Now before you run out and buy a fly rod, there are a few things you need to consider.  These are some major factors in fly fishing.  The first one is the kind of fish you will be fishing for.  The rule of thumb is the heavier the fish, the heavier the equipment needed.

The second thing you need to consider is the body of water you intend to fish.  Think of the difference between a babbling brook, and a roaring river.  The differences are not just the motion of the water, but also the wind, the clearness of the water is, and the distance you will need to cast to catch your target fish. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 59% [?]

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Remember when you were a kid sitting on the bank beside some lake or watering hole with your pole dangling in the water, a night crawler on the hook, hoping a fish would bite? Sometimes you would get a bite and other times you would get just a nibble. Your bait would be gone, but the fish didn’t get hooked. People still fish that way. Some may use a boat, but they are still using the conventional method of fishing.

Sitting on the bank of a lake in the Grand Tetons, early on a summer morning, pole in hand and a night crawler on the hook it was very peaceful. It really wasn’t one of my favorite things to do. The scenery was beautiful, but I wasn’t one for sitting still too long. Then I got the chance to go stream fishing. We didn’t go often, but I went every chance I got. I thought the scenery was even more beautiful than the scenery by the lake. My favorite part of stream fishing was walking on the rocks of stream so that I could let my hook and bait float passed the trout that may have been sitting just under a rock. I never caught anything that way, but the attempt was exhilarating. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 63% [?]

No one really knows when fly fishing first began. It is believed that it existed long ago in ancient times. One of the earliest written references to fly fishing was made by Claudius Aelianus. In 200 AD he wrote of people that were fishing in a river with a hand made fly. He described how they attached red wool and feathers to a hook. The rods they used and the sting attached were each about six feet long. These people were the ancient Macedonians. Throughout history from Aelianus to the present people have been writing about fly fishing, and many thousands of others have been enjoying the sport…Click Here To Read More

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Hiring a charter boat for deep sea fishing is a very exciting way to spend your time. To make sure you get the most out of the experience there are some basic elements you want to cover before you hire the charter boat. First you need to decide what type of fish you are after. This will help you identify the best fishing locations offering that particular type of fish.

Consider how long you want to hire the deep sea fishing charter boat for. The majority to them charge by the hour, ½ day, or full day. You also need to look at the amenities they offer. For example if you are going to rent their fishing gear and want lunch provided it is going to cost you more than if you provide these items yourself. Ask for a complete breakdown of the costs so you can work out a deal to eliminate those you won’t need.

The size of the charter boat is going to affect the cost. Carefully consider how many people you will bring along with you so you can get the best price and still get your needs met. There is no reason to rent the largest charter boat when you will be the only one on it. If you will be bringing two or three others along with you though it is a good choice.

You need to carefully interview the person you are renting the charter boat from. Make sure they have a good reputation as well as plenty of knowledge for operating the boat. It is a good idea to make sure the Captain has been licensed through the United States Coast Guard.

Make sure you schedule your deep sea fishing charter boat well in advance, especially during peak season. You don’t want to be disappointed by getting there and finding out there are no charter boats available for your adventure. You also want to find out about refunds should you not be able to attend due to unexpected circumstances.

Popularity: 71% [?]

For a fanatical angler nothing beats a fishing vacation, only you, your quarry and the elements for the term of your holiday. There is no need to consider the rest of your family as you disappear early in the morning as they will be safe at home while you enjoy your sport without distraction.

There are many popular destinations with Alaska and Montana providing excellent fishing. However for a truly wonderful experience nothing can be better than a fishing vacation in Scotland. Both seawater and fresh water fishing is incredible and the surroundings are always spectacular. I fish in the Hebrides of Scotland where the waters are the cleanest I have witnessed anywhere and the fish are the healthiest. Salmon fishing is, of course, the most popular with most anglers choosing fly fishing over other methods (I often see a lone angler fishing one of the small rivers on my way to Stornoway, the main town on the Isle of Lewis). Sea trout can offer excellent fishing fun but for a more relaxing fish try for the brown trout which can be found in many lochs across the Hebrides islands. The Hebrides also have a number of fisheries that offer the Arctic char for fishing. Read the rest of this entry »

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Are you in the process of planning a fishing trip to Alaska? If you are, you may need to make reservations at an Alaska fishing lodge. When preparing to do so, you will see that you have an unlimited number of options.

As nice as it is to have options, when looking to book a stay at an Alaska fishing lodge, a number of choices may complicate your decision. To ensure that you choose the Alaska fishing lodge that is perfect for your next fishing trip, there are a number of important factors that you will want to take into consideration. One of those factors is location. By choosing an Alaska fishing lodge that is located near your intended fishing destinations you are able to save time and money by eliminating unnecessary travel.

Features should also be taken into consideration, when examining available Alaska fishing lodges. Although you will likely spend a good portion of your trip fishing, features of a fishing lodge are still important. Would you like to have access to a full kitchen, a laundry room? How about television, radio or internet? Will the lodge clean, fillet, and pack your catch? Alaska fishing lodge features should play an important role in the selection process.

Cost is another one of the many factors that you will want to take into consideration, when looking to choose an Alaska fishing lodge to vacation at. You will want to book a stay at an Alaska fishing lodge that is affordably priced. When examining costs, it is also important to keep quality in mind. Larger fishing lodges, as well as those that provide you with more features, services, and amenities are likely to be higher in price. With that in mind, these rental fees are always worth their costs.

The above mentioned points are ones that can help you find and choose the Alaska fishing lodge of your dreams. As a reminder, you will have a number of rental options. By taking the time to examine a number of these options, you are likely to increase your chances of finding the perfect rental for you.

Adam Thompson is the owner of Thompson Outdoor Supply, your source for outdoor gear.

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The Atlantic Salmon suffered greatly from the effects of pollution and towards the end of the Twentieth Century the rivers that flow into the North Atlantic began to see the return of this valuable fish. Due to the rigorous enforcement of environmental legislation the rivers of Western Europe began to clear of the oxygen eating pollutants and they could, once again, sustain life. Conservation groups, environmentalists and anglers have all contributed to further measure to ensure the conservation of the Atlantic Salmon.

In 1983 NASCO (North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organization), based in Edinburgh, Scotland, was set up with the sole purpose of protecting the Atlantic salmon and it’s environment. Although there have been massive improvements and many projects this incredible fish is still under threat. Diseases such as viral haemorrhagic septicaemia and the effects of fish farming continue to threaten stocks.

Catch & Release

Salmon fishing is extremely popular, the sport, and subsequent tourism, is a vital to countries such as Ireland and Scotland. Anglers have always had a deep respect for the fish they catch and they are acutely aware of the need for the conservation of fish stocks. With the stocks of spring salmon across the North Atlantic range being at an all time low it is vital that all possible measures are taken to ensure that sufficient salmon survive to spawn to maintain the species.

Many rivers are now protected by measures such as mandatory catch and release for both salmon and sea trout but many anglers understand that it necessary to practice catch and release on a much greater scale than previous years. However the practice of catch and release of returning spring fish and grilse, although on the increase, is not sufficient to ensure an increase in the survival rate to the stage if spawning. To ensure that a fish, once released, is able to survive to spawning it will be necessary for all anglers to adapt their styles of fishing.

A close examination of fishing tackle and equipment is required. Those anglers fly fishing for Atlantic salmon should ensure that they are only using barbless hooks and all barbed hooks, lures or flies, should be destroyed. Removing a barbed hook is far more difficult, and more harmful to the fish, than removing a barbless hook.

All hooks must be removed from from the fish with extreme care and consideration. Although fish can survive with the hook attached it benefits greatly from it’s removal. Rather than removing the fish from the water immediately attempt to remove the hook first. If you really must remove it from the water make sure your hands are wet and handle with care to ensure minimal scale loss and stress. Supporting the fish from beneath gently remove the hook by hand, if this isn’t possible use long nosed pliers or forceps, if it still refuses to budge cut the leader as close to the hook as you can. At all times take care to avoid the area around the gills and do not hold it so tightly as to cause damage.

Next you must return your prized Atlantic salmon to the water, place it gently into the water so that it is facing the current and support it until it recovers and is able to swim away. If you have a fish that has been heavily damaged you should not return it to the water but you should check that there are no local rules or statutory regulations which restrict you from retaining Atlantic salmon or Sea trout.

Further Considerations

There are a few other things that can be done, by the angler, to increase the chances of salmon surviving and spawning. Atlantic salmon are notoriously good fun to catch but take care not to play the fish for too long, if exhausted it will be less able to fully recover. You can also try to move it from fast flowing water as early as possible.

Try to keep the salmon in water at all times as any exposure to air is harmful and make sure you use a large landing net of good quality that uses knotless mesh.

Following the above recommendations will help in the fight against the decrease of Atlantic salmon stocks.

Andrew Kelly has lived in the Hebrides of Scotland for 16 years. Initially concentrating on accommodation in the Hebrides he began writing for the Internet he began writing about vacations in Scotland in general and has now published tens of thousands of pages and articles across many popular sites.

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