The Fishermens Life

2010-01-31T14:26:00.000-08:00

MAKE SURE YOU CHECK OUT MY NEW BLOG AND STORE at
Fishingtricks.info

Spearfishing Florida

2009-12-23T06:04:00.000-08:00

So i need some help with a question. I am a amatuer spearfishermen with little experience. I need some inshore spots in florida where i can spear some fish. I have herd of some spots off Anna Maria but i need some for sure spots. please comment and tell me what you know. Remember i dont have a boat. thanks everyone.

Red Bone Fishing Rods

2009-07-16T13:30:00.001-07:00

The Redbone fishing rods. I fished with these rods back when i was only about 13 years old. It was the first time i had ever seen this brand of rod. Then about 3 years later i would be out shopping for a new saltwater rod and this was when i would see these Redbone rods again. I saw the rod and right away remembered the little picture of the palm tree on the rod shaft. These rods run for about 90 dollars per rod. I bought a 7 foot spinning rod meant for saltwater for 90 dollars. Redbone rods come in casting, spinning, Big game, And Fly fishing rod versions. I was looking at the Fly rods because they come in bigger weights all the way up to 12 or 13 i believe. So far the biggest fish i have caught on my Redbone is about a 10 pound bass. As soon as i get the pictures developed off the disposable camera i will upload them to this blog. But I have caught Snook, Redfish, and the occasional Jack crevalle on my rod. These i sleek rods with a glassy look to them. They are every bit worth of what they cost. They are priced fairly reasonably to. I would recommend these rods to any one who wants to buy a nice rod without spending 300 to 500 dollars. You should be able to buy these at your local tackle shop. I bought mine at Dicks Sporting Goods. So good luck and tight lines.

Hawaiian Sling Spearfishing

2009-07-15T12:50:00.000-07:00

Sweet video of some Hawaiian sling action

Hawaiian slings

2009-07-14T19:08:00.000-07:00

I haven't been spearfishing but i would like to use a Hawaiian sling when i go. These are super efficient. They are light fairly compact and easy to shoot. Also you can make one without a hassle. All you need to do it take a dowel and drill a hole through the center big enough to fit a spear shaft. Then take surgical tubing and tie it around the back to make a slingshot. Then you need to put a sort of holster on the tubing to hold in the spear shaft when you are shooting it. These are great for beginners. Also they are good for reef diving as far as shooting fish backed up in holes. But you must be care full about getting bigger fish because they could run off with your spear shaft. So its crucial that if you are going for that big fish that you stone the fish or kill it with the first hit.

Crystal River

2009-07-14T18:56:00.000-07:00

Looks like i didn't end up not doing any fishing in crystal river but i did do a bit of snorkeling. My friend and i snorkeled the rainbow river. I saw thousands of fish and that is hardly a exaggeration. So I saw bass, bluegill, sunfish, and carp. I was practically swimming right along side with these awesome fish. They were amazing. The water was to cold to have any alligators it was probably about 60 degrees. So it was a bit chilly. I actually tubed the rive for a total of about 5 hours. So it was time consuming but it was definitely worth it. You weren't aloud to fish the river because its protected. I also swam with baby otters. I enjoyed how the water was crystal clear. You could see clearly down 20 ft. It was beautiful. SO i hope to go back and i would recommend this trip for any one.

Manny Puig

2009-07-11T15:17:00.000-07:00

What a beast!!!!1

Spearfishing Regulations

2009-07-11T14:43:00.000-07:00

Does anyone know if its legal to spearfish in springs or rivers??

Bogota, Colombia

2009-07-09T17:26:00.000-07:00

In one week me and my dad are going to journey on our second mission trip. We are going to Bogota, Colombia. Specifically Cazuca, Colombia. This is a slum in Bogota. My Dad is a eye doctor so we are transporting a few thousand pairs of glasses. My dad will give free eye exams and i will help give out glasses and translate in Spanish. Ive studied Spanish only for two years but i know quite a bit of Spanish. I'm so excited to go to Colombia. I hear it is a beautiful country. We will be there for a week. Their is nothing like going to a country where they have much less then yourself. I cant wait to help all the people possible. I will have a ton of pictures and videos to post when i get back so watch for the post. And now i will type a message in Spanish for all the Spanish speaking viewers. Sorry for any fault in my Spanish I'm good but i do make plenty of mistakes.

Hola!!! voy a Bogota , Colombia en uno semana. yo tomando un millon lentes a Colombia. Yo voy a ayudar los personas. Estoy emocionado porque me gusta viajar. Ojala que ayude muchas personas con problemas.

Wish me luck.!!!!!

Crystal River Springs

2009-07-09T17:17:00.001-07:00

Snorkeling is one thing i enjoy doing. Especially snorkeling in springs. If you have never snorkeled in springs you need to. It is like nothing else in the world. It feels like you are a fish swimming in a fish tank. I'm excited to swim with all of the different fish and see all of the wild life. Its always great to see the tons of fish. I will make sure i post some pictures of these springs.

Crystal river Fishing

2009-07-09T17:04:00.000-07:00

I'm going to Crystal river this Sunday. Ive never been but i hear its a beautiful river with great looking blue springs. So I'm going into territory where i have no idea of what the fishing is like. I think that their will be a good source of fish in this river. My friend was just recently up their and he caught a largemouth bass. So I'm pretty excited to go. If anyone has been please comment and tell me where and what to fish with. When i get back ill try to post some pictures of the experience.

Surf Fishing Rod Holders

2009-07-08T19:31:00.000-07:00

I have built one of these and they work great.

GENIUS!!!!!!!! CHECK THIS OUT

2009-07-08T19:21:00.000-07:00

WOW when i get the chance i am building one of these for sure.

Jug Fishing

2009-07-08T19:09:00.000-07:00

jug fishing is a super fun way to fish. I think this is so fun because you can just toss it out in a small lake or pond and leave it for several hours without constantly checking it. Especially the anticipation of seeing if you have a fish is great. This is a fun way to get kids excited about fishing. This way the average kid who doesn't have the patience to sit in the sun for hours holding a rod can just toss this out and go grab it with a canoe or kayak. Basically all you need to do this is a water bottle or 2 liter bottle. One way i saw you can color a clear bottle is take a white or neon spray paint and spray it into the bottle until the insides are colored making the bottle very visible. then screw the top on. Tie 20lb fishing line around the neck of the bottle. Tie a weight to the bottom of the line and a hook to the middle of the line. Then bait it up. A good bait for catfish is chicken liver. Throw it out to the middle of the lake and let it sit for a couple of hours. After you have waited a solid while go back and retrieve the bottle an see if you have a fish. Good luck.

2009-07-07T08:48:00.000-07:00

The African Tiger Fish. This is the sweetest fish i have ever seen. They are located in Africa in the Congo river. All i know is i want to catch one. If anyone has any stories about catching one of these suckers please leave a comment of how you caught one.

Crappie

2009-07-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

I never have been fishing for crappie specifically but i plan to go later this summer in cape cod Massachusetts. So i need to know what bait works best and where do you catch them. What i mean by where do you catch them is do i fish in shallow water or deep water and under what kind of structure. I appreciate the help. Until next time tight lines.

traveling with light spinning rods???

2009-07-06T15:42:00.001-07:00

So lately i have been looking for a little spinning rod to put in my suitcase to do the fishing i talked about in my previous post. When everyone started coming out with telescopic fishing rods i was always skeptical. Ive always thought that any fishing rod like that would be just plain junk. But I'm unsure so I'm asking my readers if you have any previous use of these telescopic rods or not even that do you know of any three piece spinning rods that would fit into a suitcase. I'm looking for something cheap so if you know of anything i could pick up at wal mart that would be very helpful. until next time good luck fishing

Panfish how do i catch them?????

2009-07-06T15:27:00.000-07:00

Bluegill fishing is widely popular over the United States and Canada because bluegill and other pan fish ca withstand the warm and cold climates of the north and south. Also they are one of the easiest fish to catch. The classic way to catch these fish is slap on a bobber a small hook and a balled up piece of bread. Then you cast it out and wait for the bob. This at least is the traditional method i have always used. But I'm curious ive never done anything else. So this article is asking all you fishermen out their what methods do you use besides the bread and bobber method. Please leave your comments on what kind of lures or what kind of bait. Also i was wondering if anyone has ever used that canned bait Berkley sells. Its sold in neon colors and it has a stench to it. I think they use it for trout but would it work for little pan fish. By the way I'm doing this pan fish fishing in cape cod, Massachusetts. So their will be crappie. So leave comments on this post telling me what bait, what time of day, where to fish, and any other ways to success. I appreciate all the comments in advance. Until next time tight lines.

Summer Bass Bite

2009-07-04T14:44:00.000-07:00

A month into summer and it is hot here in sunny Florida. As the sun warms the water the shallows start to get warm so the bass move from their beds to the center of the lake where its deeper. Also they seek spots where

there is maximum shade. So the best spots to look for bass when you are out fishing is deep water, Lily pads, stumps and logs, or thick vegetation. Also the bass start to get more active as far as eating habits. The warm weather will cause the bass to start feeding much more then when the climate is colder. So you will want to work your baits a bit faster. Jerking motions and quick pops will drive the bass crazy. But one of the main things is use flashier baits. shiny silvers and chartreuse colors are some of my favorites. So save these tips in your head so the next time your on the water you will own it up. Until next time good luck and catch a big one.

My New Creation!!!!

2009-06-21T19:10:00.001-07:00

Here is my new creation. I made this new lure out of a coke bottle cap. I took the cap and bent it over on both sides. I drilled two holes in each end of the cap. Then i took a mallet and pounded the cap down until it was flat. Then i took a hook and put it onto one end and another ring on the other end. The only problem with this lure is its not all that heavy. Personally i think it would be a smart move to put some lead tape onto the back of the cap to make it a bit heavier. This would be a good lake trout, bass, or walleye spoon. Even though this isn't the prettiest lure you have ever seen its always cool to build your own fishing tackle and then catch a fish on it. You can variate these caps by spray painting them or just simply using different kinds of cap any where from beer caps to coke caps. Good luck building your first bottle cap lure and catch a big one. Also keep reading my posts and looking for new Do It Your Self Guides.

Get Cash for your old things

2009-06-06T19:24:00.000-07:00

So recently i have started my own ebay business. I have not sold anything yet but i have listed many items that are close to selling. Even though I'm new at this game i am a avid entrepreneur who will stop at nothing to make money. So I'm writing this article to tell all my viewers that i am going to start another branch on my ebay business. This branch will be a personal salesman. What this means is that if you have old junk that is lying around your house and you have know use for it i will sell it for you only for a portion of the profit. My initial thought is that i will only take 30% of the profits. To many i know this could sound sleazy and not worth the time but trust me it is worth your time. I'm a 16 years old who is money hungry. Which means i would have almost zero reason to scam you. I just want summer money to buy fishing rods and tackle. So if your interested in this just email me a photo of what you think you want to sell. I will research it then email you back saying if i think i can sell it and make a decent profit. Then if you decide to use me to sell your junk then you will ship me your item i will list it on ebay and then if we get a sale i will split the profit 70% for you 30% for me. Items that you might think of sending to goodwill would be ideal for me to sell. If your still not convinced send me a cruddy old item that you could care less about and see what i can do with it. If i meet your standards then you can send me better items. You can contact me a Pierceharrell21@gmail.com . I would love to lift off this branch off my business. Until next time goodbye and good luck fishing.

KAYAK DIVING/ SPEARFISHING

2009-04-23T17:55:00.000-07:00

Kayaking is a great outdoor activity to pursue for recreation, sport, or Exercise. Personally I'm going to start spearfishing off of my kayak. I just purchased a 7 foot pole spear with a paralyzer tip. I'm a big time noob to spearfishing but I'm very interested. Right now i have access to a kayak so i cant go 5 miles offshore but i am looking for some inshore spots. I live near Tampa bay so i have beach access. I'm hoping to find a reef that i can go out to and gets some fish. Right now I'm looking to spear fish like sheepshead, Grouper or other reef fish. My only problem is the bad visibility that is notorious in the gulf. I have heard of the Sugar barge located in Anna maria but I've heard the visibility is bad and that bull sharks are present. I know sharks are a factor but I'm not letting that distract me. So if anyone is skilled in spearfishing and knows inshore spots in my area i could use your help on finding some good spots. Thanks in advance.

Costa Del Mar

2009-03-21T22:35:00.000-07:00

For my birthday i got a new pair of Costa Del Mar sunglasses. The triple tail with amber lenses and brown frames. I must say i will never get another brand of sunglasses in my life. I love my sunglasses they very durable and offer a great view of the fish under the water. I also have the new 500 lenses which cut the glare on the water extremely well. I used to be the guy who buys a pair of cheap 20 dollar sunglasses at CVS mainly because i cant afford nice sunglasses. But now i know that this investment is worthwhile. I already know that these sunglasses will last me a lifetime. The amber lenses i got put a relaxing tent on everything almost like a burgundy color. But i wont lie i do have a spare pair of CVS sunglasses on the outside pocket of my tackle box just in case i don't want to mess up my Costa's. For example If I'm out wading in deep water i might not want to get my expensive pair of glasses wet so i take the cheap pair. Well if any one has any questions please leave a comment. Good luck fishing and until next time, catch a big one.

Ugly Stick Help!!!!!!!!!!

2009-03-18T16:46:00.001-07:00

So I have been looking for a new rod to throw a heavy duty conventional reel on for shark, tarpon, big fish, etc. I came across the ugly stick which I've always been skeptical about. I have heard nothing but good reviews about these rods but they are so cheap i don't know to believe if they are good or not. So I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with any type of ugly stik. If you do then please leave a comment on what you think of them and what fish you have caught on them. Thanks in advance.

The Docs Goofy jig

2009-03-17T12:25:00.000-07:00

Here is the Docs jig. Perhaps the most unusual jig I've ever fished with. Don't underestimate this lure because it is extremely effective. I find this a effective lure for just about any saltwater species. Ive caught countless Spanish Mackerel, Snapper, Pompano, Snook, and even a monster 30 pound Jack Crevalle. Ive also fished for Bass with this lure and have caught many fish. This jig is simply a hook with a lead weight mounted to the shank of the hook. A little yellow paint and their you go. Also they sell these lures with the jig and a trailer hook with a pink feather. The lure has many variations of colors. I think these lures are only sold in Florida near the beaches. These lures look like little spoons. They are very easy to cast because they are heavy lures. The sizes very between little, medium, and large. They are pretty cheap but even if they were expensive they are still worth buying. Well good luck and if you have any questions please leave it in my comments. Good luck.

Hawaiian Sling Spearfishing

2009-03-14T20:06:00.000-07:00

I'm getting pretty interested in spearfishing these days but honestly don't know much about it. I'm going to try and build a Hawaiian sling for my first spear gun. But the biggest problem is that i don't have a boat. All i have is a two person kayak which i think should do. Ill have to check the regulations but i think you have to go like 300 yards offshore which is easy to kayak. I'm planning on free diving along with a friend. If anyone has experience on how to build a Hawaiian sling, close inshore free dive spots, speices i should target, or any other pointers please leave some comments. I need all the help i can get. Thanks in advance.

Straw House????? A MUST READ

2009-03-12T18:20:00.001-07:00

You may be wondering what a straw house. Isn't this a fishing blog. Yes but recently i was testing in my school and there was a passage about straw houses. My first thought was the three little pigs. But actually a conservationist/Contractor designed the idea of building houses out of straw. Now you may be thinking what a impossible idea but think again. This contractor has found that the waste product of wheat fields is straw which can be made in to straw bales which can be made into a house building material. Basically a wooden frame for the house is built and then you take these bales of straw and stack them like Lego's. Then plaster the inside and outside.

Reasons most people think this idea is a hoax.

The house would go up in seconds if it caught on fire.
Vermin and pest would eat away your walls.
Not strong enough.
The structure molding.

Reason while all five of these are wrong and that this is actually a good idea for a house.

The straw bales are packed so tightly that no oxygen is available for the fire to thrive. The tight packing of the straw actually provides a 2 hour window of time before the house actually starts to burn.
The tight packing of the straw will keep vermin from getting inside. Also as long as the plaster sealed on the outside and in then vermin wont get in.
Actually these structures have been quite popular in areas like California with earthquakes. These structures can brace the quake and not break as easily as concrete structures. Also a study showed that during 75 mile a hour winds the structure did not move. During 100 mile a hour winds the structure moved only 1/16 of a inch. So its pretty stable.
As long as you protect the straw bales from moisture before building the walls then your structure should be fine. But if water is leaked into the straw mold can occur.
The straw also provides a high level of insulation.
But most of all the biggest factor is the price. The price of building this kind of house is significantly cheaper. Much cheaper then a normal house.
Also this house can be built with out a builder. You can actually build this house yourself with a little help and time on your hands.

I myself am a little skeptical but I'm loosening up to the idea. Personally i don't know if i would build a house but i do see this as a opportunistic way to build myself a cheap workshop/fly tying shack/rod building shed/fishing room. Hey for the money i could make myself a nice little workshop. And that how this whole article incorporates into a fishing blog. Hopefully you find this topic as interesting as i do.

Slamming the Spanish Macks

2009-03-09T13:36:00.002-07:00

This weekend i ventured to Anna Maria Island. It was a beautiful day but the water happened to be quite cold. The first few hours of fishing were not successful. Usually i see lots of snook running the beaches but they weren't because of the cold water. I hadn't caught anything for the first hour so i went on down to the local pier. The rod and reel pier is a great fishing pier as well as a restaurant out on the water. I bought some shrimp and tossed one line out bottom fishing. The other i was fishing around the pier pillars for sheepshead. The sheepshead at the pier are quite big and lots of people were catching them. I just didn't have the luck. I left to the beach house and grabbed a bite still eager for a big fish. Then i journeyed back to the beach. I was walking down the beach fishing a Zoom pink fluke under a red jig head. I caught a little puffer fish. Then a crazy splashing erupted 40 feet from the shore. My first thought was jack crevalle. So i waded out and casted to the middle of the school. I did a quick reel and jerk across the water and got a bite. A quick hook set got me in to a great fish. After a few minutes i reeled in a nice Spanish Mackerel.It turns out that a few dolphins chased a huge school of macks inshore. The other good thing was the amount of bait inshore. The mackerel were jumping everywhere. The bite was hot. I was using a 6.5 foot rod and my quantum escalade reel. Overall i caught around 10 Mackerel. One fish i caught was the biggest Spanish mackerel I've ever caught. There was a boat that spotted the commotion of fish breaking the surface. They chase the schools around the schools around the flats but didn't catch one fish while I'm at shore catching tons of fish. A few fish i hooked up with snapped my line. One even snapped my 20 pound leader. I used a ton of pink flukes. The Mackerel have big sharp teeth. If i would of had the kayak out there i would have caught a million. Hopefully i will be back to slay them again.

Home Made Kayak/Canoe Anchor

2009-03-03T13:20:00.000-08:00

One time me and one of my best friends went to Ft. Desoto to do some fishing on the flats. It was a windy day and our canoe was getting pushed around on the flat when we stopped paddling. We wanted to stay in one place on the flats so we decided to build a anchor. Here's how you can make one.

Take a one gallon milk container And Fill it with Sand or dirt.
Next get long durable end and tie one end on to the handle of the milk jug.
Tie the other end to a part of your boat. Remember to make the roper a little longer than the depth you choose to fish.

Their you go here's a easy anchor that will take you literally 5 minutes. Good luck and catch the big one.

2009-03-03T13:02:00.000-08:00

Here is my new knife i got. My dad went to a dinner where there was a raffle and he won a brand new SOG Seal Pup. This knife is a little large for fishing. But i have found it to be quite useful for cutting up bait for chum. This knife is probably the sharpest knife i have ever had. It can cut rope and other things with ease. It is a fixed blade knife that is very durable. Their is a serrated edge that is god for sawing. I don't hunt but this looks like it would be a good knife for skinning deer. This knife company supplies knifes like this one i have to navy seals. Also this company has taken one of their knife and shot a bullet straight at it and the blade split the bullet right in half. So check out their website.

Homemade Rod Suitcase

2009-03-02T16:52:00.000-08:00

A year a go i went on a trip to the Dominican Republic. Their was another guy their who had this huge 8 or 9 foot PVC pipe. I was kind of skeptical of what could be in it but later on he unscrewed the cap to unveil 3 to for fishing rods. I myself being a fishermen thought of this idea to be extremely smart. So the idea kind of went into my brain storage bank. Later that summer i was journeying to Massachusetts. I really wanted to do some fly fishing but i had no idea of how to transport a rod. So i thought of the genius idea i had previously observed. I went to my local Lowe's and picked up all the materials for i think around 15 dollars. Wow what a investment the PVC i bought was almost impenetrable. The whole thing took maybe 20 minute to make and here is how you do it.

1. Go to your local department store and pick up a PVC pipe large enough to hold the rod you choose to transport. Measure your rod length and buy the PVC a half or full foot longer than your rod length.

2. Go to the aisle where all the PVC caps and parts are. Pick up a cap for one end of the pipe and for the other end a threaded piece and a threaded cap. This is so you can screw on and unscrew the cap for easy access to your rods.

3. The last material needed will be a PVC cement glue. Also a optional item is a hacksaw. Its optional because you may already have one.

4. Next go home and if your PVC pipe is to long the cut it down to desired length using your hacksaw.

5. Glue the non threaded cap to one end and let it dry.

6. When that drys glue the threaded piece to the other end

7. Now your finished with the building the last thing you want to do is write your name and number on the side just in case it is lost.

8. (optional) Spray paint the pipe to desired color.

So there you go you have a well built carrying case that you spent so little money on. Trust me it way better than buying a 50 to 100 dollar case that gets scuffed and messed up. This will last you multiple years. Also i had zero problems bringing this in the airport they just asked me what was in it and everything was good. Be sure to rap your rod in bubble rap or a sheet to keep the guides and shaft of the rod from getting scratched. Good luck and leave reviews or comments.

Tarpon sketch

2009-03-01T18:44:00.000-08:00

I really wanted to draw a fish so here you go a Tarpon

Shrimp Imitaion

2009-03-01T18:11:00.000-08:00

This is one of my latest creations. The Shrimp imitation.

Materials:

1/0 hook

Gold Flashabou

Pink Flashabou

Red Eyes

Crimson red, red, or red pink thread

White buck tail

First you will need a thread Anything of a red or red pinkish color. Rap the shank of the hook all the way down just before the shank starts to bend. Tie in the eyes a little behind the eye of the hook(make sure its stays in the same place and doesn't slide around). Then tie in a small but bushy Gold Flashabou tail. Next take a fairly long clump of pink flashabou strands. Tie it right above the tail. Then spin the flashabou strand around to make a sort of rope or braid. Then rap the shank of the hook right up to the eyes. Tye it down and your body is done. Next tie in a small clump of white buck tail over the eyes. Lastly Take a small clump of pink Flashabou and tie it under the shank. This gives the fly a bigger look. Aka Jumbo shrimp. Good luck and please leave your comments. Also if you want a detailed picture click the picture and you will get a full sized page picture.

Glass minnow

2009-03-01T17:21:00.000-08:00

This fly is the bomb not only for saltwater fish but also Largemouth bass.

Fishing for Reds

2009-02-28T12:07:00.001-08:00

Redfish are a great fish to fish for and quite easy to target if you know where to go and what to do. This fish is a Florida native but also thrives in other areas like Louisiana and Texas. This fish and can usually be sighted out strolling on the grass flats. The Redfish likes to eat crustaceans like crabs and shrimp. These fish can be caught fishing with live bait or various lures. Live bait consisting of mainly shrimp or crabs. A good technique for catching these is a small weight a swivel with 2 feet of leader following with a sturdy hook at the end size 1 or 2. Rig the shrimp placing the hook just under the shrimps horn. Lures that i have found successful are the D.O.A shrimp lures or soft plastic shrimp under a jig head. But by far the best Redfish lure is the Johnson's spoon. This is a gold spoon that you reel fast over the flats grass. Most fish can be spotted swimming near pot holes or sand patches in the flats grass. Casting in to these pot holes should provide success. Equipment for Redfish is quite simple a 6.5 or 7 foot medium to heavy spinning rod with a durable spinning reel. You should have 12 pound mono or braid with a 2 to 3 foot fluorocarbon leader. Also a optional piece of equipment is polarized sunglasses. These almost are necessary because the polarized lenses cut the glare off the water which can help you spot the fish. These can be purchased for as low as 20 dollars at your local Wal-mart. Lastly find a good spot on the beach where their is flats full of sea grass and cast out. This fish is also quite good to eat. Any fish recipe should be great. The bag limit in Florida is 1 i think. Good luck and catch some fish.

Also if you have any good storiesabout catching Reds please leave a comment telling me your story.

The Rod and Reel I Got to Have

2009-02-21T12:37:00.000-08:00

In the previous article i published i talked about selling golf balls to fund my love for fishing. Well objeto numero uno i want. The Penn® Spinfisher® SSm Metal Reel. This is the sweetest looking combo. The main reason i wanted this combo is because i wanted a rod and reel that could catch nice size tarpon but could still catch me a little 30 puond jack crevalle. I think i may get the 850 version just because it can hold more line. Ive never fished a penn or had one but every review i see says that Penn reels can handle the ware and tear of salt water. If you compare the Penn reel to other reels it is so much less flashy. This i think is somewhat better because you see these cheap flashy reel and thats not what its all about. This Penn reel just looks sturdy. I want this big of a reel because i want to step up and catch bigger fish like tarpon, small sharks, large jack crevelle, and big snook. If anyone has experience with penn reels please leave a comment because i want to know everything about them before i make this purchase.

Funding My Fishing Obssesion

2009-02-14T16:49:00.001-08:00

Fishing is my passion. I love it and plan to do it until i die. Recently I've been a little short on money. It still cold so the lawn isn't growing for me to cut it. So i decided i need to make some money. Where i live there is a golf course. This is where i do most of my fishing. All the time i see balls in the lake but i have never thought to pick them up. But now i have started to use my dads ball retriever to get the golf balls. I saved up a fair amount polished them and sold them with my best friend today. We sold the by the golf course and got a whopping 67 dollars. Split down the middle we both had 33 and some change. The best part is i haven't even sold all of the golf balls. Some best sellers were Titelist and Nike's. Hopefully now i can start collecting more and selling when I'm out fishing. Even if i just got 10 dollars a week that would be great. The nicest part is i can find my inventory for free, I can find while fishing, And everything i gain from sales is profit. Hopefully this new money making idea can get me some new fishing gear I've had my eye on.

Improved Clinch Knot

2009-02-13T17:01:00.000-08:00

By far my most favorite knot. I learned this knot when i was about 11 years old and it has stuck ever since. It is reliable with monnofillament and so far terrific with braid. Good luck catch a big one.

Bridge fishing on the bridge or under it?

2009-02-13T16:40:00.001-08:00

Bridge fishing is a very ignored method. Many people who don't have boats go to the piers or go to the beach to fish. That works but a great way to add some diversity to the fish you catch is to fish a bridge. Their is two ways to fish a bridge, one is fishing off of the top of the bridge and the other is to fish under the bridge. Both are successful but i prefer fishing under the bridge. This is where the bridge meets the land. Usually there is some space where you can cast to the bridge supports. Where as on top of the bridge it will be a bit difficult to land a big fish unless you don't mind walking all the way back down the bridge to land the fish. But i have found that the supports that hold up the bridge have a vast amount of fish sitting all along them. One species i think is great to target is the Gag Grouper. This is a fighting fish that mostly is hard to target without a boat. But they will hold around these supports. My best friend and I first caught some large pinfish and cut them up. Then we would toss them out with a weight next to the supports. My friend caught a nice gag grouper, about 7lbs. Other baits that serve well are shrimp and live threadfins. Also you have the chance of catchings tons of other fish like snook, tarpon, mangrove snapper, catfish, and other varieties of fishing. Their are many ways to target the fish. Depending on what kind of fish your targeting a 6.5 or 7 foot spinning out fit medium heavy with 14 pound monofillament or braid should work well. But if you get a big one loosen up the drag. Good luck and catch a big one.

Snook Fishing

2009-01-31T20:58:00.000-08:00

Snook is a terrific fish to venture for. I find that their are three great ways to target this species.

1) Fish around and under docks and Bridges. Big snook hold under docks.

2) During early morning and around noon, walk the beaches and look for snook running the shores searching for food.

3) Fish mangroves out on the flats. Snook like to hold near and in the mangroves.

Docks and bridges are a productive way to fish snook. Big baits schools will hang around these structures and where there is bait there is snook. A tip for bridge fishing is at night if their are big light poles on the bridge fish where the light in the water is. The light attracts bait which attracts snook.

Fishing the shores in early morning until noon has proven to be very succesful. I my self love this method. Snook will run the beaches all day. Throw a top water mirrolure, jerk bait, or a gold spoon and you will get your self a nice fish. Also throwing live bait like greenbacks works very well. Rig the bait with the hook horrizontally across the nose. Toss it out free line 15 to 20 yards in front of where the snook is and wait for the hit.

Mangroves are oneof the main sources of vegetation in floridas beaches. Snook live in mangroves and also feed their. The best way to tackle the mangroves is tossing green backs under a bobber or free lining these baits on the edge of the mangroves. When ever you are tossing baits close to the mangroves keep your baits not to close to where they will wrap you up in the mangroves. If you get a fish on keep your rod tip down in the water and reel the fish out hard until your sure he cant get into the mangroves. If the fish does get into the mangrove then your almost asured a break off.

For snook fishing you will want to have a 6 to 7 ft medium to heavy action fishing rod with 12 pound monofillament or 10 pound power pro braid. If you are using monofillament you will need to have a 20 pound monofillament or flourocarbon leader. For braid you will need a 20 pound flourocarbon leader.

surf fishing?

2009-01-31T20:21:00.000-08:00

If any one has any experience with surf fishing in florid please leave a comment to answer my question. My question is what would be the best combo i could buy for florida peir and surf fishing? I really dont want to have to pay hundreds of dollars only maybe 100 to 150. I want to target smaller sharks, larger jack crevalle, huge snook, cobia off of the peir, or any other fish that you cant normally handle with your snook spinning rod. Ive seen some nice combos at sports authority but im scepticle about them. Basicallly im looking for a moderately priced durable conventional fishing rod and reel.

Please Comment i need some advice!!!!!!!!!!

Quantum Escalade

2009-01-30T17:25:00.000-08:00

This here is the Qauntum escalade. I recently bought this reel at dicks sporting goods for $70. Wow what a good deal. This reel is super smooth, smooth drag, and a sleek look. Ive never had a quantum reel before, and this company is starting off on a high note in my book. Ive just been bass fishing with it and caught about 5. A few of the bass were at least five pounds and the reel held up terrifically. The price is a little high for my favor but it woks well.

Hot Mackerel in Fort Desoto

2009-01-23T21:21:00.000-08:00

The Spanish mackerel is a awesome game fish to catch. They put up a tremendous fight and often break off anglers who are unsuspecting of the fishes sharp teeth. Two summers ago i went to the Fort Desoto park in Pinellas county, Florida. I fished the pier at dog beach. During about noon a gigantic bait school of baby green backs surrounded the pier. Looking down in to the bait school i could see openings in the school where bigger fish were attacking. I simply took my 6 foot medium action spinning rod and reel and dropped the hook into the school. With a quick jerk of the hook i snagged a little greenback. Re hooking the bait i casted to the edge of the school. The injured bait swims irregularly, then a silver dart slams my bait. Waiting for a second i set my hook. The singing drag is like music to my ears. The fight last only for a few minutes then i real up a trophy Spanish Mackerel. That day i caught 18 Spanish mackerel. Scouts honor. Fishing is good when all you need is a fishing rod line and a hook.

Bass Fishing On The Fly (Woolly Bugger)

2009-01-23T17:25:00.000-08:00

Recently I taught myself to flyfish. I have officially become addicted. Not only have i just started flyfishing but i have started tying my own flies. The first fly I learned to tie was the wooly bugger. I have made my own modification to this fly i moved the hook size up a bit. I wrapped the hook with tan thread. Then i tied on the red tail( a peice of marabou feather). Then i wrapped the thread with copper wire to give the body a shine. Then Wrapped the body with marabou to make it "wooly". After securing that i superglued to eyes to the sides of the hook. The last modifaction was a few strands of shiny gold tinsel to the head with a hint of orange nail polish to the head. This fly worked well for bass fishing. I caught ten small bass in one day one a 6/7 weight fly rod. Im sure this fly could be succsesful in salt water. It kind of looks like a shrimp imitation. Well good luck tying.

Gigantic Snook

2009-01-23T17:12:00.000-08:00

Wow this is one huge snook. The captain caught this beast on a threadfin. Apparently the cameras weren't filming when he caught the fish but a guy on the boat did have a underwater camera. Also this is the biggest snook ever broadcasted.

Zoom Speed Worms

2009-01-23T16:16:00.000-08:00

My friend loaned me a bag of these a few weeks ago. To be honest with you i thought these worms were crud. But low and behold these dominate the fish. Just today i fished this texas rigged. I fished it fast across the surface of the water next to some structure. The result, tons of bites and fish. The fish went balistic over these worms. Also throwing this deep and fishing it slow back to shore works terrificly. Zoom produces a lot of quality worms. They are also more affordable then overpriced Gulp worms. So the next time your at your local tackle shop pick up some of these and test them out. They work well for largemouth bass and im sure they are adequate for smallmouths to.

Berkley Lightning Rod Reveiw

2009-01-23T15:54:00.000-08:00

I recently purchased this rod with the Abu Garcia silver max bait casting reel. I bought it for around $50. this is by far on of the best rods I've ever had. Forget about the reel the rod is the prize. The rod alone is only about $40. This rod can hang even with the top rods. My friend has a $150 dollar carrot stick and my lightning rod hangs with it all day. Another advantage is not only is this rod casting rod but its also a rod you can buy for a spinning reel. This is terrific rod for bass fishing. So for all of your fishing fanatics when your about to buy that special $150 rod think again and go to your local Wal-mart and purchase one of these.