TN9 Info

You and your family are heading out early in the morning for a day of fishing in your brand new fishing boat. You hit that highway that leads to the lake, excited voices echoing throughout your SUV. Your wife and kids are just as delighted with the new boat as you are and are discussing the whopper they hope to catch. You arrive at the lake, launch the runabout that contains the entire family’s fishing gear and in no time at all, you are skimming across the water, every family member safely encased in a lifejacket. You just know that this is going to be a great family outing and everyone loves the new fishing boat.

A fishing boat can be anything between a canoe where you dangle basic bait over the side in a river or stream to a powerful cabin cruiser or yacht. Basically, all you need to get out onto the water is a vessel that is seaworthy. There are a large variety of fishing boats available on today’s market. You can buy them at boat shows, fishing shows or dealerships. Let’s look at some different types of fishing boats.

Freshwater Fishing Boats
If you enjoy fishing in freshwater rivers, lakes and streams, leave the big, powerful boats for someone else. Choose a fiberglass or aluminum boat that is lightweight and easy to transport. A bowrider, runabout, walleye boat or a boat with a small or dual console will meet all of your freshwater fishing needs. These boats are perfect for family outings.

Bass Boats
Bass boats ride low in the water and are usually very colorful and extremely fast. They can be aluminum or fiberglass and most often they are equipped with platforms in both the bow and stern for easy casting. If you’ve always dreamed of owning the perfect bass boat, be sure to buy one that has a trolling motor mounted on the bow. These boats are mainly used for sport fishing and tournament fishing.

Offshore Saltwater Boats
If you enjoy heading out on the open sea for a day of saltwater fishing that includes huge fish and heavy tackle, you will need a heavy boat that is dependable and can be relied on in all situations and weather. Anything less than a cuddy cabin or center console that’s equipped with either twin or single outboard motors will not fit the bill. The high end of an offshore saltwater boat is a bluewater or convertible that comes complete with luxury quarters and elaborate salons. These boats should be equipped with inboard diesel engines that have maximum power.

Inshore Saltwater Boats
If you’re planning to fish for tarpin, bonefish, trout and snook or redfish on tropical flats, a light boat will take you a long way. This type of boat should always be less than a 25-footer and powered by a single outboard motor. The best type of vessel for inshore saltwater fishing is a basic bay boat or flat boat. Both types of boats offer a spacious deck for casting and float well in shallow water.

Float Tubes
Float tubes are devices that allow fly anglers who don’t own a boat easy access to get out onto the water. They are excellent for fishing ponds, lakes and mountain streams. Essentially a float tube is a floatation device that is equipped with a seat. The angler sits in the seat while wearing fins and kicks his way around while partially submerged. Fly fishing from float tubes can be difficult, especially for those who are using them for the first time. It definitely takes time to hone your fly casting skills from a float tube.

There are two basic types of float tubes - traditional and pontoon. Traditional float tubes are usually round and have an opening in the front or middle. Basically, these are an inner tube with built-in features for fly fishing. These float tubes can take a lot of time to maneuver because they are round in shape and cause a lot of water resistance.

The newer pontoon float tubes are much easier to use. These are equipped with two pontoons, or air chambers, one on each side of the fisherman. Pontoon float tubes have less water resistance and offer far less drag than traditional ones because the pontoons are V-shaped and move through the water almost effortlessly.

If you are thinking of purchasing a fishing boat, shop around, talk to anglers who own their own boats and do your research to help you decide which type of boat you’d like to have. If you still can’t make a choice, talk to a boat fishing guide or the owner of a fishing charter service. They will be glad to give you tips on how to choose the perfect boat for you.

Michael can be found online at www.fishing-blog.com.

Comments Off

The Eagle Fishstrike 1000C has all of the features you need in a fishfinder. It allows you to find your fish every time in almost any location. Just take a look at its many features. It really is a great tool. The first feature you will notice about the 1000C is its ultra bright six inch display screen. With its 256 color sunlight readable display you are sure to see the fish lurking below in clarity and in color! This helps you to distinguish what is down there, where it is hiding and how you will catch it. It also features high speed screen updates which provide you with up to the second views of what is happening.

Imagine being able to watch your fish move, see where it’s heading and snag it!

You can use the FishStrike 1000C for many of your favorite things including recording. By offering two waterproof slots, you’ll be able to record your trips details to view later. This is a great tool to have to remember where you have been for next time. In fact, the Global Positioning System (GPS) is one of its best features. Allowing you to find out where you are and where you should be heading - its a great tool. It can help you from getting yourself lost as well as finding ports, lakes and coastal ranges as well.

But, that’s not all that you can get out of the FishStrike 1000C. You’ll find some of the best sonar on board this system as well. It has a depth capability of 1000 feet which is perfect for most any situation. It has high detection features for finding your fish as well. That is, using such features as Fish ID and FishTrack you’ll be able to see your fish, watch it move, label it, and plan how you will lure it in. You have so many options with this high quality sonar that there is virtually nothing you can not do.

So, what is there not to love about the FishStrike 1000C? You won’t find much because this is a great tool for any fisherman, beginner or advanced!

Visit Fish Finder Review for more information and great deals about the Eagle FishStrike 1000C and other Eagle GPS and Sonar fish finders and marine navigation systems. www.fish-finder-review.com
Copyright Fish-Finder-Review.com. All rights reserved. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact.

Comments Off

This is an article introducing beginners to the joys of “catfishing.” Catfish are some of the largest and most beautiful freshwater fish in North America. Not only that, but they are pretty dang tasty too! When you start catching catfish, you will likely begin to appreciate their “character” which is rather unique compared to other species of fish. Catfish will croak at you like a frog when captured, and are the single toughest fish I have ever come across. These fish just will not die! If you catch a large catfish, you can have the thing skinned and chopped in two and the fish will keep on living and breathing for an amazingly long period of time. Their toughness and perseverance are traits to be admired. Of all the fish in the sea (or lakes and rivers) I can confidently say that I admire and respect the catfish the most of all.

There are several species of freshwater and saltwater catfish in the United States. Some of the most commonly pursued species in the US include the channel, the blue and the flathead catfish. The biggest can grow to well over 100 pounds. The largest ever blue catfish was caught in the Mississippi River and weighed a whopping 124 pounds.

Catfish spend the vast majority of the time near the bottom of lakes and rivers, so when fishing for catfish you will want to get your bait close to or on the bottom. Catfish will feed well on live bait as well as “stink bait.” Stink bait can consist of dead cut bait, chicken livers, raw bacon and a number of other commercial doughs and pellets. For more information on fishing baits check out this article.

The best setup for catfish is usually to have a bit of weight a bit above a circle hook. Circle hooks will land you many more fish than other types of hooks. Make sure that the catfish has firmly taken the bait before you set the hook. Do not set the hook too early or you will lose the fish. The size of the hook and well as the line strength that should be used vary depending on the size of catfish you are pursuing. I like to bring four or five different rods with me and cast them in various different locations, in deep holes, near a steep bank near sunken tree stumps, etc. I also like to experiment with different types of baits. This way I can best hone in on where the catfish are and what I can best catch them on.

Comments Off