Boat Fishing tips and tricks

by Steve Dolan Boat Fishing

If you're keen to find a fun family activity, then give boat fishing a try. There's nothing better than heading off on your boat with the wife and kids, talking about the fish you plan to catch that day. It's important to realize, though, that there are lots of different types of boat fishing, and each one has specialized boat requirements.

You can do everything from dangle some bait on a string over the side of a canoe, right through to high-tech rods and a powerful cabin cruiser. It just needs to be seaworthy - the rest is up to you! But if you're keen to buy a boat, you need to do some homework first. It can be very confusing walking into a boat show or dealership and seeing so many choices. You need to think about what you're planning to do with the boat before you can decide which one to buy. Here are some popular boat fishing choices.

Freshwater Boats
If you enjoy fishing in freshwater lakes, rivers or streams, then you don't need a massive boat. Instead, choose an aluminum or fiberglass boat. Make sure it's easy to transport and lightweight. Popular choices include bow riders, runabouts or walley boats, with either a small or dual console. These boats are fine for family freshwater boat fishing outings.

Offshore Saltwater Boats
Fishing out on the open sea is the most common thing people think of when you mention boat fishing. Most people enjoy fishing offshore because they get the chance to catch huge fish and use heavy tackle. It's important to have a dependable, heavy boat for this type of fishing. You'll encounter plenty of different weather and situations on the open sea, so you need to be able to rely on your boat. You can choose twin or single outboard motors, and you definitely need a cuddy cabin or a center console. If you want to spend a bit more, you can start to look at the more luxurious boats, including a bluewater or convertible with luxury quarters, and maybe even an elegant living area. Bigger boats generally have powerful inboard diesel engines as standard.

Inshore Saltwater Boats
If your tastes run to tarpin, snook, trout, bonefish or redfish, then you will want a boat suitable for inshore saltwater fishing. It's best to have a light boat that is smaller than a 25-footer. All you need is a single outboard motor. You're likely to be in shallow water at least some of the time, so something like a flat or baby boat works well. These have a spacious deck you can use for casting, and are still float well in shallow water.

Bass Boats
This type of boat is generally suitable for tournament and sport fishing. They're colorful, fast, and ride low in the water. It's preferable if the bass boat has a trolling motor mounted on the bow. Generally they have a platform at both the bow and stern ends, which makes casting much easier. You can choose from aluminum or fiberglass.

Float Tubes
These don't really qualify as boats, but fly anglers find them very handy for fishing in mountain streams, ponds and lakes. A float tube is simply a flotation device containing a seat. The angler is partially submerged when seated in the float tube, and uses fins on his feet to navigate around on the water. They're tricky to handle, and fly-casting requires lots of practice. You can choose between round float tubes, which are similar to an inner tube, and pontoon float tubes, which have an air chamber either side of the fisherman. The pontoons are slightly eiasier to maneuver, as their v-shaped design reduces the amount of water resistance.

It's always a good idea to speak to experienced anglers who either have their own boat or use one regularly. They can give you lots of help in deciding which type of boat is right for you. Read magazines, guides, and talk to your local boat charter service. Fishermen generally love to talk about boats, and you can learn a lot to help you select the perfect fishing boat for your needs.

Steve Dolan is an experienced and keen fisherman, who enjoys the outdoors almost as much as catching the fish! Click on Boat Fishing and Boat Fishing Trips to find more articles and information

Tips for Choosing a Location for a Boat Fishing Vacation

By Gabriel J. Adams

If you have the shirt or the bumper sticker that says “I’d rather be fishing!”, then you have probably taken a fishing vacation recently. I have been on many fishing vacations that just did not turn out as I had planned.

Sometimes the vacation did not turn out well because of the lodging, sometimes it was the lack of fish, sometimes it was the amount of people at the location, and sometimes it turned out badly because there was a lack of facilities for my boat. For whatever reason your fishing vacation turns out badly, you are always very disappointed, because it might be a while until you can get away again. Here are some tips for choosing a location for a fishing vacation.

1. Check out the lodging available at your fishing vacation spot. Depending on the trip that you are trying to take, you might want anything from a campground by the lake, or a hotel by the ocean. Whatever type lodging you are looking for, make sure the type of lodging you require is available at the location you choose.

2. Choose a fishing location which produces many fish. No one wants to go on a fishing vacation and not catch any fish. We have all heard of great locations where the fish practically jump into the boat. However, many of these stories are just that, stories. The best tip is to do a little research on your fishing location to see when the fishing is the best. Some locations have good fishing during the spring and some are better during the fall. Make sure that your trip coincides with the best time for catching fish.

3. Choose a location that does not allow water sports. Trust me, this one is a must. You do not want to be battling jet skis, power boats, and wake boarders on your fishing vacation. It is already hard enough to catch some fish when everything is quiet, but it is almost impossible if the water is constantly being stirred up, and the location is very noisy.

4. Make sure your vacation spot has proper boat facilities. If you plan on taking your boat on your fishing vacation, make sure that the location has a marina to leave your boat when you are not fishing. Also make sure that your fishing location has a boat launch, so that you can actually get your boat off the trailer and into the water.

Go fishing in thailand for your next fishing vacation - you won't be sorry!

Boat Fishing tips and tricks

by Steve Dolan

If you're keen to find a fun family activity, then give boat fishing a try. There's nothing better than heading off on your boat with the wife and kids, talking about the fish you plan to catch that day.

It's important to realize, though, that there are lots of different types of boat fishing, and each one has specialized boat requirements. You can do everything from dangle some bait on a string over the side of a canoe, right through to high-tech rods and a powerful cabin cruiser. It just needs to be seaworthy - the rest is up to you! But if you're keen to buy a boat, you need to do some homework first. It can be very confusing walking into a boat show or dealership and seeing so many choices. You need to think about what you're planning to do with the boat before you can decide which one to buy. Here are some popular boat fishing choices.

Freshwater Boats

If you enjoy fishing in freshwater lakes, rivers or streams, then you don't need a massive boat. Instead, choose an aluminum or fiberglass boat. Make sure it's easy to transport and lightweight. Popular choices include bow riders, runabouts or walley boats, with either a small or dual console. These boats are fine for family freshwater boat fishing outings.

Offshore Saltwater Boats

Fishing out on the open sea is the most common thing people think of when you mention boat fishing. Most people enjoy fishing offshore because they get the chance to catch huge fish and use heavy tackle. It's important to have a dependable, heavy boat for this type of fishing. You'll encounter plenty of different weather and situations on the open sea, so you need to be able to rely on your boat. You can choose twin or single outboard motors, and you definitely need a cuddy cabin or a center console. If you want to spend a bit more, you can start to look at the more luxurious boats, including a bluewater or convertible with luxury quarters, and maybe even an elegant living area. Bigger boats generally have powerful inboard diesel engines as standard.

Inshore Saltwater Boats

If your tastes run to tarpin, snook, trout, bonefish or redfish, then you will want a boat suitable for inshore saltwater fishing. It's best to have a light boat that is smaller than a 25-footer. All you need is a single outboard motor. You're likely to be in shallow water at least some of the time, so something like a flat or baby boat works well. These have a spacious deck you can use for casting, and are still float well in shallow water.

Bass Boats

This type of boat is generally suitable for tournament and sport fishing. They're colorful, fast, and ride low in the water. It's preferable if the bass boat has a trolling motor mounted on the bow. Generally they have a platform at both the bow and stern ends, which makes casting much easier. You can choose from aluminum or fiberglass.

Float Tubes

These don't really qualify as boats, but fly anglers find them very handy for fishing in mountain streams, ponds and lakes. A float tube is simply a flotation device containing a seat. The angler is partially submerged when seated in the float tube, and uses fins on his feet to navigate around on the water. They're tricky to handle, and fly-casting requires lots of practice. You can choose between round float tubes, which are similar to an inner tube, and pontoon float tubes, which have an air chamber either side of the fisherman. The pontoons are slightly eiasier to maneuver, as their v-shaped design reduces the amount of water resistance.

It's always a good idea to speak to experienced anglers who either have their own boat or use one regularly. They can give you lots of help in deciding which type of boat is right for you. Read magazines, guides, and talk to your local boat charter service. Fishermen generally love to talk about boats, and you can learn a lot to help you select the perfect fishing boat for your needs.

Steve Dolan is an experienced and keen fisherman, who enjoys the outdoors almost as much as catching the fish! Click on Boat Fishing and Boat Fishing Trips to find more articles and information

Night Boat Fishing Preparation

By Frank Faldo

I have to admit this subject bores me to tears. Amazingly, the simple fact is that every time I interviewed a fisherman about night fishing tips he mentioned preparation at the top of the list.

As boring as the topic can be, make it a habit to go through this section as a checklist before embarking an a night fishing excursion. I am guilty of forgetting some essentials from time to time – make sure you don’t! Early morning, evening, and night fishing can be extremely fulfilling (in terms of the FUN you have and the amount of big fish you CATCH). It all depends on how prepared you are for the trip. Here are some tips to make sure that you have an amazing experience, and catch a ton of big fish.

Equipment Checks & Stuff You Must Consider Go through each tackle box you are going to take and locate every item you need, making sure everything is in the proper place. It is important to be even more organized than normal because with night fishing you must rely on your sense of touch and sound to find what you are looking for. The more organized your gear and tackle is, the easier it is for you to find what you need. It is so frustrating to not be able to find your pliers, hooks, extra line, etc. in the dark! You must have visual knowledge of where these things are!

Make sure to bring several light sources on your trip. Have some extra flashlights and a good high candle power beam. Don’t forget to bring extra batteries! Pre-tie enough leaders and rigs to last the entire trip. This will save you tons of time, and you’ll be glad you took this extra step of preparation! If you don’t have a first aid kit, get one! If you have one, double check it! You are more prone to injury at night, and be prepared to handle little cuts and bruises – especially if you are on a boat! L.E.D. headlamps are very effective. If at all possible, have one on hand. The headlight helps with unhooking (and much more) – they are convenient than a handheld light. There are some L.E.D. headlights that put out great light, and the batteries last a long time.

Also, tying on lures can almost be impossible in total darkness without the help of a headlamp that keeps both hands free. The less time an angler spends changing lures and retying in the dark, the more time the angler will spend fishing. Because fish caught tend to be bigger at night it would pay to step up a line class. This puts you more in control of the fight and will save time in getting the fish to the boat.

Boat Preparation (if you fish off of a boat, be prepared to be prepared!) Night fishing from a boat can be very productive and safe if you have the right equipment, you are organized, stick to a set plan, and are confident about the area you intend to fish. If you are going out on a boat, make sure it is in good working order! This goes without saying, but it is so important I will say it anyway You don’t want to get stuck out there at night. Really, you should always check your boat no matter what time you go out fishing. However, you want to be especially sure to double, triple, and quadruple check everything if you are going on an evening trip! Know the layout on the boat; it is important to avoid accidents. In your artificial lighting your reaction time to problems and unmanned rods bending is going to be at least double. Take some time to place your gear appropriately, and take note of where everything is before the sun goes down.

Everything takes twice as long at night as it is. Bow and stern lights are required and essential equipment on your boat and they must be lit when visibility is reduced. Striking unseen objects at night is the most often reported nighttime accident and unlit boats lead as those unseen objects. The temptation to venture forth without proper lighting is not only illegal, but also extremely foolish.

A proper and fully functional warning device (horn) becomes a vital piece of equipment in the darkness. It can be used to warn approaching craft as to your presence and also can be used to draw attention in the event of problems arising. Although not required unless off shore, visual distress signals (flares) should be on board. An approved type fire extinguisher that is currently dated should be onboard and in a convenient and ready location. During a fire is no time to find out that the extinguisher will not function because it is out of date. A paddle is required (for smallish boats), not optional equipment, and again should be in a convenient and accessible location. An anchoring device with adequate line in both size and length for your boat. Deployment of the anchor should occur at the first sign of trouble to keep your boat in its present safe location. Too often then anchor is the last thing thought of and boats end up drifting into dangerous situations. Some sort of bailing device should be on board. Pumps are useless when the battery goes dead.

A radio with weather band capability is not only recommended for day operation but is an essential piece of equipment at night. Those clouds that look harmless that you see floating over can be hiding a serious storm. The whole world could know about it but if you have no means of hearing the warnings you can be caught by nature’s worst. Navigation tools, which are helpful in the daylight, become absolutely essential for safety at night. Obviously your best choice for nighttime operation would be a GPS. However, a compass would be a considerable assistant in the dark. Not only is everything different out there at night, but also things such as fog can move in with no apparent warning and without a means of determining direction you are dead in the water.

Personal floatation devices (properly fitted) for each person on board are at the top of the list and should be worn by everyone when fishing at night. Finding someone that has fallen overboard in the daytime is generally easy, but in the dark can be quite difficult. A throw able flotation device is also required equipment and should be in a convenient location.

Make sure that your boat batteries have a full charge before leaving home. In most states your boat lights have to remain on throughout the night. Running a black light, electric trolling motor, fish finders, and other gadgets can take a toll on the battery through the course of a night trip. It may be wise to carry an extra battery aboard just in case.

Insect repellent is a must. You should never leave the boat ramp without a good bottle for those trips when the bugs are biting more than the bass. Make sure you are anchored securely and not drifting. This is critical if you are fishing close to headlands or structure where there is turbulent water. When you are settled, get a radio check and try all lights on board before it gets dark, so if there is a problem, it can be fixed before nightfall. First aid kit, basic tools, manuals etc. are all recommended.

Check The Weather As obvious as this one is, too many people forget to do a simple check of the forecast. Try to pick a night where the weather forecast is good. It is tough enough to move around in the dark as it is. Bad weather makes it even harder. This can really “make or break” your fishing trip.

Copyright 2005 EveningSecretFishing.com Fishing Frank Faldo is a Long-Time Fisherman and friend of EveningSecretFishing (http://www.eveningsecretfishing.com/specialsecret/Night_Fishing_Preparation.php Feel free to use this article on your website or anywhere else - but all links and bio information must remain in tact.

A boat fishing day to remember

Guessing that you've never had the joy of fishing with grandkids yet...

Their little heads look at the horizon, then each other, then back to where their lines are in the water. Toward the sun, then 180 degrees off. Tip up, then down to the water. Non-stop action :)

Absolutely fantastic for candid shots... an example the grand kids sitting in the boat fishing, wearing hats with wide brims somewhat shading their faces. Lots of background water, little ripples reflecting incredibly bright wave tops.
Obvious that I'll gladly beam out the white waves in favor of the kids faces. Equally obvious that it's virtually impossible to set it up beforehand without getting everyone's attention and causing them to "pose"

3 Useful Boat Fishing Tips

By Tony Newton

Here are 3 useful tips you can use when starting fishing:

1) Using Bait Correctly Using lead/lead free weights. Many people use bank sinkers with a number 2 hook. To avoid sinkers to slide, you would use a swivel that acts as a stop. To protect the knot, you should use plastic beads between the swivel and weight. Using two appropriate swivels could allow you to rig the sliding sinkers. Worms are a very popular bait for fishing. Remember to buy only fresh bait and keeping it cold avoids them from getting soft and allowing the bait to stay within your hooks.

2) How to fish This really depends on what type of fishing you are doing. Fly fishing, course fishing, boat fishing all have different tactics. It is often best to get tips from fellow fishermen doing the same type of fishing. Most fishermen will gladly give you some fishing tips.

3) Fishing from a boat – Deeper water needs heavier jigheads compared when fishing on shore. A good technique of fishing on boats is trolling slowly with a fishing device called bottom-walker. Fishing is easy as long as you’re enjoying the trip. Bring some of your family and friends along and make your first time fishing a memorable one! Most of all enjoy your fishing trip!

Download your free fishing tips guide now. Lots of great tips and techniques to improve your fishing. http://www.secretfishingtips.com/freeguide.html

Safety In Boat Fishing

By Elizabeth Hesson

Fishing is a relaxing sport to enjoy with your family and friends on a relaxing "get-away-from-it-all" weekend. Of course, it is more desirable to do it safely and be aware of safety rules for everyone's benefit.

It is important to start off a young angler with appropriate fishing gear for their age and size. Most young fishermen find it comfortable to use a 5' or 5 ½' light action fishing rod with a spin-cast reel. A 4 or 6 pound test strength line will work well with a small or medium sized bobber. Dad, Mom or Grandparents should stay close by to supervise and help when needed. It has been our experience that they really enjoy "doing it themselves", until they get tangled up in a line that went the wrong way!

Here are some tips for the young and the more experienced anglers to remember. Be careful how you carry and cast your fishing pole. Sometimes one forgets the pole is longer than you think and can easily strike someone in the face or elsewhere! Be sure you have plenty of open space around you so you can cast safely.

Be sure to throw any tangled or unused fishing line in the trash. Loose line can be dangerous for the water fowl or other wild animals.

Set a good example for the children and DON'T use your mouth to tie a knot around a sinker or to place a split shot on fishing line. You might accidentally swallow it-and ruin your fishing trip!
Be careful with those sharp fishing hooks-handle with extreme care! They are sharp, dangerous and could cause serious injury. You really don't want to wind up in the local emergency room to have a hook removed from your hand! Been there, done that...and don't want to do that again!!
Take care with fillet and pocket knives as they can be more dangerous than hooks. Keep them out of reach around young children (and some adults!)

Other equipment to consider, especially if you are fishing from a boat is a personal flotation device (life jacket). Do not fish in rivers or streams when they become flooded. Shore fisherman should also wear life jackets in case they should accidentally fall in.

Sunscreen is a must to protect your skin from harmful UV rays. Wear protective clothing and limit exposure to direct sunlight. Also wear sunglasses to protect your eyes.

Use insect repellant to reduce problems with bugs and insects. Carry a first-aid kit well stocked with items for cuts and other medical needs.

After all of this, remember to have some fun fishing along with remembering all of these safety rules!! We want to remind everyone that you can have fun and be safe at the same time!
Check out our website http://www.franksfishinghole.com for your fishing equipement and supplies. Safe and happy fishing to all!