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One Great Reason for Going Fishing

When people talk about going fishing it is generally where they are going, what kind of fish they are going to catch, and how many. All good things. that I will grant you. But I will give you a reason that at times may be more important than any other. Fishing with a loved one or friend gives you a great opportunity to bond together and in many cases talk about things in your or their personal life that would never come up in normal situations.

I was reminded  of this recently when my son visited. He was here on leave from the Army with his wife and family and I invited him to spend a day fishing with me. In truth, the fishing was terrible but I think we both had a very good time getting re-acquainted. We had not had an opportunity to be alone together for over two years and sitting by the lake with nothing but nature around us was a very good place to spend time together.

My father took me fishing when I was a kid and in many ways is how I got to know him as a man. I hope that makes sense to you because we would talk about things he or I did that we would never discuss at home. That is true now with my son.

If you have kids, take them fishing. When fishing teach them to be responsible for the environment. And perhaps most important, when possible treat them as equals so they will know that they can talk to you and discuss their problems with you without consequences. In this day and age I believe this is more important than ever.

Fall Fishing: Don't Put That Gear Away Yet

I know that with fall there are many other activities that can interfere with your desire to go fishing. Maybe you have more chores to do on the weekend now that your kids are back in school and you have to deal with all their activities. Maybe you are looking forward to the hunting season or maybe you just like to watch football. In any case having time to fish may be a problem but I urge to find the time to go. Fall fishing can be one of the most rewarding times of year for any angler.

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How To Use Catfish Traps

Catfish traps are regulated or prohibited in many states. Before learning how to use catfish traps you should know the regulations for your area ahead of time. The reason for them being regulated so stringently regulated is that channel catfish must be able to move to breathe. If they can’t breath they suffocate and die. You must also take responsibility for how you use the catfish traps. If you use the catfish trap to catch channel catfish for food that is fine but if you place the trap you must check it at least every 12 hours.

There are two types of catfish traps that are commonly used. One is a box made from wood slats with the entrance on one end across the bottom. The entrance into the box is angled out from the box. Another type is a box made from heavy wire mesh with a funnel made of wire at one end that narrows to a small opening in side the box. Both traps work by guiding the catfish through a small opening into the box. Whichever one you choose make sure it is big enough for the size fish you intend to trap. Big catfish are strong and can move a small trap especially if they have current helping them.

Once you have choosing what type of trap you will be using you need to decide on what bait you will be using. A lot of people use dog food. It does not cost much as a large supply can be purchased for fewer than ten dollars. Some of the other baits used are cheese, chicken livers, stink baits, and anything else you would normally use to fish for channel catfish. Another bait that seems to work very well is canned cat food but since cat food dissolves rapidly the best way to use it is to poke holes in the can and place the can in the trap.

That is all there is to it. Now you know how to use catfish traps. If it is legal in your area and you decide to use a catfish trap be responsible and check it as often as possible. Do not leave it in the water if you are not going to check it. Fish will swim into it and die.