Catfish Gear

A Beginners Guide To Fishing

If you are new to the sport of fishing, you need to know some of the basic rules of fishing. Like other forms of hunting, fishing involves both your environment and those around you. Be respectful of both. You can responsibly enjoy this treasured pastime in several ways.  Fishing is an ancient practice. It dates back nearly 10,000 years.

A number of various techniques and traditions have been used during fishing’s progression. Modern technological developments have changed the way people fish, but many of the same rules, regulations, and social norms involving fishing remain.  Always practice good stewardship of our waterways when you are fishing. Remember that these waterways were around thousands of years before you and will remain long after we are gone. You can make a conscious decision to leave the areas in which people fish in better condition than when you found it. Take care of our lakes, rivers, and other waterways so that others will enjoy these areas for years to come.

Practicing certain behaviors will ensure that you are taking good care of the places where people fish.  Never litter when you are fishing. Always bring a trash bag or other receptacle to use for the collection of your trash. You can easily deposit it in a nearby trash receptacle. Dump your refuse in properly assigned dumping stations instead of tossing it in the water. You do not need to spend much time figuring out the many ways in which this hurts the environment.  As you fish, always use the correct type of bait and fishing gear. Certain areas allow for certain bait and gear. You will also encounter limits on the number, size, and kind of fish that you can keep. Become familiar with what these limits are and pay attention to them. Do not wait until you are at your fishing spot to search for what is allowed and what is not. Check with your destination before you head out on your fishing trip to see what the local regulations allow. If you plan on using a boat while fishing, research to see what kinds of watercraft are allowed where you are going to fish. 

Every fishing location is different, so pay special attention to local procedures and cautions. This also applies when you decide to clean your boat after you leave the water. You do not want to spread non-native species to another body of water.  Finally, never fish where it is not permitted. There is always a reason why it is illegal. Some reasons include the protection of certain wildlife, the proper care of vegetation, and the safety of you and others who want to fish.  You should also follow a number of cautionary behaviors to ensure your safety.

As with all forms of hunting, safety is first. If you will be using a boat while you fish, always wear your life jacket. Make sure that your passengers wear their life jackets, as well.  Be very careful when baiting and removing hooks. Make sure that you never fish on unauthorized waterways. Follow the posted speed limits and wake warnings that accompany the use of a boat. Bring with you all relevant safety items, such as water, flashlights, maps, and a cell phone.  Fishing continues to be a favorite pastime. 2001 saw nearly 16% of the U.S. population over the age of 16 spend 16 days fishing. You enjoy the sport of fishing, so follow the rules that allow for the continuation of fishing. Be responsible and courteous of others and your environment. Take time to discover how you can be both a better and safer angler.

Article Source: http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/A-Beginners-Guide-To-Fishing/449603

10 Things You Need to Go Catfish Fishing

Ready to go catfish angling? You do not need much equipment and it will not cost you a fortune. I am going to give you a list of what I believe to be the bare minimum catfish gear needed to fish from the bank and how to set your catfish rig. Ok, we are going to start with what you have to have.

1 Fishing rod 61/2 to 7 ft medium/heavy action

2 Fishing reel, type is your choice but if is the first time I suggest a spin casting model

3 Fishing line, your reel should have 8-10lb test line

4 Assorted sinkers, should include egg and split sinkers

5 Assorted bait hoots, sizes 6-1/0

6 Small package of corks or bobbers

7 Leaders, at least a half dozen 12-24 inches in length

8 Bait, zillions of choices here but suggest a tub of chicken livers and a tub of night crawlers

9 Small scissors, need something to cut your line.

10 Pliers, needle nose are the best. You will need to take the hook out of the catfish

That is it, bare minimum and you can not keep any of the catfish you catch. Ok, want a little bit more than the bare minimum, here are some accessories I am fond of for bank fishing.

1 Chair, much softer and more comfortable than a rock or log

2 Rod holders, a good stick with a Y at the top will work. Mine is homemade from pipe. You have to have someway to set your rod down if you are going to be there for any length of time.

3. Cooler, I have to have my soda. Mine is very small only holds 6 cans and a couple of sandwiches.

4 Tackle box, you do not need a big one but you do need something to keep and carry your tackle in

5 Stringer, if you want to keep the catfish you catch you will need this.

6 Lantern, much easier to rig your gear at night if you have a lantern. Turn it off though when you do not need it.

7 Glow sticks, you can find these for the end of your rod for about a dollar and they will work several hours

Pack everything above in advance and you can carry it from your vehicle to the bank in one trip.

Now its time to set up your catfish rig. Slip a 3-5 oz egg sinker onto the line. Tie a 12-18″ lead onto the line using the Palomar knot. Simply put the leader though instead of the hook as shown. Clip your hook onto the leader and bait the hook.

Your ready. Cast it into the water and wait for the catfish to bite. If you have a glow stick and do not want to hold your rod all the time attach it to the tip and you will be able to see it when you get a bite. Do not get discouraged if you do not catch something your first time out. Catfish are very good at stealing your bait so reel it in every 20-30 minutes and check your bait. If the blood is out of the liver change it. Cast again into a slightly different location. GOOD LUCK!

Need Fancy Rod Holders

I do a lot of bank fishing from rivers, lakes and ponds. If you have ever fished for catfish from the bank you know you have to have rod holders. Do you need fancy rod holders? No. You can use a forked tree branch stuck in the ground. However with a stick you may end up chasing your pole into the water if a big one grabs your bait.

Rod holders come in many shapes and design and are relatively inexpensive to purchase. They are worth the money and you would know this if you have ever lost a pole while digging around in your cooler for a cold soda. A lesson I learned a long time ago.

A few weeks back I purchased a rod holder that cost me $20.00. I wouldn’t ordinarily spend more than $5.00 for a rod holder but I was very curious about this one. This unique holder is spring-loaded under adjustable tension; when a fish hits, the motion trips the cocking mechanism, snapping the rod tip up and back for an supposedly instantaneous, hook set.

Well I tried this out this weekend. It has a tension setting that let’s the angler set the  sensitivity. You can set it anywhere from a hair-trigger to a trolling-with-heavy-tackle setting. Naturally I set it to hair trigger. Not a great idea as I believe every time a catfish sniffed at the bait it triggered the mechanism and the tip of the pole would be yanked rapidly upright.

I changed the setting and about thirty minutes later a catfish struck. The rod snapped back setting the hook as advertised. I just watched for a minute because the holder was also supposed to “play” the fish. Which I guess it did as the catfish struggled against the spring tension but it won’t do anything if the catfish is running toward you.

I am going to go back and get me another one. I believe it will help me get more fish. I have been taking a 12 year old boy with me lately and I can’t even count the number of bites where I had my hands full fixing his tackle and I just had to hope the catfish was hungry enough to hook itself.

Here is the link if you want to take a look   Lightnin’ Strike? Automatic Hook-Set Rod Holder