FishFreakOnline Archive Page
Friday, February 26, 2010
With March right around the corner, thaws beginning to happen, and fishermen preparing to make their biggest catch yet, you can expect that there’ll be some new rules and regulations coming out for your favorite fishing spots.
So before you pack up the car, load tackle box and polish off the rods, remember to check with your local and state fishing and game commissions to ensure that you’re up to date with all of the latest standards and rules. Also, be sure to take a look at your license/permit and make sure it doesn’t have to be updated. Remember, the last thing you want is to be caught out on the water with an expired license at the wrong time.
Take some time today to contact your fishing regulators and get a feel for any new rules that may affect you in the coming fishing season. A little preparation now can make all the difference later.
Labels: fishing laws, fishing regulation, fishing rules
by: FishFreakOnline
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Ever go to your favorite seafood restaurant and order a dozen of clams? Did you ever wonder where the clams come from? After all, they aren't like normal fish. You can't catch them with a rod. How do they get from the sea to your plate?
Clams actually live under the sea floor. They use the sharp edge of their shell to burrow into the sand. So if you want to find them, you'll need to do a little digging.
Amateur clam fishermen will actually wade in a bay, outlet, or other area of salt water that isn't subject to the harsh ocean surf. They will take with them a special rake, which which looks like a steel rock rake, but also has small wire basket attached to it. They will also take a wooden basket that they put into a inner-tube so that the basket will stay afloat.
The clam fisherman will take the the rake and scratch the sea floor until they hear a scraping sound. After they hear this sound, they will dig the rake into the ground, pull it toward them, then bring the rake above the surface of the water. The dirt and small rocks will sift through the wire basket. What remains are either rocks, or clams. The clam is then placed in the wooden basket for safe keeping.
The process is time consuming, tiring, and can be frustrating, especially if all you are catching is large rocks. But a nice clam dinner will be worth the effort.
It is important to be aware of the fishing laws in the area where you chose to clam. There is usually a certain size that a clam must be in order to keep, and you can usually only keep so many. It is also important to be aware of the tides, because it is easier to clam when there is shallower water.
Clamming can also be an activity that yields a higher level of gratification. If the fish aren't biting, or a member of your family doesn't have the patience for more traditional fishing, clamming may be an entertaining substitute. Likewise both of these activities can be performed at the same time.
Now you know how the clams get from the ocean to your dinner table.
Labels: clamming, clams
by: FishFreakOnline
We found another fantastic blog out there for all the fly fishing fanatics: A Matter Of Life And Fullchucking. It sounds a little funny, but this blog that’s all the way over in Scotland is full of great ideas for the fly fisherman (and woman).
Our favorite feature is without a doubt the Tuesday Tie Off, where each week they compete to see who can create the best fly with the materials on hand. Sometimes themed, sometimes free form, their flies are always awesome. Their step by step instructions on building the flies are helpful for everyone at home that might want to try it themselves as well!
Whether you’re in the U.S. or the UK, we highly recommend : A Matter Of Life And Fullchucking! Great job guys!
by: FishFreakOnline
Monday, February 15, 2010
Ice fishing is our favorite winter pastime and if you’re looking to hit the ice, you won’t want to miss out on some of these tips regarding fishing new water and actually finding some catches beneath all of that ice.
1. First off, if you’re fishing new waters, don’t just get out on the ice and set up a house. Make sure you find some active fish using a flasher or a camera. Drill a few holes and use your flasher for a minute or two to see if fish are there or not, then, look to set up your shack.
2. Try spilling water or washer fluid on the ice and placing your transducer in the puddle. Your flasher will display the depth of the water without you even having to drill a hole. This can save you quite a bit of time when you’re fishing at a new place.
3. Make sure you get a map of your new location so that you know where the best places are to look. Also, keep in mind any new rules or regulations that you may be subject to.
4. If you’re driving a great distance to get to a new spot, make sure you check the weather reports and ice forecasts before you leave so you don’t end up making the trip only to find that the ice has been deemed unsafe. Look on the location’s website or call the local agency in charge of supervising those waters.
Labels: ice fishing, ice fishing tips
by: FishFreakOnline
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
What’s not to love about a blog named
Troutrageous? We can’t think of anything!
We came across this fun blog from Southern Pennsylvania that focuses mainly on trout fishing, with a sprinkling of other fishing posts and random musings about life. With all the snow they’ve had up north as of late, it sounds like he’s itching to get back out and start fishing again! We can’t wait to see photos of his next catch! We’re definitely adding Troutrageous to our required reading list.
by: FishFreakOnline
Monday, February 8, 2010
When you’re going ice fishing, don’t just think you can grab a rod and go. You need to have the right equipment to be able to handle the environment, as well as the fish you’re trying to catch. Luckily, to help you do that, FishFreakOnline.com has this tip that was shared by an experienced ice fisherman.
One of the best things an ice fisherman can utilize is a spring bobber, which will allow for you to properly jig your lure so that you can actually catch something on your next ice fishing outing. To pick the right kind of spring bobber, you have to know the two types: pen spring bobbers and flat spring bobbers. Pen spring bobbers are ideal for small, lightweight lures and can help indicate a lighter bite. Flat spring bobbers on the other hand work best for heavier lures and aren’t as sensitive as pen springs to lighter bites. Depending on where and what you’re fishing for, you’ll want to choose a spring bobber that’s best suited to your lure, as well as your needs.
Labels: bobbers, ice fishing, spring bobbers
by: FishFreakOnline
Friday, February 5, 2010
A lot of fishermen like to cast their line into a saltwater bay or river inlet. This allows them to fish for saltwater fish, without the rough ocean waters. This can be a pleasant family trip as well because you can combine elements of going to the beach with elements of fishing.
A family trip however means that kids will want participate. You really want to fish, so you decide to let your youngster fish too. But we know that a lot of kids will get disinterested in fishing and do not understand the important of patience. When the fish don't bite, the children get antsy.
Here is a suggestion that you can try so that your children can keep fishing and stay interested at the same time. Try some old school crabbing.
Most crabbing occurs with large metal crab pots. You place the bait inside, drop the pot in the water, and come back a few hours later. But before there were crab pots, crabs were caught in a different way.
Fishermen would get a very big hook and tie it to the end of a thick string or rope. Then they would attach the bait, usually chicken, to the hook and lower the bait into the water. Every so often, they would slowly pull the string to the surface. If you pull slow enough, the crabs who were eating the bait will swim with the chicken to the surface and you can catch them with a net. If you pull too fast however, the crabs will swim away.
This is an activity that kids can try that will keep them engaged. They can constantly check the rope for any crabs, which is much more entertaining than watching a bobber.
Just make sure that you watch the kids when they go to actually net the crab because they do pinch. Also, be very sure to research the crab harvesting laws in the are where you are fishing. They are very strict about the size, gender, and number of crabs you can catch on a given day.
Labels: crab fishing, crabbing
by: FishFreakOnline
Monday, February 1, 2010
We were recently introduced to the wonderful blog Proven Patterns, and we wanted to share it with all of our readers. If you’re interested in fly fishing and fly tying, you’re going to love this blog!
Proven Patterns is a blog dedicated to the art and science behind tying flies. With step by step instructions and extensive photo galleries, you can learn just about everything you need to know to master this craft. They’ve even got tutorials on how to create your own at home binder for safe storage of all your flies! He’s even got his daughter in on the action these days!
Go check out Proven Patterns when you can, and tell them Fish Freak sent you!
by: FishFreakOnline
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