Freshwater Fishing

Restoring and Upgrading Your Boat

While much of the country seems to be mired in a lot of gloom and doom about the economy, one thing's for certain: The fish don't care one bit. Blue marlin will still snap off St. Thomas this summer; …

Good Boaters Carry a Spare

In my mind, self-sufficiency represents the single greatest character trait missing from the general American populace today. Society lives with the attitude that if they screw up somehow, someone wil…

What Boaters Should Know About Lake Weeds

One common problem shared by all lake shore owners is weed management. Not only can aquatic weeds clog up and potentially damage a boat’s motor, but quite frequently they are an unpleasant sight and a…

Re-rigging Outriggers

Outriggers are critical fishing gear for trolling that -- unlike rods, reels and lures -- are part of the boat. The easiest way to think of them is as a system consisting of three main parts: mounting…

When Wind is Your Friend

The wind is blowing and you’re boating. Should you retreat for calmer waters? If it’s choppy but safe, no. Experts say fish are easiest to find along shores taking the full brunt of the breeze. Here’s…

Snag-Free Fishing

With the right amount of tension on the line, say just enough to hold it taut, and with the rod pointed up to about 45 degrees, pull the line like a banjo string and let it slap back against the rod. …

Best Boat Names

You can get a little insight into the psyche of a fisherman by the boat he owns and runs. Here are some boat names to ponder, with some poignant thoughts about each handle.…

The 10 Biggest Myths in Bass Fishing

Every angler group has its widely held fallacies, perhaps none more than bass anglers. That’s perhaps surprising, given the volume of research directed at black bass. Moreover, superbly skilled profes…

Keeping Live Bait...Alive

Nothing catches fish like live bait, the trick is to keep it healthy." …

Houseboat Movers and Tips for Transport

Personal experience in shipping a number of houseboats via houseboat movers, has led me to the following conclusions: First, you get what you pay for, and second, choose a good hauler in order to Do i…

Why are Boat Shows held in the Middle of Winter?

When looking at the Michigan boat show calendar, you see there are a significant number of boat shows within the first quarter of the year and many might wonder, “Why hold a boat show in the dead of w…

Marine Lending Consumer Finance Tips (during the US market downturn)

US banks are making boat loans. Yes, there are fewer banks doing this today than one year ago. However, proportionately both boat sales and loans are down so the service capacity for boat loans remain…

New Year’s Resolutions We Can Keep

‘Tis the season to make New Year’s resolutions. Most resolutions relate to changing bad habits or attempting to change negative aspects of our lives. It’s time to put a more positive spin onto this ti…

For the Boater on Your List

Having trouble buying the perfect gift for the boaters on your list? Here are some ideas that will float their boat!…

What is the Best Fishing Bait?

There is such an assortment of bait that it is difficult to recommend any particular color, size, or type as the best. There are more than a thousand good baits on the market. All will catch fish at s…

What You Need To Know About Polarized Fishing Sunglasses

If fishing is your hobby, protective eyewear is a must. As your eyes are one of the most delicate organs in the body, you should protect them from the sun's damaging rays as well as from intrusive ele…

How to Find a Fishing Guide

Need help finding that perfect fishing spot or landing the big one? A fishing guide might be the perfect solution. Follow these tips to find a fishing guide that's right for you.…

Things to Know About Fishing Charter

Recreation is an essential factor in the life of every human being. The anglers or the fishermen represent the largest single group of recreational seekers, and have a decided advantage over the other…

Start planning for next summer, NOW!

It’s not off-season for boaters—It’s planning season! What can boaters do to help them through the long wait for the next boating season? If your boat comes out of the water shortly after Labor Day, …

Clean Water and Access -- The Glue that Binds Michigan Boaters

Whether you own a power yacht, wakeboard boat, fishing boat or sailboat, if you enjoy recreational boating then you share two common interests with all other boaters, clean water and access to it. The…

DIY: Handy Under-Hatch Tool and Fly Stowage

Small, easily-misplaced items like hook removers, fishing and/or split-ring pliers, and hook sharpeners can be kept organized and quickly accessed if you stow them on the underside of a hatch. The onl…

DIY: No-Mess Baitfish De-Hooker

Capt. George Warren of the Charger out of Boothbay Harbor, Maine, came up with this simple yet foolproof way of taking baitfish off a rig without having to touch either the hooks or the fish.…

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA LAKES TAKING QUAGGA MUSSEL THREAT SERIOUSLY

The recent discovery of Quagga mussels at Lake Mead and Lake Havasu is prompting water district officials to initiate measures to prevent further Quaggas outbrbeaks. Although they are hardly noti…

Northwest Salmon Derby Series grows to 14 derbies in 2008

There‘s no better way to get out on the water and enjoy some of Washington’s “good news” on salmon fishing than the Northwest Salmon Derby Series. Directed by the Northwest Marine Trade Association, a…

Fall Lay-Up

Nothing is harder on your boat than neglect, and neglect is exactly what recreational boats are subjected to when cold weather settles in. But proper lay-up techniques can minimize the ill effects win…

Compare Freshwater Fishing Boats

One of the most popular boating activities, freshwater fishing can be enjoyed by experienced boaters and beginners alike. Whether you’re interested in extreme sports fishing or a laid-back jaunt aroun…

Choosing the Most Effective Freshwater Fishing Tactics

Before catching fish, anglers must locate them. Unless you live in the middle of the great southwestern deserts there should be a body of fishable water within an hour of your home. You can find fish …

Best Times for Saltwater & Freshwater Fishing - Fishing Tips

Experienced anglers will tell you that there are "best" times to fish. These "best times" can be related to the amount of sunlight, to warming trends, to depth at which fish are found...…

Where Do Fish Live?

To catch fish the angler must first locate them. Fish are found nearly everywhere there is water with enough food, oxygen and cover. Near your home there should be a body of water that has fish living…

Safe Fishing Tips

If using a boat to fish, wear your life jacket and make sure that your passengers wear theirs, too. Inspect waterfronts daily – the natural environment is subject to change without notice. …

Boating is Affordable

Boating is affordable and there’s a boat for every age, lifestyle and budget. Most people don’t realize how affordable boating is: in some instances, you can buy a brand new boat financed for around…

Tips on Buying from a Certified Dealer

Marine Industry Certified Dealers have earned a reputation for taking good care of their customers. In fact, to become certified a dealership must meet independently verified high standards in everyth…

Freshwater Fish - Trout

Trout are one of the most sought after angling species and will take a variety of natural and artificial baits. They favor cold, clear moving water—rivers and streams—but some species inhabit the dept…

Freshwater Fish - Bass

For sport anglers, largemouth bass and smallmouth bass are two of the most prized quarries. Bass spend most of their time in lakes and rivers with plentiful fresh water. They tend to congregate in mos…

Freshwater Fish - Carp

Although carp have been considered a nuisance by North American anglers, they are highly prized as sportfish in Europe, and can be excellent fighters. A growing number of anglers in the US are becomin…

Freshwater Fish - Perch

White perch are silvery and frequently have irregular dusky longitudinal lines along its body. They have a slightly projecting lower jaw and small teeth. Their dorsal fins are separate and their anal …

Freshwater Fish - Crappie

Taken together, black crappie and white crappie is the third most preferred group of freshwater sportfish, ranking behind only bass and catfish.Crappies’ gill covers have spines. The black crappie can…

Freshwater Fish - Eel

Eels can be a great catch for anglers, but are not a particularly popular catch. There are nearly 400 different species of eels.…

Freshwater Fish - Drum

Except for color, freshwater drum resembles its marine relative the red drum. The fish is deep-bodied and equipped with a long dorsal fin divided into two sections. The dorsal fin usually has 10 spine…

Freshwater Fish - Northern Pike

The northern pike is an elongated fish. Its dorsal region is bluish-green to gray in color, shading to white or yellow on the belly. This coloration distinguishes it from chain pickerel, redfin picker…

Freshwater Fish - Muskellunge

In general, identifying the hybrid tiger muskie from the muskellunge is fairly easy, though it can be more difficult with some individuals. The tiger muskie is named for the prominent light-colored, b…

Freshwater Fish - Chain Pickerel

Chain pickerel are aggressive fighters once hooked, thus making them an exciting catch. They are active through the winter, under the ice, so they can be caught by ice anglers. …

Freshwater Fish - Walleye

The walleye is named after its large opaque and almost blind-looking eye. The large reflective surface of its eyes gives the walleye a sight advantage over other fish and enables the predator to find …

Freshwater Fish - Catfish

Many anglers simply love catfish. There are 37 catfish families, with species found in both freshwater and saltwater. Perhaps their most recognized traits are their catlike whiskers, or barbells, and …

Freshwater Fishing Boat Accessories: Baitwells, Livewells, Rod Holders, Trolling Motors and Fishfinders

Fishing in freshwater can be as simple as standing on the edge of a pond and tossing out a line with a baited hook. But, using the right kind of boat equipped with the right gear, can greatly expand y…

Selecting Your Freshwater Fishing Gear: Fishing Rods, Fishing Reels, Natural Bait and Artificial Bait

With nearly 45 million Americans listing fishing as their preferred leisure activity, recreational anglers outnumber participants in most other outdoor sports. Successful anglers mix patience, skill, …

Fishing Boats Overview: Fly Fishing Boats

What are important things to look for in a fly fishing boat? Flat-bottomed jon boats are one of the most common types of fly fishing boats. Inexpensive and easy to maintain, these simple boats are fa…

Freshwater Fishing Tips

There are always plenty of things to keep in mind when angling for the perfect catch, but these basic freshwater fishing tips can help provide a general overview of what you need to know: …

Ten Tips for Clean and Green Boating

Follow these easy top 10 tips for clean and green boating.…

What’cha Eating? Bait Matrix

The most popular game fish are salmon, trout, bass, and pike in freshwater, but choosing bait to hook these fish is a very personal matter. Fishing baits usually weigh from 1/4 to three ounces. The mo…

Flyfishing Essentials

The word “flyfishing” to many brings to mind bucolic scenes of men in waders standing in a river gorge. But those who know the sport also know that flyfishing from aboard a boat can be even more fun a…

Plotter/Nautical Chart Plotters

When you’re out boating on unfamiliar waters, you really should have the official navigational charts (maps for the water) for that particular body of water. …

Fire Extinguishers

The law requires fire extinguishers for most boats—a good idea, if there’s anything on your boat that could possibly burn. Read on to find out which extinguishers you should have on hand and what othe…

First Aid Supplies

As much as we try to be careful, accidents can happen while we’re boating—usually miles away from professional medical care. That’s why it’s important to have a well-equipped first aid kit on board, a…

Echo Sounders

One of the great mysteries of boating is wondering what lies beneath us, between the water and the bottom. An echo sounder can help us in our exploration of the world below the depths.…

Sun Protection

Being on the water’s all about sun and fun, isn’t it? As they say, you can have too much of a good thing—and it’s all too easy to soak up more sun than you should’ve.…

Electronics/Fishfinders

One of the great mysteries of boating is wondering what lurks beneath the waves—more specifically, how deep is the water, where are the submerged rocks, and where are the fish? …

Trolling Motors

A trolling motor is a small electric motor, located on the bow or stern (sometimes both), that’s used for moving a fishing boat through the water quietly, to avoid spooking the fish. …

30 Secret Fishing Tips

10 All-purpose tips, 10 Bass Tips, 5 Saltwater tips and 5 Fishing with Kids Tips…

Fishing with Kids

So you are going to take some kids fishing! Maybe they are yours, or those of a relative or friend. Either as an angler or interested adult, you want these kids to have fun.…

Codes of Angling Ethics

Ethics cannot be dictated. They develop with time, experience, and interaction with others. The following code is offered as a guideline to increase awareness and encourage discussion.…

27 Ways To Tell If You're A Fishing Fanatic

You reason that a 90 percent chance of severe thunderstorms actually means that there is a 10 percent chance of having really excellent fishing weather. Your mailbox is a giant fiberglass bass. Yo…

Boat Buyer Guide: Tips on How to Buy a Boat

Plan ahead… There are a lot of choices. Allow enough time to explore many different types of boats, and several different brands within each category… This is a big investment that will change your li…

Fighting A Fish

You listened to the bait shop guy and bought his equipment, so in return he offers a hot spot to try. After a couple of casts, you feel a strike and set the hook. The reel screams, and you're hooked u…

Anchoring Tips

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Freshwater Fishing

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