Owner: The Ultimate Fishing Blog URL:http://ultimatefishingblog.blogspot.com/ Join Date: Tue, 22 Jan 2008 22:34:54 -0600 Rating:0 Site Description: The ultimate fishing blog is dedicated to all things fishing including: fishing tips, fishing knots and rigs, fishing tackle reviews and tests, fishing videos and photos and much more... Site statistics:Click here
Angler fish facts 2008-03-07 22:27:28 I first saw an angler fish in the Iron Chef "angler fish battle" or was it Finding Nemo - I can't remember now, but it is one weird looking fish. However, angler fish are one of those weird creatures that seem to capture everyones imagination. It's weird looking, a little scary and apparently the liver is the only part worth eating (according to the Japanese anyway).Angler fish facts
The angler fish is so named because of its strange method of catching prey. They dangle and wiggle a filament attached to their head (see the angler fish pictures below) to look like prey and attract small fish. When these fish get close enough the angler fish swallows them whole. Their jaws are actually controlled by an automatic reflex when their is contact with their tentacle.Angler fish are deep sea fish by
How do fish finders work 2008-03-06 18:18:13 If you are a regular reader of my blog you will have noticed I have been answering some of the questions I get asked via email the last few weeks and this post is no different. I must get asked about this at least once a week so I thought it was time to tackle the subject of how fish finders work.How do fish finders workA fishfinder (also called a depth finder or sounder) is made up of two parts that work together seamlessly. The receiving unit processes the signal and interprets the data which it displays on an LCD screen. The sending unit, called the transducer, sends the sonar signal to the bottom and when it receives the signal back it sends this signal to the computer for interpretation and display.The underwater partA fish finder sends an acoustic pulse directly downwards to the seab
Where do sharks live 2008-03-05 20:56:49 Sharks hold a certain fascination for many people and I have been pleasantly surprised by the amount of people visiting my shark posts so far. I have been watching some of the shark week on the discovery channel lately and I thought I would share some of what I have learned.Where do sharks live?Contrary to popular belief sharks are only found in 30% of the world oceans making 70% shark free. However, most coastal areas will be home to at least one species of shark. Research shows that sharks cannot live in water deeper than 1500 meters and this makes them susceptible to overfishing.Great White Sharks are found in almost all coastal waters with temperatures from 12 and 24° C. There are large concentrations in Australia, South Africa and California.Tiger sharks can be found close to the coa
Fishing advice 2008-03-05 01:29:41 This question comes up a lot in my conversations with fellow anglers - where is the best place to get fishing advice? There are many places where fishing advice abounds including fishing forums, local fishing media, tackle shops, fishing clubs, other anglers and even pubs. However, not all of this advice is useful and it always paysBefore asking for any local advice remember to respect the locals and they will respect you. Buying someone a beer and listening to them for a while is more likely to get results than talking up your angling prowess endlessly.I personally use a combination of all methods for finding fishing advice. I read everything I can in the local media including current fishing reports. I always ask at my local tackle shop for a bit of current advice (spending a few dollars Read more:Fishing
Fishing Lure Earrings 2008-03-03 19:43:20 Fishing lure earrings are exactly what you would imagine them to be, either lures that have been turned into earrings or specially made for the purpose. They are certainly a fashion statement and while not everyone can pull them off they can certainly work for some people.My wife has a pair and wears them when we go fishing or as a talking point at various events. She even caught me looking at her ear one day when I had forgotten my spare lure box, but quickly shut me down with a "don't even think about it."I am not really sure where you can get them from (if you know please leave a comment). I think my wife got them from our local jeweler, but we do live in a fishing crazy town. I saw a set of spinnerbait earrings on ebay the other day, which were so cool and this was the catalyst for thi Read more:Earrings
, Fishing
Ice Fishing Knots 2008-03-02 19:07:24 Like all forms of fishing ice fishing requires strong knots that can handle the tough conditions they will be put through. Choosing the correct knots for ice fishing depends on the line you are using. Contrary to popular belief you do not need a special type of line for this form of fishing either monofilament or braided fishing line will work well with a monofilament or fluorocarbon leader to withstand any abrasion.Ice fishing knotsLine to leaderThere are many good knots for this situation and the knots listed below work equally well with monofilament or braid. Just remember to add some extra turns if using braid.Albright knotThis knot works well joining lines of very different diameters. You can find instructions (and a video) for this knot at my earlier post - how to tie an albright kno Read more:Fishing
, Ice Fishing
, Knots
Bass video lessons 2008-03-02 03:12:20 Bass are probably one of, if not the, iconic freshwater sportsfish in the world. I have had heaps of requests for bass lessons or tips. These requests keep pouring in so I had to do something about it. Unfortunately I am not from the US and I have never caught and American bass. Luckily though there is plenty of information on the web and I was able to piece together this little informative post (with video
s).These bass video lessons are presented by Doug Hannon one of the most famous bass fishermen who just so happens to be called the bass professor.Video 1 - Big Bass TipIn this video Doug Hannon talks about the secret to catching big bass, that really isn't a secret at all. What he says can easily be related to your fishing.Video 2 - Big Bass love structureIn this video Doug talks about
Carp fishing videos 2008-02-29 20:24:04 There has been lots of interest in the few carp stories I have posted on this site so far and this post is another for all you carp lovers out there. I have tried to find the best 3 carp fishing videos
I could find that are not only great to watch, but might help new anglers learn a little something too.Video 1The first video is more instructional in nature, but also shows some great close quarters carp fishing action. It is presented by semi famous fisherman Matt Hayes who I have always enjoyed watching. In this video he is fishing less than 3 yards from his rod tip and looks to be an exhilarating form of fishing.Video 2The second video is fly fishing for carp and has been very well done for an armature video.Video 3This video shows the most popular technique for carping by placing your r
Fishing Knots: Albright Knot 2008-02-28 23:31:01 When I was writing my fly fishing knot tying post the other day it dawned on me that I have never posted the famous albright knot on this blog in 123 posts, which is a pretty big oversight really.The albright knotThis knot is used to attach two lines of different diameters together. Often used in fly fishing for attaching the thin backing line to thicker fly line. In recent times it is being used successfully to attach modern braided lines to monofilament or fluorocarbon. It provides a very strong connection and is relatively easy to tie with practice.Instructions1. Loop the heavier line. Pass the lighter line around the formed loop. 2. Make approximately 10 wraps with the lighter line wrapping from left to right. Hold these wraps in place. On the 10th wrap, come around and then through th Read more:Fishing
, Knots
Fly fishing England 2008-02-27 19:48:53 There is no doubt that England
has some great fly fishing opportunities. The lakes and rivers are some of the most pristine environments you can imagine and are often specially manicured for fishing access.Target speciesThere are two main fly fishing targets in England, trout and grayling, but there are many other available fly fishing targets that are less popular. There are some traditional non fly targets too that are waiting for someone to catch on a fly.Fishing techniquesMany fishing locations in England consist of small streams and lakes and while these are idyllic locations they can be a little bit tricky to fish. Remember that on small streams you wont need to make very long casts and you may need to use a shorter back cast on very narrow rivers. Another important factor to conside
Fly fishing knot tying 2008-02-26 18:38:35 Knots for fly fishingWhen tying knots for fly fishing you will find that it requires approximately 5 knots. First you need to attach the backing line to the reel, then the backing line to the fly line, the fly line to the leader and the leader to the tippet. The final knot is used to attach the fly to the tippet.Backing line to reel - Arbor knotMost fly anglers use the arbor knot for this application as it is easy to tie and strong enough for this application.An instructional video of this knot can be found at my earlier post how to tie an arbor knot.Backing line to fly line - Albright KnotThis knot is often used to attach two lines of different diameters and is perfect for attaching fly line to the backing material.1. Loop the heavier line. Pass the lighter line around the formed loop. 2.
Canned tuna recipes 2008-02-25 20:51:26 After my post yesterday I thought I would add some tuna recipes to my blog and if you use the light canned tuna like the post suggests you will most likely not have any problems. Remember that fish is still part of a balanced diet.I have tried to gather some of the easier recipes. These recipes are great for unexpected guests or a quick meal. I am no chef, but even I can make these!Tuna BallsINGREDIENTS 1 (6 ounce) can tuna, drained and flaked1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened3/4 cup chopped pecans1/4 cup chopped onionDIRECTIONS In a medium bowl, blend tuna, cream cheese, 1/2 the pecans and onion. Shape into a ball or loaf. coat with remaining pecans. Refrigerate until Read more:Canned
Tuna fish and mercury 2008-02-24 20:43:08 In recent times there has been some controversy about fish and mercury and the often confusing news reports do not help to clear up matters. Currently there are warnings that have been released for the bigger predatory pelagic fish that seem to have a mercury accumulation problem. This happens because these bigger fish eat many smaller fish with trace amounts of mercury and the mercury level accumulates in the bigger fish. The fish that carry some level of risk include (but are not limited to):SharkSwordfish King MackerelTilefishSome tunas (bigeye, ahi, yellowfin and canned albacore) other tunas are safe in moderate amounts.MarlinOrange RoughyIt is important to remember that all fish contains levels of mercury and fish consumption (particularly when pregnant should be monitored). Low level
Fishing tips - Fishing with floats 2008-02-24 02:27:11 Fishing with floats is a great form of visual fishing and is a very popular method for teaching children to fish. It is as simple as telling them to keep their eye on the float. However, float fishing is not only for beginning fisher people, it remains a very effective way of fishing for certain species. Many species are actually much easier to target with a float and it is important to consider this when targeting surface feeding fish.I have found a really great article about float fishing that is worth reading if you want some float fishing tips and instead of reinventing the wheel I thought I would post the link. It explains the types of floats, how they work, how to set up your float and a few other useful float fishing tips. You can Read the article here.Alternatively you can always w Read more:Fishing
Kayak and great white shark 2008-02-22 20:33:29 If you are a regular reader of my blog you will probably remember the sharks love post, which even though is a hoax is still an impressive story! In that powerpoint/video there is one of the most famous pictures running around the Internet - The man in his kayak and the great white shark behind him. If you haven't seen it here is the picture I am talking about:Is the great white and kayak picture a photoshop fake?This is the proper definition photo (not the compressed image going around via email which looks fake) and it looks genuine enough so lets look at the facts.This photo is indeed genuine and was taken from the magazine National Geographic. It was part of an article by Michael C. Scholl and Thomas P. Peschak who were studying sharks without the use of engine noise. This is what the
Fly fishing rod weights 2008-02-21 19:11:21 Fly fishing rod weights - General guide1 - 3 weightsmall fliesshort casts4 weightsmall to medium troutsmall to medium fliesshort to medium casts5 - 6 weightexcellent all around trout rod.Handles small to larger fliesshort to longer casts7 - 8 weightlong casts and windy conditions.7 weight is a great compromise sized rod for trout and light saltwater9 - 14 weightlarge freshwater fishsalt water fishinglarge flieslong casts in open areas.Choosing a fly fishing rodChoosing a fly rod to match your required fishing situation/s can be difficult at times, but there are some questions you can answer to make the decision easier.What type of fly fishing will you be doing?No one is going to argue with me when I tell them that a trout doesn't quite match the fight of a marlin or even a tuna. Before pur
Carp night fishing 2008-02-20 20:04:28 Carp fishing at night can be a cold and miserable time if you don't make the necessary precautions, but night carp fishing can also be a rewarding time with some thumping fish available for the dedicated angler.There are two ways to fish at night for carp:1. Stay awake and use audible and visual bite indication.Visual bite indication can be as simple as a glow stick attached to the tip of your rod or you can purchase specially made illuminated floats.2. Sleep and rely on audible bite detection to wake you up.For this method you need bite alarms. These come in a variety of form with increasing prices, but they all do a similar job - alerting you to a hookup!Staying warmThis is the biggest problem with night fishing anywhere (I was cold when I went night fishing the first time and that was i
Lures for Walleye 2008-02-19 21:01:46 Also known as walleyed pike, yellow pike or pickerel, the Walleye is a popular freshwater fish that is a native of Canada and the northern US states. The Walleye has been a popular target for artificial breeding and stocking into waters where they are not naturally found.Walleye feed extensively at dawn and dusk and on cloudy and overcast days. In silty or muddy water the Walleye will happily feed all throughout the day.The peak fishing seasons for Walleye are in spring and fall, but they are also caught through the ice in winter on spoons and jigs.Choosing lures for WalleyeSpinners - cast or trolledMinnow imitating plugs - cast or trolledJigs, bucktails or plastics, are walleye angling favorites.Also consider these:Maribou Jigs Mister Twisters Crawler Harnesses Read more:Lures
Catfish Noodling Video 2008-02-18 20:47:25 I first saw catfish noodling on the television show Dirty Jobs with Mike Rowe. Of course I have heard of it before, but I thought it was some kind of myth or legend. I had that idea because in Australia our catfish have poisonous barbs and can even kill you so I was a little skeptical at first. However, after seeing catfish noodling first hand it certainly looks interesting. So I just had to find a catfish noodling video or two to show my readers!You start out by finding a catfish hole and then you place your hand in the catfish hole and wait for the catfish to latch onto your hand. Then you must get a really good grip and pull it out of the hole sometimes with the help of a "spotter." Big catfish can weight in at 50-60 pounds and apparently it is common for the noodler to receive cuts if
How to tie a spinnerbait - Fishing tips 2008-02-17 21:24:51 I thought I would tackle (pardon the pun) this topic as there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of information about which knots to use when rigging a spinnerbait. I personally prefer using a palomar knot, which I posted recently. I always recommend that you use a leader when rigging a spinnerbait and either monofilament or fluorocarbon will be adequate for the task.1. Double about 10 cm of line, and pass it through the eye of the spinnerbait.2. Tie a simple Overhand Knot in the doubled line letting the spinnerbait hang loose.3. Pull the end of loop down, passing it over the entire spinnerbait.4. Lubricate and pull both ends of the line to tighten the knot.Photos from www.secretweaponlures.com Read more:Fishing
Cold Water Bass Fishing Guide 2008-02-16 23:05:36 I was going to try my hand at writing a cold water bass fishing article, but I had three real problems:I have never caught (or fished for) an American bass.I don't like the cold.There are hundreds of available cold water bass fishing articles around!So instead of reinventing the wheel I thought I would present a couple of links to the best cold water bass fishing article I could find to help any bass fishermen out.Article 1 - Cold water bass luresIf you've had trouble scoring strikes when the water temp drops below 50 degrees, study these tips from fishing's top pros and guides to heat up your next bass outing...Read this fishing article hereArticle 2 - Cold water bass fishingIs cabin fever getting the best of you? If so, why not go bass fishing this winter? Let’s see what top competitor Read more:Bass Fishing
, Fishing
, Guide
Massive Goliath Grouper Video 2008-02-16 04:59:56 The Goliath
grouper, formerly Jewfish until an official name change in 2001, is a large growing reef dwelling species and as you will see is one of the hardest pulling fish you can hook into! Although they are reputedly very good eating the Goliath grouper is totally protected from harvest and is recognized as a critically endangered species by the World Conservation Union1. Like most grouper's the Goliath grouper is slow growing and is essential to the health of the underwater reef systems so protection is necessary.This is one amazing video of one of the biggest groupers I have ever seen. It was estimated at 500 pounds! This is a great video that is a must watch (it does contain some self promotion, but nothing over the top.)1. Wikipedia
Fishing Etiquette 2008-02-14 18:47:11 I had a really great question from one of my readers recently about cast netting etiquette that got me thinking (again) about fishing etiquette. Where I come from it is very impolite to fish within 50 meters or so (without asking) of another boat. Last trip the old man and I were fishing a small (read very small) wreck with our anchor over one side we were sitting just off the middle. Another boat came along and was sounding around trying to work out what we were on - they got so close that they almost ran over our anchor line. However, this was not the worst, when they realised we were on a wreck (and they wanted to be there too) they anchored over our anchor line and finished up within spitting distance of our boat - rude! Lucky I am a calm person - lets face it most people go fishing to Read more:Etiquette
, Fishing
Tackle Test: Fins Braid Review (Product Review) 2008-02-13 20:30:32 If you are a regular reader to my blog you will remember that I had my fishing rods stolen recently and this also meant that I had to replace all my fishing line. I must admit to being a braid addict - I love the stuff - but I have only ever used Berkley Fireline. Being a bit of a creature of habit isn't always a good thing so I decided to try a new braid this time around.Fins Braid ReviewKnots and line strengthMy initial impressions of this line were that it was much more limp and smooth than fireline. This makes Fins braid is easy to tie and it knots very easily and smoothly. Like most braids the actual breaking strain is much higher than the manufacturers breaking strain, but even when this is taken into consideration the knot strength is very impressive. Knots are generally the weakest
Fishing Knots: Palomar Knot (video) 2008-02-12 19:10:38 When I was trying to tie this knot the first time I was so confused as it can be called two different things, but the knots are exactly the same.The palomar knot is a high strength fishing knot that is suggested for use with braided fishing line. However in a recent fishing magazine tests this knot proved far from adequate when tied with braid failing at anywhere between 40-70% if the stated breaking strain. However this knot is still very effective when tied with monofilament and is quick and easy to tie. This knot is also useful when tying a drop shot rig with soft plastics. Read more:Fishing
, Knots
, video
How to cast a fly rod (with video) 2008-03-12 23:03:18 Fly fishing is a rewarding way of fishing and even though I am not much good at it I still enjoy my time spent with fly rod in hand. Learning to cast a fly rod is probably one of the hardest learning curves in fishing and I certainly had (or should that be have) my fair share of difficulties. Fortunately these days learning to cast a fly rod is made easier with the Internet and I am going to share the resources that have helped me.How to cast a fly rodThe Overhand cast (back cast) The overhand cast is the basic fly fishing cast. It is used to pick your fly line up off the water and reposition your fly on a different target.The Roll CastThe roll cast is useful when obstacles behind an angler prevent a normal backcast. This instructional video
shows the roll cast:Fly fishing casting guides a
How to fish swimbaits 2008-03-12 08:54:32 Fishing for bass, and other species, with swimbaits is becoming increasingly popular. Fishing with large swimbaits has become one of the most popular methods of catching very big aggressive bass especially during the spawning season.Choosing a swimbaitSwimbaits vary greatly is sizes, colors and design. You can find tiny shad, crappie, and bluegill imitations to huge 12" trout swimbaits that will run very deep. Just like the fly fishing saying it is best to "match the hatch" and choose a swimbait that resembles what the bass are feeding on at the time. For really big bass during spawning try a large trout swimbait.When to fish swimbaits?Simbaits can be fish all throughout the year with some success, but they seem to be very popular between January and May in the pre and post spawn.How to fi
How to attach a boat anchor (with video) 2008-03-12 01:49:21 Surprisingly, even to me, I have written about attach
ing a boat anchor
to the boat before. However, I get many requests each week for a post about this and it is about time I addressed this topic.Attaching the anchor rope to the boatThe most important consideration when attaching your anchor to the boat is to make sure that you are using a secure and strong knot. I have heard countless stories of people attaching their anchor with a single overhand knot (or granny knot as we call them), or even worse not attaching it at all, and throwing it overboard. These stories usually end with someone diving after the anchor rope and finally in tears!The anchor bend knot is my choice for attaching the anchor to the boat. It is a strong and very secure knot, but is surprisingly easy to tie. This knot c Read more:video
Fly Tying Instructions - Wooly Bugger (video) 2008-03-11 00:08:54 The wooly bugger (also spelled woolly) is one of the most well known and versatile fly patterns available. It can be tied in a variety of colors, hook sizes and patterns to suit your fishing scenario. They can be tied to imitate a variety of different fish food forms including baitfish, crustaceans, insect nymphs salamanders and leeches. It is most often tied in green, red, olive, gray, grizzly, brown, black, yellow, white, and purple. This fly can be fished near the surface, or with the addition of weight it is often fished deep.The wooly bugger is deadly on trout and salmon, but can be used successfully on a variety of species including bass. It is a big fish fly and consistently rates as one of the most popular flies. The Wooly bugger is a versitile fly and can be cast upstream like a n Read more:Instructions
, Tying
, video
Fish finders for kayaks 2008-03-09 21:33:19 Fishing from kayaks is becoming quite a popular pastime. Even where I live I have seen people in ocean going kayaks going out to the close inshore reefs. That might not seem like such a big thing, but I live in an area famous for big crocodile attacks. Anyway onto todays topic...Fish finders for kayaksFish finders for kayaks are really not much different than fish finders for boats. The main difference being that space is a premium and you will probably want a slimmer receiving and sending unit. Any portable fish finder will work as well as any streamlined boat model. However, make sure the model you purchase is usable with a portable re-chargeable battery.Choosing a fish finder for your kayakSelect a model with as many pixels as possible for better definition. Spending a few extra dollars
Recommend Site To A Friend
