeting, the size limit, the number of fish per fisherman or boat, off limits, weigh in time and other items will be discussed. Make sure you get the weigh in time and the official time. The official time is the one announced that corresponds to the tournament directors time. Therefore offset your watch to match the tournaments official time.

Once the meeting is over, go to your boat, dawn your lifejackets and attach your kill switch. Don't start your motor until it gets closer to your launch number. This just makes it easier to hear the tournament director.

If the boat check is on the water, idle slowly by the check point with livewells running. They will signal you to go if they see you are clear.

When your boat number is called idle beyond all other boats, once you have cleared them, get on plane quickly so you don't hold up the line. Never start to plane if there are alot of boats idling in your planing path. Just use common sense here as no one likes to have a wave come over the sides of their boat when another boat planes right next to them!

Tournament Time

If you and your partner did your "homework", you won't be doing a lot of lure changing, tying lures or running around the lake trying to find biting bass. If there was a major cold front or other major change like water level drop, you may have to adjust. Still rely on the spots you caught fish in pre-fishing but you may have to flip or go to the next closest dropoff to find the fish you located during practice.

The non boater must respect the boaters preferences, however if you developed a good rapport prior to the tournament, things will go much smoother. The non boater usually has rights to 50% of the front of the boat during a club tournament. In some big tournaments this is not the case. If you want the front, just be courteous and ask. If the boater says no, don't bring it up any further and do the best you can from the back. A boater that always says no to a non boaters request will often be found out at a later time and will no longer be welcome in that club.

If you are a non boater and fishing from the back of the boat always cast towards the front or side of the boat, never behind when working a weed/timber line. Just respect the boaters line and never cast over his line or into the path of the trolling motor.

If you are the boater, just remember when you 1st started and how unfair it was when that boater never let you up front. Don't you remember the club murmurs of a certain individual that constantly backboated his partner, elbows out like a chicken so there was no way a non boater could effectively cast. I guess this is the biggest downside of a draw tournament!

When you catch your 1st fish, quickly measure it, closed mouth on a metal ruler like the "Golden Rule". Make sure it measures as not only can you be penalized at weigh in but you could get a ticket from the wildlife officer. Close the drain plugs for your livewells if you haven't already and turn on the aerators. Put the fish in the livewell as soon as possible. When the livewells are full, I like to switch over to recirculate and put my timer on.

If you gut hook a fish, I normally leave the hook in it's stomach and cut of the line. This will do a lot less damage than ripping out the hook.

If you get a limit, I cull by weighing all my fish and using a numbered float system. For example, #1 float = 2.8 pounds, #2= 1.5 pounds, etc.. I record this on a piece of paper. When I get my next fish over the limit, I release the lightest one and place the new weight on the paper for that float number. Hopefully you'll be doing this all day long, but remember never to have more fish in your livewell than the limit.

Netting fish properly is also very important. The last thing you want to do is to wack the fish in the side or the head and knock off the fish. When your partner has a fish on, quickly reel in your line and get the net. Try to get the net near the water, when the fish approaches, try to net it by submerging the net before the fish and getting it head first. That way the fish is swimming into the net rather than away from it. Never hit your partners line or the side of the fish with the net. Usually your partner will let you know when to net, but you must be ready!

If it is hot, be sure to add ice to your livewells on occasion. Also make sure you use sunscreen.

When it gets close to tournament weigh in time, remind each other of what time it is and how long it's going to take. Make time adjustments according to weather conditions. A thunderstorm or high winds in the afternoon will likely double or triple the time it took you to get to your spot. Just make sure you adjust for this.

It's time to go, so put on your lifejackets, attach the kill switch and go!

Weigh In

If there is a big line, keep your fish in the livewell so they don't have to be in un-oxygenated weigh in bag. When the time is close, quickly move your fish into the weigh bags being careful that the fish don't jump out of your livewells (Hmmm, has this ever happened to me) and into the lake. For the too close for comfort fish, re-measure and if not sure ask the tournament director for a courtesy measure. This will prevent measurement of short fish and a hefty penalty.

Watch the scales while your fish are being weighed. If the scale doesn't closely match your culling weigh paper, ask for a retare of the scale if possible. Sometimes the scales mess up do to low battery or wind conditions.

If your in the money, congrats! Shake the tournament directors hand with a big smile on your face.

If you got the prereqs, you've got to try tournament bass fishing! So pre-fish and Do ore Catching with Less Fishing.

Sincerely,

The Largemouth Herald

About The Author

Paul Bruessow

20 years as a avid bass fisherman in Florida fishing local and club tournaments. Websites: http://www.floridabassfishing.us and http://www.floridabasslakes.com

Does Your Fishing Net Have Holes In It?

Finding borrowers is a lot like fishing. You throw out your offer and see who bites.

There is a lot of debate at the moment as to which bait is best. A-paper borrowers and sub-prime borrowers each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Regardless of the bait you're using, it's all worthless if you can't get them in the boat once you got them to bite. In other words, your fishing net has holes in it.

The most successful companies in the world spend a large part of their revenue building systems to develop and nurture a relationship with their customers. For example, Amazon sends regular emails with coupons and purchase suggestions and American Express uses membership upgrades. Why should a mortgage company (or individual) be any different?

A mortgage office that desires to exist long term should seriously consider implementing systems to develop relationships. Consider the profit margin on each closed loan. Then consider that most Americans refinance once every 3-4 years. Even if you spent $5 a month per person, keeping your relationship with your borrower is infinitely cheaper than finding a new one.

At a bear minimum, a monthly newsletter or postcard will keep your name in front of past customers. There are many excellent companies on the net. I recommend www.hotleadmachine.com because of their low cost and 50 customer minimum requirement. The newsletter comes in full color with your picture or logo included.

More advanced marketers would benefit from a short term system designed to ensure the customer moves forward with their home financing. The costs of finding new qualified borrowers is increasing daily as competition increases. With the availability of trigger leads, the need to keep marketing even after the sale is undeniable.

My Lost Borrower Campaign, which is fast becoming standard operating procedure in many offices, provides a multi-step marketing campaign designed to eliminate borrower fallout. As of this post, there is no other program like it available anywhere.

"Make a sale and you'll make some money. Make a friend and you'll make a fortune." -Jeff Gitomer.

About The Author

Brian Diez

I've been in the financial sevices field for over 7 years and have had some incredible success. I cracked the code and unlocked the secrets of mortgage marketing. Now I'll share them with you.

Read more from Brian Diez at http://MortgageMarketingProgram.blogspot.com

Choosing A Saltwater Fish Tank

What to Look For in a Saltwater Fish Tank

The decision to purchase a saltwater or marine fish tank for your home or office should not be taken lightly. Marine fish will have requirements far greater than freshwater fish. However, once you’ve decided to purchase a saltwater aquarium you’ll be rewarded with a stunning range of tropical and reef fish to choose from.

But first you’ll need to purchase your tank. The selection process can be time consuming and confusing because the range of tanks available is large. The best advice is usually to purchase the largest tank you can afford and that will fit in the available space. There are numerous stories of people starting out their fish tank hobby with a small fish tank only to find in a short space of time that they wish they had purchased a larger tank!

A 30-gallon saltwater aquarium is probably the smallest tank you should consider. A fish tank of this size will provide sufficient surface area to allow adequate exchange of oxygen into the water and to provide a comfortable swimming environment for your fish.

The oxygen supply in the water together with the water temperature will determine the success or otherwise of your fish keeping hobby. Tropical saltwater fish require a water temperature of about 75 degrees F. The warmer water in the saltwater aquarium will tend to deplete the oxygen in the water which means that the surface area becomes important. The addition of aeration equipment is usually desirable to increase the oxygen concentration. Aeration can usually be provided in conjunction with your filtration equipment.

Saltwater fish tanks are available in both acrylic and glass. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Some of the advantages of glass aquariums are
* Glass fish tanks are usually cheaper than acrylic tanks
* Glass fish tanks are more scratch resistant than acrylic tanks
* Glass fish tanks won't discolor with age
* Glass fish tanks won’t require as much brace support as acrylic tanks although the stand needs to be able to support a great weight

Advantages of acrylic fish tanks
* Acrylic fish tanks are lighter in weight than glass fish tanks
* Acrylic fish tanks can be custom made in a shape to suit your home
* Acrylic fish tanks are less likely to break
* Acrylic fish tanks can be purchased online

Setting Up Your Saltwater Fish Tank

Bringing your new saltwater fish tank home from the store is only the first step. Never be tempted to purchase fish at the same time that you acquire your aquarium. There are many steps to complete prior to introducing fish to their new home.

First, you need to install your tank in its desired location. Avoid locating your saltwater fish tank in any spot that receives sunlight. Sunlight will cause algae to grow in your tank and whilst this will not usually harm the fish it is unsightly and spoils the appearance of your aquarium. Also avoid any locations close to room heaters or where the tank will be exposed to drafts.

Many acrylic fish tanks come with a built-in stand. Glass tanks will require a sturdy stand and should have a layer of polystyrene or rubber placed between the tank and the stand to absorb any unevenness. If the tank is unbalanced it will eventually crack.

Check your new tank for leaks. Fill it with water and let is stand for a day or two. Once you have confirmed that it is water tight you will need to thoroughly clean the tank and all equipment. Rinse thoroughly. Do not skip the cleaning and rinsing step just because you’ve purchased a new tank and it appears sparkling clean. Your fish will die if there are any contaminants left in the tank! Don’t forget to wash the gravel before adding it the tank. Add all your other equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s directions. Your pet store will have provided advice on how to set up your saltwater fish tank.

After you have added your salt water and confirmed that the salt and chemical levels are correct you’ll need to run all your equipment for at least 72 hours to filter and heat your water and stabilize your tank. Let the aquarium cycle to build up the correct biological levels.

The hardest part of setting up your saltwater fish tank is now complete and now you’ll be able to go and select your colorful fish!

About The Author

Alison Stevens is an online author and maintains the website http://www.goldfishsite.com/blog/ to assist anyone who wants to get started with setting up an aquarium fish tank and gain an understanding of fresh and saltwater fish tank maintenance.

Fish Oil Reduces Symptoms Of Exercise Induced Asthma

Fish oil can reduce the symptoms of exercise induced asthma to below the threshold for diagnosing it and at the same time lower the need for emergency medication according to the results of a trial carried out by Indiana University in Bloomington, USA.

The trial was a randomised double blind cross over study and involved 16 people who had mild to moderate asthma and who normally took medication on a daily basis to control it. During the trial those taking part were given either fish oil or a placebo for a period of three weeks. The dose of fish oil was quite high containing 3.2gr of Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and 2gr of Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).

Both at the beginning and at the end of the trial, the participants were subjected to lung efficiency tests and had their sputum analysed for pro inflammatory cells and markers. Those who were given fish oil showed improved lung efficiency of about 64% and reduced their need for emergency medication by around 31%. They also had a lower level of pro inflammatory cells and markers in their sputum. These promising results are believed to be due to the anti-inflammatory effect of the Omega 3 fatty acids that are present in fish oil.

What is exercise induced asthma?

After exercise and sometimes even during exercise, the airway passages in people with exercise induced asthma become inflamed and narrower resulting in decreased lung efficiency, often making it necessary to use inhalers. The constriction of the airways causes various symptoms including coughing, tightness across the chest, wheezing and shortness of breath. These symptoms generally start to ease off gradually over a period of half an hour or so following exercise.

No one really knows what causes it but it is thought to be triggered by the drying out and cooling of the airway passages which results in the cells releasing pro inflammatory chemicals which then causes a narrowing of the airways. Consequently, exercising in cool and dry conditions outdoors is more likely to result in an attack of asthma than physical activities such as swimming where the air is moist and warmer.

One major problem with exercise induced asthma is that it can be a barrier to exercise for many people, particularly youngsters who can be put off sport and other physical exercise because of it. It is also on the increase and the reason for this is thought to be linked to an increased consumption of Omega 6 fatty acids in the diet along with a reduction in the amount of Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 6 is known to be pro-inflammatory whereas Omega 3 has anti-inflammatory properties and it is this difference in ratio that is thought to be responsible for a rise in a number of health problems.

Omega 6 is found in processed foods, vegetable oils, meats and dairy products so there is an abundance of them in our diet. The Omega 3 fatty acids EPA and DHA on the other hand are only found in oily fish or fish oil as plant sources of Omega 3 do not contain EPA and DHA, they are in the form of Alpha linolenic acid or ALA, but the problem with ALA is that our bodies cannot easily process it to produce EPA, which is the fatty acid best known for its anti inflammatory effects.

You would have to eat an awful lot of fish to get the same amount of EPA that is present in fish oil, which isn't a good idea due to the potentially harmful toxins, including mercury, that are found in our fish. So, for this reason, fish oil offers a viable and safer alternative. Another point worthy of consideration is that long term use of medication for asthma can make it less effective and of course as with any medication there can also be unwanted side effects so if fish oil can reduce the need for medication and inhalers in people with exercise induced asthma, then that is exciting news indeed.

Conclusion

Fish oil is already known to offer both preventative and therapeutic health benefits for a number of conditions and so is an excellent supplement to promote good health in general. However, a word of caution, if you are thinking of trying fish oil supplements it is essential to opt only for the best quality fish oil known as pharmaceutical grade fish oil due to the potentially harmful toxins that can be present in lesser grade fish oils.

About The Author

Dave McEvoy is an expert in omega 3 fish oil EPA with over 20 years experience; for more information about fish oil and how it can help come and visit. http://www.mind1st.co.uk/fishoil_fishoilsupplements.asp