Spring Crappie Fishing Techniques

Early spring crappie fish can be the most enjoyable and production fishing of the season. Don't wait for the spawning run. Learn how to catch more crappie right after ice out.

It has been a long hard winter and one of the most anticipated events in the spring is wetting a line on open water. While ice fishing is fun and productive, there is nothing like being out in the boat after taking a few months off. What really adds to the open water fishing experience is the thrill of catching slab crappies.

There are many fishermen who wait in the spring for the crappies to move in to spawn. Don't get me wrong; if you find crappies on their spawning beds, the fishing can be fantastic! But why wait to the spawn when you can have your cake and eat it too. Crappie fishing right after ice out can be equally rewarding.

The water temperature right after ice out will be very frigid. After a few bright warm sunny days the lakes ecosystem will start to come alive. Many crappies in the early spring will be found deep. These deep water spots typically will be the last spots the ice fisherman were having success. By using light jigs and minnows in these deep-water spots, chances are you will have good success. But if you really want to find fast action think shallow water.

As the water starts warming up, the insects will start hatching and small baitfish will move closer to shore. When that happens the crappies will move in right behind the food to feed. The best thing about early season crappie fishing is that the best times of the day to be out is during the peak of late afternoon and early evening when the weather is the nicest. Every lake is different, but the best early season lakes are the more shallow and muddy bottom lakes because they tend to warm up quicker.

If the lake has a small bay or channel the crappies will be drawn in there like magnets. Fallen trees, sticks brush and last years weeds will attract more insects that are hatching that the crappies will feed upon. This combination will become your "A" fishing spot. The water temp that typically starts this early season action is about 50 degrees. There are many fishermen who incorrectly think the crappies at this time are coming in to spawn. They are simply coming in to feed at this time. Crappies will move in to spawn a little later in the spring when the water temperature is about 65 degrees.

There are many fishermen that will use a jig and minnow. They will catch fish, but if you really want the fast action switch your presentation to a tube jig. The best depths typically here are about 6 feet or less. When you rig you tube jig, place a small bobber a foot and a half up from the jig. Cast and retrieve it slow. The bobber basically just keeps your jig at the same depth. In detecting the bite, crappies will often grab your jig and swim side to side or the bobber will tip up and then move slowly down. The tube jig body is plastic so give the crappie a little time to suck it down. The best thing about the tube jig is that if you miss you will often get another bite right away. When using minnows for bait, you miss your done.

Once the crappies move in, the action can get very fast. This spring crappie pattern usually lasts a few weeks. After that the crappies move slightly deeper staging for the spawn and then move back in. So why wait for the crappies to spawn? You waited all winter. Early spring crappie fishing is a real bonus. Have Fun!

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About the Author

Stephen Long is an author for Sportsmans Article Resource Directory. Learn how to catch more crappie as well as other fishing tips at http://www.profishingtips.info

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Top Water Bass Fishing Secrets

There are many ways to catch bass, but there is nothing more exciting than catching bass with top water lures and techniques. Learn more on how to put the thrill in bass fishing.

It's early in the morning and you're already on the water. The water is like glass and all is quiet around you. Next to you in the boat is a cooler filled with your favorite beverage (whether it's beer or coke is up to you!). As you approach your favorite fishing hole, you pick up your rod and tie on a surface lure. You cast your line toward the shore and present your topwater offering.

All of a sudden, the water explodes and you are in the battle of your life with a lunker largemouth! He feels like he goes maybe 3 or 4 pounds. As you get him boat side, you reach down and lift him out of the water. Larger than you expected, around 5 pounds! You turn and drop your prize into the live well and prepare for the next cast...

The thrill of topwater bass fishing is addictive. There is a BIG difference between catching that elusive largemouth off the bottom, from the middle or from the surface. Topwater bass fishing is a more visual experience than other types of fishing. There are specific types of rods and lures for topwater bass fishing.

Rods

Most anglers will tell you that a 6 to 6 Ѕ foot rod with a medium action will suffice. If the action of the rod is too stiff, you will yank your bait right out of the fish's mouth when you set the hook. A medium action rod is the best fit for topwater bass fishing.

These rods are available in a price range of about $20 to over $200. Do you need to spend a bunch of money on a rod? Regardless of the price tag, medium action is medium action. On the other hand, if you go with a $25 rod, you can expect $25 worth of performance. Chose a rod somewhere in the middle price range and you won't go wrong.

Lures

When it comes to lures, there are a great many to choose from. Here is a list of the top ten I have read about recently:

1. Heddon's Zara Spook.

2. Custom Bait's Senko.

3. Yum's Floating Worm (with a Texas style rig).

4. Zoom's Superfluke.

5. Heddon's Torpedo.

6. Lazer Eye's Buzzbait

7. Smithwick's Stick Bait aka Hard Jerk Bait.

8. Rebel's Pop-R bait.

9. Snag Proof's Tournament Frog.

10. Any spinner bait. These are manufactured by numerous companies.

All these lures have their own unique presentations. When presented properly, these baits are historically known to produce quality bass. This is true across regional boundaries, weather conditions and water tempuratures.

A big tip

Now you have the rod and the lures you need for topwater bass fishing, there is one more thing you should know. Here it is: Since topwater fishing is a visual type of fishing, most anglers will set the hook too soon and jerk the lure right out of the fish's mouth. To prevent this, do NOT set the hook immediately when you see the strike! Wait a second, reel in some slack and when you feel the pressure of the bass on the line, THEN set the hook. You will land more lunkers that way and be a much happier angler to boot.

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About the Author

Stephen Long is an author for Sportsmans Article Resource, providing you the latest fishing and hunting tips and techniques for the outdoorsman. Sportsmans article resource is an article resource directory for free online articles.

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Ice Fishing Trips in Alaska: A Fantastic Experience for any Outdoorsman

Everything you need to know about alaska fishing

Do you love to eat fish? Well, if you do then you probably love to catch fish. If you want to experience how to catch fish the fun way, then you must have an ice fishing trip to Alaska.

So why choose Alaska? So far, this is an excellent location to go for ice fishing because the country has so many fishing resources. If you plan to catch halibut, king salmon, and rainbow trout, Alaska is the best place to fish.

If you love the wilderness and all the ice, you must immediately plan for your Alaska fishing trip. You will surely experience the most splendid and spectacular fishing trip ever. You can do a search online about Alaska. There, you can see various information resources about fishing trips to Alaska. Before planning for the trip, you must first identify what fish you want to catch because you can't find all the species of fish in one location. In fact, some species can be found in only a specific region of Alaska.

For instance, you want to catch halibut. You must ask for the exact location where this specie is found. The internet is the best place to conduct a search because you can find almost all the important information about Alaska and the fishing locales. If you're not satisfied with the search results, you can always go directly to Alaska especially if you have a place to stay there. After your arrival, then you can ask the local residents there for the best place to catch halibut and other fish species. The local residents can give you good tips on where to find the best fishing locales.

Alaska is a very cold place so you must be prepared for the weather there. Choose a fishing spot where the climatic conditions are suited or conducive to the fish specie that you want to catch. Ask around especially if this is your first Alaskan fishing trip. Fishes than be caught during the summer may not be caught during winter, so keep yourself informed.

Halibut, steelhead, and salmon fishing is most popular in the southern part of Alaska. If you want to catch fighting fish, go to Kenai River. Among the most popular fishing trip destinations are Anchorage, Soldotna, Seward, Kodiak Island, Homer, Kuskokwim River, and Bristol Bay. You can enjoy fly fishing in Anchorage, particularly Lake Hood.

These are just some of the popular fishing locales that you can visit. With diligent search online, you may be able find more information about an Alaska ice fishing trip. Take advantage of the unlimited resources on the internet so that you can plan an ice fishing trip that you won’t forget for the rest of your life. If you haven’t had a memorable fishing trip vacation, this is the best time to plan for it. Get your family involved so that you can arrange for the trip at an earlier date.

Before flying to Alaska, make sure that you have all the fishing supplies that you will need. If you're gong there for the winter, you must prepare for the extreme cold weather. Bring the appropriate clothes because you will need layers of them. If it's for the summer, then try to bring the appropriate clothes as well. You must always be prepared so that you can fish all day regardless of the shifts in temperature.

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About the Author

Sandra Stammberger owns and operates http://www.myalaskafishing.com/icefishinginalaska.html - Ice Fishing In Alaska

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Alberta Trout Fishing: Fishing Paradise!

Information on Fishing in Alberta.

Are you considering a fishing vacation? If so, look no further than a trip to Alberta, Canada for a little fishing bliss. Alberta is full of rivers, streams, and best of all lots of trout. The Bow River in Alberta is probably the best place to go for you hungry anglers looking for a great fishing adventure. You won’t be disappointed. Alberta is home to many trout species including cutthroat trout, brown trout, bull trout, and rainbows.

There are a couple ways you can go about your fishing adventure. First and foremost you can look up a fishing guide in the Alberta area at: http://www.charternet.com/fishers/alberta.html

Using a guide is always a great way to get local advice and local knowledge of the fishing tactics in the Alberta rivers and streams. You can’t go wrong. If you are a beginner we would highly recommend a professional guide. If you are really looking for some fun try a little fly fishing. You won’t soon forget the experience.

If you are the adventurous type and want to go out on your own we would highly recommend heading straight to the Bow River. This is by far Alberta’s best trout river. The Bow River is divided into two parts. The upper Bow river located west of Calgary nestled in the mountains, high in the Banff National park. The lower section contains a 51 mile stretch of river below Calgary. This lower section is largely considered trout fishing paradise by trout fisherman all over the world.

Most trout caught in the Bow River are between 14 and 18 inches long. You can however find trout in the 20 inch range if you have the special touch. Fishing the Bow river is not just about the size of trout but the beautiful scenery and diverse ecology. This is considered by some to be one the most beautiful landscapes in the world. While you are fishing you can enjoy deer grazing, eagles, hawks, and falcons soaring above the river.

Another great adventure besides the Bow River is the Red Deer River. This river will require your patience. If you are looking for a large brow trout in the 22 inch range on average this might be the adventure for you. This river requires patience and is considered by some to be a schizophrenic river when hunting the large brown trouts.

The benefits of the Red Deer river is that is is not heavily fished. When the fishing is good you can often see trout in the 22 to 27 inch range. On other days you may seen zero. This river takes patience and might be best to take a guide along to help you navigate.

The fishing on Red Deer river starts towards the end of May and is usually good into late June. There are great accommodations in the city of Red Deer.

The bottom line is that if you are looking for a great fishing adventure, Alberta definitely fits the bill. You will not experience many other fishing adventures as scenic and as plentiful with world class trout as you can find in Alberta.

Grab your gear and make the journey to Alberta you just can’t lose for a few days of trout fishing bliss!

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About the Author

Matt D Murren owns and operates http://www.alberta-fishing-advisor.com Alberta Fishing

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Lure Making

Fishing is hobby that is enjoyed by various people. The anglers will use fishing as a test between themselves and nature. To prove this superiority people will use different types of fishing lures. Among these will be different types of fishing lures that you have made. You can learn lure making with ease as there are various instructional aids and supplies to help you with this task.

Even though the commercial fishing lures for bass and crappies are designed to look like live bait, the fishing lures that you make will not have this smooth look to them. The general look of these lures that you are making will be rough and partially realistic looking. When you are doing your lure making try to think about the type of insect bait that you want. This is the easiest way for you to fashion your lures.

You will find that you can easily find and buy the supplies to make one of these original homemade fishing lures. By looking for dealers and suppliers the making of lures you will be making different fishing lures in no time at all. There are many different books and other items which you can buy to help you out with lure making.

These lure making supplies which you will buy from places the internet and hobby shops will have a large selection of quality items that you can use in your lure making. These products that you can use in lure making will include feathers, beads, shiny blades and other items. With these items your fishing lures which resemble beetles, praying mantises and other insects.

As bass and crappies among other fish prefer to have live bait you will need to think about how you will make your lures act in this manner. You can see the different ways to accomplish this in practice lure making techniques.

For the most part these lures that you are making will need to be refined. The best way to see if they are working is to cast them into bass filled waters. If the bass take the bait then you know that you have accomplished the task that you set out to do when you began lure making.

By seeing where you can get the different tools for lure making you can see how this new hobby of yours will make fishing an even more interesting sport. The world of lure making will provide you with endless opportunities to experiment with making new lures.

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About the Author

Visit our Great Fishing Guide to find out more on Fishing.

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How To Choose The Fishing Trip Destination That's Right For Your Group

Try doing a web search on the words “fishing lodge” and you will come up with hundreds of thousands of matches. Visit any major sports show and you’ll find dozens of outfitters, each offering promises of the trip of a lifetime. How on earth do you narrow it down and find the fishing destination that’s just right for you?

Identify Your Priorities for you fishing trip...

The first step in selecting a destination is to sit down with everyone else going on the trip and discuss what it is that you want out of the experience. It’s not enough to decide you want great fishing, because that can mean very different things from one person to the next.

One person in your party might be delighted to catch 20 fish per day, while another might expect 20 fish an hour. This is the time to be perfectly clear and up-front, because the more honestly you communicate your wishes, the better the chances you will have a great trip.

Some important things to decide right from the beginning include:

What species of fish do you want to catch?
This sounds like a no-brainer, but it definitely needs to be discussed. If one member of your party really wants to catch lake trout and the resort you pick has lousy fishing for them, that person will be very disappointed. If the place you pick has fishing for multiple species, you should decide how much time and effort you want to apply to each. What matters most, and what matters least? Do you want to catch walleye, northern pike, bass, char?

Do you want lots of action? Or trophy fish?
Does great fishing mean catching a fish on every cast? Or would you go all day for one bite, provided that fish was a giant? Of course we would all like fast action with trophy fish, but it’s important to keep your expectations realistic. So between the two, which is most important? And what honestly constitutes a big fish for you? Would a 20-pound salmon make you smile? Or would it have to be a 50?

How are the fish caught?
Can you sight-fish? Or is it primarily deep trolling? Imagine how disappointing it would be to spend all winter watching people on TV fishing shows hammer big pike on topwaters, then find on your trip of a lifetime the only way to catch them is by deep trolling in 60 feet of water?

What is your realistic budget?
Let’s face it; money is a deciding factor for all of us. You need to be honest about what you’re prepared to spend, and also how you want to spend it. If you have $1,000 to blow on a trip, do you want a week at Lodge A, or three days at Lodge B which might offer more upscale accommodations or a better shot at a trophy fish?

Once you have decided exactly what kinds of fish you want to catch and how you want to catch them, you need to discuss the accommodations.

In order to get the kind of fishing your group wants, are you willing to rough it in a tent camp where you have to prepare your own food, or is a certain amount of creature comfort also a priority?

How important is a hot shower at the end of the day, or having someone else deal with the cooking and cleaning up? Can you live without a flush toilet? Would you rather bring your own boat?

Again, it’s important to be honest and realistic right up front.

Once you’ve established clear priorities for the fishing and the accommodations and set a rough budget, it’s time to start looking at what different lodges have to offer.

The species of fish you want to catch, the amount of time you want to be away and the amount of cash you have to spend should help focus your search to a general geographic area, while the priorities your group collectively identified should allow you to narrow your search within that geographic area fairly quickly. It's everyone's fishing trip ... so plan it well.

Now, it’s a matter of contacting fishing lodge operators within that region, and seeing what they have to offer.

Call The Government
State or provincial tourism departments are the best way to find fishing lodges within specific areas. If you’ve decided your group wants to go to Alaska to fish for salmon and steelhead, then start with a call to the Alaska department of tourism. They can send you all sorts of information on outfitters, general fishing information, plus stuff on license requirements, fishing regulations and such.

Selecting the right fishing trip destination is probably the single most important aspect of planning your fishing trip. Well, choosing the right fishing buddies is pretty important, also.

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About the Author

Dave Cushion is the author of the comprehensive manual "The Ultimate Fishing Trip Guidebook!" For more tips on planning your dream fishing trip, or to just learn how the experts catch more fish, go to http://www.fishing-trip-advisor.com and check out our other articles.

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Fishing - Water Temperatures are Important

Fishing is a lot of fun if you are catching fish, but if you are just sitting with your line in the water and getting no bites it can be frustrating and boring. If you are interested in spring fishing and want your best shot of catching a lot of fish then you need to learn a little bit about water temperature

Basically, fish like crappie and bass like to be in warmer water and when they are about to spawn this is especially so. When you know how the fish react and what they are looking for in regards to water temperature then you will have a good idea of how to find them!The weather also affects water temperature so you need to keep this in mind, too. If you are interested in catching crappie then you should know that they spawn when the temperature is between 60 and 65 degrees.

The male crappies will be in the 60 degree water first and will prepare the beds for the female crappies to spawn. The female crappies won't start coming into the shallower water until it is around 64 degrees. So if you are fishing during the spring in a water temperature of about 60 and you catch a crappie it is most definitely a male! It is also important to keep in mind that crappies spawn over a period of time, not all at once. The spawning period may last up to six weeks.

Bass like it a little warmer when they spawn and wait for water temperatures of 65 to 70 degrees. The premise is the same as with crappies. Bass come into the shallow waters around 65 – 67 degrees and prepare the beds for the females. Then, when the water temperature hits 69 to 70 degrees the females will start making their way to the warmer, shallower water in order to spawn. The spring months of April and May are the perfect times for bass to spawn and you will have plenty of luck fishing in shallow waters.

Keep in mind, too, where the water temperature varies within a lake or pond. If the area has lots of trees, limbs, and the like under the water then the water will be warmer and more fish will congregate there. Open water is cooler and not as many fish will be out there, making your fishing attempts really difficult. Shallow water is always warmer than deep water and where you will have a better chance of catching a fish. Also, after a rain watch where the water drains into the lake or pond. If it was warm rain water then you can count on the fish finding that area and camping out.

As long as you know how to find the area in the lake or pond that is the warmest then you will have the best chances of catching plenty of fish. The above tips should help you tremendously in this effort

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About the Author

Mark Goeder-Tarant host is own fishing resource center. You will find hundreds of pages of the best fishing tips and tricks for your own pleasure and information. From bass fishing to fly fishing its all presented in Marks online fishing guide at http://www.letsgofishing.info

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Finding Lake Trout

Lake fishing with a fly can seem daunting to the newcomer. Even a seasoned river fly fisher can become disillusioned with lake fly fishing, and give it up before really giving it a chance. In this article we will be examining where to find fish in lakes.

First off lake fish and river fish have the same needs. They need to feel secure, and they need to eat. The greatest difficulty in figuring out where lake fish might meet these needs is that from above the lake the water doesn't give us many clues, and sometimes none at all. Rivers are nice enough to change surface appearance, which is probably the single greatest factor in determining likely fishing spots, but lakes do not give us that, or at least not as easily.

Inlets and Outlets

Luckily though one of the best places to find fish is where one can easily see the difference in surface water. And that is the inlet of a lake. Fish often lie in the inlet current, enjoying the cooler well oxygenated water. And also the food that comes with it. For the new lake fly fisher, the current also provides a familiar fishing ally.

Likewise outlets are often good fish holding areas. Outlets generally are full of insects and wary fish. Generally shallower and offering less cover fish in these areas are usually skittish. If one is lucky to be fishing a lake with a deep outlet, that area is likely to offer great fishing time and time again.

Channels

Virtually all lakes have channels at least part way through them. Manmade lakes will have the old river channel through the entire length of the lake. Channels can be hard to locate, often one can spot them only in calm late fall days, when the lake is at its lowest level of the year. Large well fished lakes will often have maps available that will show the channel.

Channels will offer their best fishing late summer, when fish seek cooler water, nymphs will also congregate there, giving fish a ready food source.

Drop offs and Cliffs

Although these two geographic occurrences are somewhat different, their meaning to fish is the same. They provide shade, protection, and easy access to food. Cliffs will trap poor flying terrestrials time and again, sending these errant flyers down into the lake, where schools of fish are apt to be waiting. Windy days aid here in two ways, one providing more difficult flying conditions, and two, giving the water a rippled surface to aid in the angler avoiding detection.

Drop-offs allow fish a sense of security and can be effective mid-day, when fish are hiding out from activity of both humans and predatory birds. If you can locate a drop off close to a food source, you are likely to have a very productive fishing day, and at times insanely productive.

Shorelines, shallows and shoals

One of the most misunderstood facts about lake fishing, is that shallow water more often than not is where the fish are going to be caught. There simply is not food down deep for fish to survive. If one can learn to read shorelines, one can catch big fish in lakes. Here is what to look for;
Irregular shorelines offer the monist protection for fish and aquatic plants. Aquatic plants are important because they offer protection for fish and food for aquatic insects. Also look for shoals, which are just submerged islands, ones that are just off shore offer fish protection and food at the same time, (remember those are the two things fish need). Fish in shallows are very skittish, and will not show themselves in direct sunlight. Dusk is often the best time to pursue these areas.

Reading lakes properly takes practice and patience. If one can, one should learn one lake very well, before attempting another one. Many of the things you learn to read will carry over from lake to lake. And once mastered reading new lakes will become easier, as will the catching of the fish

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About the Author

Cameron Larsen is a retired commericial fly tier and fly fishing guide. He now operates The Big Y Fly Company. http://www.bigyflyco.com/flyfishinghome.html He can be reached at info@bigyflyco.com. This article will appear in the Big Y Fly Fishing E-Zine at Http://www.bigyflyco.com/Bigyflyfishingezine.html

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Understanding Fly Fishing Lines

The single most important thing to consider is that the fly line must match the weight on the rod it is to be used on. Due to the many manufactures and wide range of fishing conditions there is an almost endless selection of tapers and variations.

Fly lines basically come in level, double, weight forward and shooting tapers. I am sure everyone has their opinion on this matter, as to what is the best overall line. You will have to decide which taper is best suitable for your fishing conditions. Fly lines come in ether a floating or sinking or a combination of the two.

Weight Forward -This is by far the most popular line and used by most people that I go fishing with. As the name suggest the weight is in the forward section of the line. The weight of the line is usually measured in the first 30 feet. Generally this line will permit longer casting distances. This taper is an excellent choice for windy conditions or long distance casting. If you are fishing in tight casting situations be aware that this line is hard to roll cast.

Double Taper - These lines have a 6 foot to 10 foot tapered section at each end of the fly line and have a long level section in the middle of the line. This line will give you a more delicate presentation of your fly. Not a very good choice for windy conditions or long distance casting but an excellent choice for roll casting. A double taper line can be reversed, making this an economical choice as you can use both ends.

Shooting Tapers – These lines while they are great for making very long casts, lack the delicacy needed for general all-around fly fishing. The line, due to the weight in the front of the line, can spook the fish when it hits the water. This line is harder to control for a beginner. Also since the back end of the fly line is thinner than standard fly line, it has a wicked tendency to coil and get knotted up. For beginner anglers, a shooting taper fly line is not recommended. A shooting taper fly line works well to make very long distance casts and fish in windy conditions.

Level Taper – A level taper fly line has absolutely no taper and is of uniform weight and width for its total length. While theses lines float extremely well they are the most difficult to cast and handle. Beginner anglers should stay away for this taper of line.

The best overall fly line for a beginner would be the weight forward, as you gain experience you can try the different tapers and see what feels best to you.

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About the Author

Andy Klynstra works for Oil-Net.Com providing professionals in the global oil and gas industry with the information, products and services they need.

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