PROVEN
FISHING TIPS TO HELP YOU CATCH MORE FISH.
THREE of the biggest mistakes that people make is too large of a hook,
line, and sinker. YOU WILL ALWAYS DO BETTER WITH THE SMALLEST LINE,
HOOK, AND SINKER YOU THINK YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH. The world line class
record for Brown Trout is 40 pounds 4 ounces with 4 pound test line
and a number 8 hook. There's even a fellow that caught a Marlin on
4 pound test line. Trout fishing should always be done with 8 pound
test main line or less and never larger than a number 6 hook. I favor
4 pound test fluorocarbon leader, because it's invisible in the water
and a number 10 hook hidden inside a threaded on worm. For Steelhead
trout up to 18 pounds, go with 8 to 12 pound mainline and fluorocarbon
8 or 10 pound leader with a number 6 or 8 hook. For summer run Steelhead
scale down to 4 pound fluro leader and a number 10 hook if regulations
allow.
NOW HERE I MUST TELL YOU AGAIN TO READ AND KNOW YOUR REGULATIONS.
(AVAILABLE FREE AT ANY PLACE THAT SELLS TACKLE. Or go on-line and
look up fishing regulations for your state. Often a good place to
start is : www. your State initials, followed by .org or .gov ) Hook
size and type (sometimes barbless) are being regulated in some areas
and rivers to lessen the mortality rate of escaping or released fish.
Don't ever trust someone else to tell you the regulations! Lots of
people don't stay up to date, and the fines levied on tickets given
are pretty severe. Average fine for regulation infractions on the
west coast is $350. That would definitely sour a novice angler.
1 The most important fishing tip I can give you is that your hook
cannot be sharp enough. Even the modern super sharp hooks produced
by Gamikatsu, Mustad, VMC, and Eagle Claw, can stand a touch up with
a diamond hone before first use. If the point of the hook attaches
to your finger tip skin at the slightest touch, then you are ready
to start fishing. The fish actually hook themselves. After a few casts
check it again. The tip can bump a rock and you can't see any damage,
but you will miss getting a good hook set on the fish. Use an EZE-LAP
diamond hone to put a super sticky point on any hook. The preferred
method of sharpening hooks is as follows: With the hook pointing away
from you, sharpen in a triangular shape. Starting on the sides and
finishing on the top.
2 Check your equipment before you go. Check the rod guides with a
Q-tip or cotton ball to see if there are any burrs or nicks inside
them that might chafe or nick the line, and check to make sure they
are solid. Check the reel for proper operation and clean and oil if
necessary. Never ever put oil in the drag system, you will loose all
drag function. Check the line for nicks or abrasions and cut off any
suspect line. Put on new line if it is necessary. (Sometimes you need
all the line to fight a big fish.) Don't start out with a partial
spool of line. Clean the edge of the spool to allow for smooth casts.
Tighten reel to rod mounts. Check tackle supplies. Don't be caught
without some small but important item. ie: swivels.
3 Fish smell. Not to you, they smell you. This is a hot fishing tip.
Humans and other predators emitt a substance called L Serine. This
substance is detected by fish in parts per billion. That means a few
parts of L Serine in a billion parts of water turns them off. Tests
of anglers that placed high in tournaments, found that they had little
or none on their hands. Some men are loaded with it. But just like
Testosterone, (advantage)it is not present in women and children.
SOOOO-- wash your hands with something that will remove any unusual
scent. You can buy special soaps and cleaners that will do it, OR
you can do what a lot of realy successful anglers do. WASH YOUR HANDS
WITH REGULAR TOOTHPASTE !Rinse until the slick feeling is gone, and
you have just improved your odds by about 50%. I have a tube of Pepsident
in my boat, but any plain toothpaste will do. The small travel size
tubes will fit in vest or tacklebox easily, and comes in handy to
wash off slime, bait, greese, gas, etc.
4 Colors matter to fish. Depending on the color of water or light
conditions where you are fishing, you need to be aware of what colors
to use. In very colored water or low light conditions (early morning
or early evening), the colors to use are flouresent chartruse or flouresent
orange. With stained water or clouds (medium light conditions), use
orange, bright red, gold, copper, or something with a little black
in it.
