Posts Tagged ‘Striped Bass’

Saltwater Flyfishing Basics

October 30th, 2010 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Fishing Techniques

Saltwater Fly Fishing

Even if this sounds like an overwhelming undertaking, understanding saltwater fly fishing basics is not really that difficult. This certainly has been a great deal published about saltwater fly fishing. In fact, you will find more information about accessories, and it may feel like you have been inundated with information if you have never picked up a fly rod. However, just like any other fishing, fly fishing can be complicated or as simple as you would like to make it. However, understand that you do not need a lot of knowledge or equipment to start successfully. In fact, you do not even need to invest significant amounts of your savings on equipment. Here are the basic equipment needs that will help you get started.

Saltwater Fly Fishing

Ideal for Saltwater Fly Fishing

Naturally, the first thing you will need is a decent fly rod. Anything lighter than the seven weight rod is not a good investment. In fact, it is typically recommended that eight or nine weight is the perfect place to start for your average saltwater fish. This includes Northeast fish like bluefish and striped bass. You will find that for the most part, rod lengths are about 9 feet. These offer the leverage that anglers need to cast the line with little effort and they are easy to handle. A good quality rod should not cost you more than $100 at most tackle shops.

The next thing you will need is a reel that matches your rod. The good news is that reels are rated exactly the same way as fishing rods are rated. If you have purchased an eight weight rod, you will need an eight rated reel. This is pretty simple to understand. The best choice for saltwater fly fishing applications is the larger arbor reel. These allow you to have a couple of hundred yards a fly line backing, which is easily accommodated on a wider and deeper spool. This additional length is necessary in the event that you hook a large fish, and he decides to make a long run. These Saltwater Fly Fishing reels with good drag systems typically cost less than $100.

Inexpensive fly lines are best to start out with. You will also need backing. Your line weight should match your rod and reel, and you should elect a floating weight forward line. You will not need sinking lines right away. The bulk of your real will be filled with fly line backing. As a rule of thumb, this is a Dacron fishing line that is typically rated for 20 to 30 pound test. For best results, ask a tackle shop with a line winding machine to put the appropriate amount of backing on your reel. You can then attach the fly line to the backing.

The next piece of tackle that will be required is a leader. Made either from monofilament line or fluorocarbon line, leaders are typically the same length as your fishing rod, and are attached to your fly line before you tie the fly. Your local retailer should be able to recommend ideal leader sizes for the type of fish that you will be attempting to catch. It is important to remember that leaders are generally tapered, which allows them to unfurl at the end of the cast.

The final piece of the puzzle is a small selection of flies. In this instance, your best to tap into local sources of knowledge to make a decision as to which flies are best to use. You really only need a small selection of surface flies and streamers in a variety of sizes and patterns to get started. As a general rule, the clerks at local tackle shops will be able to point you in the right direction. Once you have been able to fish a few times on your own, you will quickly determine which ones work best for you.

When you are out saltwater fly fishing it is important to make sure you have the right supplies. Some of the most popular brands include Shimano Reels, Penn Reels, and Team Daiwa Reels.

Tags: , , , ,

Catching Bait

September 29th, 2010 by admin | 3 Comments | Filed in Fishing Techniques

Some Methods for Catching Bait

While bait choices often come down to personal preference,  there are many types of fishing that lend themselves far better to live bait than to top water plugs or heavy diamond jigs. The secret to success with live bait fishing is an understanding of where to find the right live bait for your needs. It is also important to know when frozen bait is sufficient and where live bait will do you more good.

In addition to the costly equipment that you already use for fishing, you can spend a small fortune purchasing live bait. In many cases, the only place to purchase it is a local bait and tackle shop. The problem then becomes is getting the live bait to your favorite fishing hole. Often by the time you arrive, your bait is listless from being so stressed out. In many cases, this can result in the bait not being able to be used immediately in which case you will have to catch your bait yourself.

Striped bass fishermen in the northeast have long known that their preferred diet consists mainly of menhaden. Known locally as “bunker”, these baitfish are plentiful in bait shops, but they are also fairly easy to catch with a snagging hook or a cast net.  The best part of this is that they can easily remain totally active and alive for several hours in a live well and are practically guaranteed to produce far superior results over frozen or dead bait (or lures).  While bunker are typically best fresh, leftovers can also be frozen and used during later trips, in the event that you’re unable to find fresh bait.

For those who enjoy fluke fishing, you’ve probably already discovered that Catching Bait fresh wins hands down over frozen or dead bait, or in fact over artificial bait. In fact, almost any angler will tell you that the opportunity to fish with live bait gives them an advantage over their fellow fisherman who have resorted to frozen bait or plugs. Fortunately for these anglers, fluke enjoy mummichogs (more commonly called mummies).  They’re easy to locate in river mouths, shallow estuaries and creeks along saltwater shores.  In fact, if you are fishing near a marina, you can easily use a minnow trap to get more mummies than you can use.  Simply drop the trap into an area where they are schooling with canned cat food in it and before you know it you’ll have hundreds of mummies.

Blackfish season in the Northeast means that many fishermen will be looking for green crabs. While they are easy to find in most bait shops, they tend to be rather expensive. The predicament comes in that blackfish are great at stealing this bait off the hook. Most anglers have discovered that in the long run, they will be far better off financially if they purchase a cheap crab trap. Rocks, jetties, docs, marinas and creeks are hiding spots for green crabs and Asian crabs. They swarm there in the thousands. It is not difficult to catch them, simply throw a filleted fish carcass into your trap and before you know it, you can fill a 5 gallon bucket.

If you are looking to save money on your fishing, catching bait will save you that money. Combine the savings features along with the thrill of the catch, and you may soon discover that you enjoy catching  bait as much as your game fish.
When you are out saltwater fishing it is important to make sure you have the right supplies. Some of the most popular brands include Shimano Reels, Penn Saltwater Reels, and Daiwa Reels.

Next session give Catching Bait a try, You might enjoy it.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Shimano Curado 200DHSV

March 6th, 2010 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Shimano Reels

Curado 200DHSV

There are two versions of the new Curado 200DHSVseries . The DPV focuses on delivering power, and can even be used in certain inshore conditions. The HSV concentrates on high speed applications. We decided to hone in on the Shimano Curado‘s abilities to take on large-mouth and striped bass, so the HSV’s blazing fast retrieve was the more attractive choice for our tests. The 7.0:1 retrieve ratio brings this reel right into “burner” class, making it equal in speed to some of the fastest reels already available on the market. Reel’s like the Curado 200DHSV and the Quantum Burner are all about delivering a proper balance of speed, refinement, and power.

The Shimano Curado 200DHSV makes use of many of the same materials we first saw in the 100D, but actually steps it up a notch higher with an aluminum sideplate construction on the handle side (the 100D uses graphite on both sides). The engineers at Shimano did a great job improving the ergonomics when it comes to ease of access via the same quarter turn access switch we first saw in the remade Citica. Other things have been done to improve the strength and durability of this reel over previous generation Curado’s including harder more over-sized gearing and a more refined aluminum frame.

Retrieve and Power: This is where most anglers will notice the biggest difference in between Curado generations. The Curado 200DHSV is a super fast reel sporting a gear ratio of 7.0:1, and at the same time to support this high speed Shimano implemented the HEG system to delivery the power when needed. Here’s what Jeremy Sweet of Shimano had to say about the retrieve and power of the Curado 200DHSV. “The one feature that anglers have asked us for year to include in the Curado series was a gear ratio faster than 6.2:1 that can retrieve more than 25 inches of line per crank,” said Jeremy Sweet with Shimano’s product development staff. Without HEG, a faster gear ratio reel would lack power. The HEG system, over-sized drive and pinion gears, and aluminum setplate and sideplate enables us to provide a blistering fast 7.0:1 gear ratio on the Curado 200DHSV to pull more than 30-inches of line per crank – and still with the power to fight big fish in heavy cover.

Curado E Series Features:

* The new 200′s are smaller than 100′s with the capacity of a 200
* Aluminum Frame
* Lightweight Graphite Sideplates (Aluminum Handle Side on 300 sizes)
* Recessed Reel Foot
* High Efficiency Gearing (HEG)
* Super Free Bearing Supported Pinion Gear System (SF)
* A7075 Aluminum Magnumlite Spool
* Dartainium Drag
* 7 Bearings • 1 S A-RB BB • 5 Shielded Stainless Steel BB • 1 A-RB Roller Clutch Bearing
* Variable Brake System (VBS) with Reduced Mass Hub
* Super Stopper II
* Assist Stopper
* Drilled Handle Shank
* Septon PV Power Grips (SV on 300 sizes)
* Cold Forged AL Drag Star with Clicking Adjustment
* Titanium IP Line Guide
* 1/8 Turn Easy Access Attached Sideplate
* Metal Cast Control Knob
* Double Anodized Spool and Handle
* Disengaging Levelwind System
* QuickFire II Clutch Bar
* Made in Japan
* Approved for use in Saltwater
* Rated for use with Mono, Fluorocarbon and PowerPro lines

Our initial lack of respect for the reel’s larger profile has now been replaced with admiration for the reel’s well thought out implementation and stellar abilities in the field. This reel is built tough, and while stronger and more robust than ever it continues to deliver a smooth refined retrieve that is to be expected from a higher end Shimano. What it boils down to is Shimano has a created a Curado for everyone with the new series. If small profile and refinement is your thing than the 100D is your best bet, but if power fishing and retrieving topwater baits are among your favorite ways to incite strikes then the larger more powerful Curados 200DHSV will better fit the bill. It would be a crime to not award the even better built Shimano Curado 200DHSV an Editors Choice award, making Shimano the only reel manufacturer this year to win an Editors Choice Award at all, let alone twice!

For more information on the Curado 200DHSV, visit the Shimano web site – www.shimano.com – for additional details on Shimano’s Paladin Gear Durability Enhancement and Propulsion Line Management System, or call Shimano’s product support team at 877/577-0600 (6 am to 5 pm Pacific Standard Time).

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,