We're proud to share with
you some of our wisdom to help you get the best out of your
fishing experience. Here you'll find basic information and
tips for you to consider while preparing for your fishing
trip. These tips cover most of the basic things not known
to beginners and often overlooked by the vets! Happy Fishing!
The biggest mistake made by anglers is to have their drag
set improperly. Most manufacturers recommend that your drag
be set at one-third of your line's test weight. This means
that a reel holding 15 pound test line should have the drag
set to let out line at 5 pounds of pull. To set your drag
run the line out through your rod's guides, tie a loop in
the end, then use the hook on a fish scale (the tool, not
the fish body part) to pull on the line. When the weight
shown on the scale is one-third of your rated line weight,
the drag should be letting out line. If not, adjust the
drag until it does.
Spinning reels often get bird's nests and tangles, which
are usually caused by one of three mistakes. The first is
putting the line on the reel improperly. The line should
go onto the reel the same way it comes off the spool, taking
advantage of the curve the line has memorized from being
stored on the spool. Lay the spool FLAT on the ground (DO
NOT hold it vertically) and start winding the reel. If tangles
begin, turn the spool over. The tangling should stop and
your reel should be tangle free for the future, as long
as you don't make the following two mistakes. The second
mistake is to overfill the spool. Spinning reels should
never be filled past the front spool lip, or too much line
will come out during casting creating a mess of tangles.
The third most common mistake is to crank the reel while
a fish is taking out line. While it's OK to crank a baitcaster
while a fish makes a run, a spinning reel is not designed
for such a mistake. During the fish's run, cranking a spinning
reel literally twirls the line around and around, twisting
it up like a rubber band and resulting in lots of kinks
and tangles.
Improper filling of casting and conventional reels can lead
to tangles, just like on a spinning reel. Again, it is important
to put the line on the reel the same way it comes off the
spool. This time, the spool of line should be vertical,
with the hole horizontal and perhaps with a pencil through
it. The line should be coming off the top of the spool,
NOT the bottom. Fill the spool to the fill line, which is
a painted or etched line on the spool, and you're done.
There are 2 primary methods for adjusting the cast controls
on casting reels. Try them both and stick with the method
that works best for you and your reel. One method is to
adjust the control so that it just barely stops the reel
from falling when you push the casting button. To do this,
loosen the cast control a little and push the button. The
lure should start falling. Quickly adjust the cast control
until the lure stops falling. Remember to make small adjustments.
The other method is to set the control so that there is
no overrun when the lure strikes the deck. To do this, push
the casting button and let the lure fall to the deck. If
the spool keeps turning and lets the line overrun, adjust
the cast control and try again. Make small adjustments until
the spool stops the instant the lure hits the deck. With
either method, you will need to readjust the cast control
when you change lures, especially if the lure is a different
weight.
All anglers will better protect their eyes and be able to
see underwater fish better with good quality polarized sunglasses.
Polarization cuts surface glare due to the alignment of
particles in or on the lens, which can actually help an
angler see underwater. Since polarization makes sunglasses
special, glasses that are polarized usually bear a special
label when they're on the rack. However, not all polarized
sunglasses are created equal. The better polarized sunglasses
have a ground-in polarization that results in a topnotch,
optical quality lens with no distortions. Cheaper polarized
sunglasses only have a sprayed-on polarized finish that
results in lens distortions that will cause eyestrain and
can even damage the eyes. Like polarization, optical quality
lenses are special, so if they're optical quality there
will usually be a special label or information in the accompanying
tag or pamphlet that says so.
Ever checked a Solunar Table? How about a Tide Chart or
Moon Phase Calendar? Ever heard of a Maori Fishing Chart?
Does this stuff really work? The answer is yes, but it's
not infallible, because Solar periods, moon phases, and
moon position are still affected by weather (especially
changes in barometric pressure).
Many predatory fish have eyes that adjust to changes in
light faster than their prey's eyes. This means that most
game fish know from experience that they can catch bait
fish more easily at dawn and dusk, which makes dawn and
dusk two key solar periods. Fish also get hungry between
these big meals, so they'll often feed sometime during midday.
As a result, there are usually three or four "solar
periods," including dawn, dusk and one or two midday
periods. These periods are one of the ingredients in a Solunar
Table or Maori Fishing Chart.
Fish, like most wildlife and even humans, are directly include
by lunar phases and moon position. More than three-fourths
of the record game fish are caught within three days before,
three days after, or during a new moon or full moon. The
reason is still a mystery, however, we do know that the
full moon provides the most night-time light and the new
moon provides no moonlight. The important thing is that
more and bigger fish can generally be caught just before,
just after or during a new moon or full moon. These moon
phases are another element in Solunar Tables and Maori Fishing
Charts and are a good reason why many anglers buy calendars
that show the moon phase. Remember that Solunar Tables,
Maori Fishing Charts, Tide Charts and Moon Phase Calendars
don't guarantee fishing success. Fish are wild, unpredictable
animals and there are other variables that influence their
behavior, many of which are difficult or impossible to predict.
That's what makes fishing challenging and fun!
Fish are directly influenced by weather, probably at least
as much as they are affected by solar periods, moon phases
and moon position. Weather is too unpredictable to put on
a chart that is published several months in advance. Bright
sunlight can bother fish and kill periods of activity or
cause fish to take their activity into shaded or deeper
water. Fish prefer some cloud cover or haze and are likely
to be more active over a greater range of water and to have
wider "strike zones" (meaning they will travel
farther to attack a lure or bait) on partly cloudy to fully
cloudy days. Wind can drive bait fish or insects to the
downwind side of a lake and game fish usually follow. Extreme
wind can ruin fishing or make it difficult or dangerous
for fishermen to be on or near the water. Another weather
pattern that makes a big difference is barometric pressure.
When the TV weather forecaster talks about "high pressure"
or "low pressure" zones moving in, he or she is
talking about barometric pressure. Fish are more active
during periods of low pressure and less active during periods
of high pressure. If you don't want to buy and learn to
read a barometer, you can get a pretty good feel for barometric
pressure just by walking outside. If it's hot and muggy
with very few clouds, it's a high-pressure period and the
fish will be less active. If it's getting colder, clouds
are moving in, or it's starting to rain or snow, it's a
low-pressure period and fish will probably be more active.
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