Bass Fishing Tips - Is There a Best Bait For Bass?

Have you ever wondered if there is a "best bait" when it comes to bass fishing? In this article I'm going to list some of the more popular and effective baits used for bass fishing. These baits all catch bass and which one is best depends largely on personal preference.

I will also provide some bass fishing tips that will help you be more effective when using these bass baits. I know, I know, bass fishing tips are much like bellybuttons. Every body seems to have one, but with any luck some of the bass fishing tips in this article will work for you.

What do you say we get down to business and list these effective bass baits?

1. Jitterbugs - One of the most popular top water bass lures of all time is the Jitterbug. The manufacturer of these wonderful top water bass baits also makes a jointed variety, which is also quite effective. The key to fishing a jitterbug, whether jointed or traditional, is to fish it very slowly in water that's as flat as possible. When retrieving these bass baits you want to hear the melodic "gurgle" that these baits emit from the lip on the front.

2. Live Bait - Live bait has always been considered a great bass fishing bait. Large shiners or shad are quite effective when fished under a float. I personally live to use slip bobbers as a float when fishing live shiners or shad for bass. Large baitfish (the size of your hand or a bit smaller) should be hooked right below the dorsal fin with a circle hook. Smaller baitfish should be hooked through the lips using a set of gang hooks. Both of these methods seem to be the best at keeping your live bait alive.

3. Synthetic Worms/Grubs - Plastic worms have long been known as a great bait for bass, but the introduction of synthetic worms and grubs has changed the game a bit. Synthetic worms such as Berkley's Gulp and Power Worms are extremely effective bass baits. This might be one of the best bass fishing tips that you get today. These bass baits have been impregnated with fish attracting scents, so ditch your soft plastics for their synthetic cousins.

4. Realistic Shad Imitations - One of a basses favorite meals is a shad, so realistic shad imitations are a very effective bass bait. The key when using shad imitations is that they are as realistic as possible. You want your lure to look as much like a real shad as possible. I realize that this sounds obvious, but it nonetheless needs to be mentioned. All too often bass anglers try to save a few bucks on their bass lures and compromise realism without realizing it. Don't skimp, especially when it comes to shad imitations.

These bass baits are among the most effective that you will find. Are they the only options? Certainly not, but one of them might just become your best bass bait and catch you a trophy.

By Trevor Kugler

Fishing Tips For Trout - Trout Fishing Tips For Any Angler

Fishing for trout isn't a difficult task, especially when you're dealing with small inexperienced fish. Trout become even easier to catch when you're dealing with stocked fish that have been planted by your fish and game department. Trout fishing becomes more enjoyable (and difficult) when you start targeting larger more experienced trout. This is especially true in river and stream scenarios.

In this article I'm going to provide some simple fishing tips for catching trout, trout fishing tips that most any angler can put into practice. They key to any fishing tip is to put it into practice. As you do this you begin to learn all of the little nuances that make any fishing tip worthwhile. Fishing for trout is no different than any other species of fish, it's just that many times your surroundings are much more solitary and beautiful when fishing for trout.

Most of these trout fishing tips were taught to me by my best friends' father, a man I always considered a trout fishing "master". This man was able to catch very large trout from heavily fished waters in Pennsylvania and these tips come directly from his trout fishing knowledge. When it comes to fishing trips for trout the tips listed below are as good as you will find.

1. Free Your Hands Of Unnatural Scents - This simple trout fishing tip actually applies to all fishing, but especially trout fishing. Trout have very sensitive noses and if a seventeen plus inch trout detects any unnatural scents it is much less apt to bite your offering. This is why making sure that your hands are free of unnatural scents (which will transfer to your bait) is so important. If you want tp catch more and bigger trout, rub your hands in a handful of dirt before baiting up to remove any unnatural scents that might be present.
2. Use Light Line - Many trout fishermen (especially beginners) use fishing line that's entirely too heavy. I personally use four pound test for all of my trout fishing. Six pound test is serviceable as well, but any line heavier than this is probably overkill in most trout fishing scenarios. The bottom line when it comes to fishing for trout is this; the lighter your line the more bites your will get, it's as simple as that.
3. Use Effective Hooks - When it comes to trout fishing your hooks are extremely important, both their sharpness and their size. First off your always want to use hooks that are as sharp as possible. This means changing your hooks often or sharpening them often. Many fish are "missed" because of dull hooks. Secondly, many trout fishermen use hooks that are entirely too large. A good remedy to hooks that are too large is a set of gang-hooks. Gang hooks are simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem, which enables a much more natural bait presentation.

These simple fishing tips for trout are highly effective. I realize how simple they are, but their simplicity, I think, is what makes them so effective. Many times it's the simplest things in life that make the biggest difference.

By Trevor Kugler

Fly Fishing Reels - 10 Tips For Choosing the Right One

If you're a keen angler, you'll know the importance of having the right sort of fishing reel. If you're new to fishing, you might not really know exactly what to look for, and why.

Here are 10 tips to help you choose the right fly fishing reels.

1. Fishing reels are a fundamental part of fishing, and arguably as important as the rod itself. Getting the reel wrong could mean that you don't catch as many fish, or that you don't enjoy fishing as much.

2. If you fish for trout, then you might be one of the anglers that strip the line manually, rather than using the handle. If you do, you'll want to make sure that you can do this with your new reel. If you don't already, perhaps you will do once you get your new reel.

3. Those who fish for salmon will often use the handle of their fishing reel, so if you've fished for trout before and are now fishing for salmon, you might find the action of the reel different to what you're used to.

4. If you're fishing for fish for both salmon and trout, then perhaps you'll come to the conclusion that you need two rods and reels. This will mean that you don't have to change the reels when you're fishing for the other sort of fish.

5. A lightweight reel is favoured by a lot of anglers. However, some anglers don't like the fishing reel to be too light as it can often lose the balance of the rod, and make it harder to use. You'll need to check for yourself and make sure it's comfortable for you.

6. If you get a new reel, will you also need new lines to go with it, or will you choose a fishing reel that fits the lines you've already got?

7. By marking the weight of the line on the reel, you'll always know which reel to use in all circumstances. Perhaps you might only have a couple of reels, but once you start to take your fishing more seriously, and need different rods and reels, you'll be glad to be able to pick up what you need quickly.

8. A fishing reel bag will help to keep your reels in proper working order, and mean that they don't require as much maintenance as they'll be properly looked after. Storing them in a dedicated bag will also make sure that they don't get damaged whilst in your fishing bag.

9. You might already have a brand or model of fishing reel in mind, based on your previous experience, a review, or a friend's recommendation. You shouldn't discount other brands or models as they might be more suitable for your needs and budget.

10. If you're serious about fishing, and most anglers are, then the cost of the reel should not be as important as it's function and durability. You won't want to keep having to buy new fishing reels, nor will you want to spend a fortune on the wrong reels.

Now you know more about fishing reels, and how to choose the right one, isn't it time that you made sure that your fishing tackle is up to the job?

By M James