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Showing posts from October, 2011

A Tip About Lake Trout

For those of us who live in the southern extent of the Lake Trout range, we know that lake trout head deep in the summer when the water temperature warms up. In the spring, lakers can be found on the surface and trolling a spoon at shallow depth can be an effective technique. Once the water temperature gets into the high 50's however, lakers head deep until the cooling water brings them back up in the fall for spawning. A number of different techniques can be used for deep water Lake Trout. If you have a good idea where they may be, using a heavy jig is a deadly technique. Other deep water techniques such as using a down rigger can be effective. But perhaps the most efficient, is using a traditional but out-of-vogue technique, namely using wire line. The wire line technique utilizes stainless wire line on a heavy trolling outfit. A long mono or fluro carbon leader of about 6 feet is attached to a swiveled sinker, which is attached to the wire. A sinker of about 1 ounce gets

Ever wonder how to fly fish?

Ever wonder how to fly fish? Fly fishing is considered a sport or a hobby by some, and an art form by others. Fly fishing is a pleasurable pastime built on the camaraderie of the anglers themselves, the oceans, lakes and rivers they fish, and the beautiful fish they pursue. Some anglers are weekenders, happy to run into a fish or two on a holiday fishing trip with mum or kids. Others are die-hard trout bums, who dedicate most of their days to tying flies and dissecting there catches and underwater traits of their favourite fisheries. For those who consider themselves avid fly fishers, the sport is a refreshing escape from the daily rigors of everyday life.  A spiritual passion that non-anglers have a hard time understanding. But for those who understand us, there’s nothing better than the push and pull of a fly line, and the sight of a fish rising to take that perfectly placed fly. How to Fly Fish - Species Most fly fishermen focus on the pursuit of trout, although anglers fly fish fo

Lake Trout

Lake Trout can mostly be found in the northern part of the United States and Canada.  They are prized as both a game fish as well as a food fish.  Lake trout are the largest of the trout species and can grow in excess of 40 pounds in some cases.  Lake trout are dependent on cold, deep, oxygen rich water, which is why they are mostly found in the Northern parts of North America.  As a matter of fact, here's a trivia question for you:  Did you know that nearly 25% of Canada's lake trout population is found in Ontario, and even though this is true, only 1% of Ontario's lakes contain Lake Trout? Lake trout prefer cold water and are likely to be found deep during warm summer periods.  Long narrow spoons and plugs are preferred lures for Lake trout fishing. Angling techniques are similar for lake trout in most waters. Down-riggers and lead core lines are useful for getting deep when surface waters are warm. During spring and fall when surface waters are cold, the lake trout m

Basic Fly Fishing Gear

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Basic Fly Fishing Gear Let's get started right off the bat. Assuming you know little or nothing about fly fishing starting off, the basic set up follows. You will need a rod, reel, and line system that matches the flies you will be casting. Therefore, we must make some assumptions. I am going to assume you will be fishing for stream trout or pan fish and will discuss the gear you will need accordingly. For this type of fishing, a beginner will likely start with a "5/6-wt" graphite rod and reel combo which can be had for somewhere in the $100-$200 range. A typical rod length will be 9 ft. The reel will be loaded first with backing, a type of line that is used mainly as an insurance policy if all of your fly line is stripped off by a big fish. I hope you will need it soon. After the backing comes your fly line. I am going to suggest a 5 or 6 "weight forward floating line." This will serve many purposes and the only limitation will be when you a

Cabelas 4 Day Sale

Cabelas 4 Day Sale

The Art of Fly Fishing

Fly Fishing To the uninitiated trout fly-fishing is a pastime with an air of mystery about it. The fly fisher appears to spend more time flicking his fly and line back and forward through the air than actually letting it land on the water. There   are   thousands of fly patterns available and the endless variety of tackle on the market, only add to this air of mysteriousness.Yet despite the apparent complexity of the sport, fly-fishing can be defined simply as trying to catch trout using an artificial fly that imitates the various forms of food on which they feed. And fly-fishing in the true sense involves the use of a fly rod and casting line in order to present the fly to the fish. Fly-fishing can be divided into several different methods according to the techniques used. The two main divisions are Wet Fly and Dry Fly fishing. The simple difference being that a wet fly sinks and a dry fly floats. Wet fly fishing can be further divided into nymph, lure and traditional wet fly fishi

Knowing

Knowing the characteristics and locations of the fish you want to catch is just as important as having the right fishing bait and equipment. Lake trout fishing can be a rewarding experience, but these fish are only found in specialized locations in North America. If you want to catch a lake trout, or lake char as they are sometimes known as, you will need to find lakes with very cold water. Any lake water that reaches temperatures of 65 degrees or more will be too warm for these fish. The colder the water, the better it is for their survival. They are prevalent in Canada and the Northern United States, such as in the Great Lakes. Some cold water mountain lakes in the West will also contain them. Lake trout become easily over fished because they grow very slowly, so depending on where you are fishing, you may only be able to catch and release. They are characterized by their forked tail. These fish have excellent vision, but since they congregate in such deep and dark waters, it is not