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Fishing Tips

Flathead Catfish Fishing Secrets Of Bring Up The Big Guys

When seeking out various types of fish, it’s good to have some general knowledge about not only that particular species’ preferred habitat but also about its habits, food preferences, and lifestyle in general.


While it’s not common for humans to think about animals and fish having a “lifestyle”, the idea is quite important to determining the best tactics to use in hunting or fishing for a species. This is definitely true of certain types of catfish, especially flathead catfish. Fishing for catfish is a popular sport throughout the United States, but tactics for catching different types of catfish vary greatly.


For example, most catfish are considered to be opportunistic feeders. This means that they are literally scavengers, seeking out the easiest meals they can find. They’ll eat other hunters’ “leftovers” – pieces of dead fish and other bits and bobbles – to avoid having to hunt down food. They’ll survive off insects and invertebrates native to their waters, and they’ll even eat plants to satisfy their hunger.


However, flatheads are different, meaning that flathead catfish fishing requires a different approach.


Flatheads, which may also be referred to as mud cats, shovelhead cats, johnnie cats, yellow cats, Mississippi cats, and Opelousa cats, are not simply scavengers. While they would not turn down an opportunistic meal, they are predators and prefer to hunt down live fish.


They are also one of the largest breeds of catfish around, growing regularly to sizes of three or four feet in length and weighing up to 100 pounds. Therefore, unlike many smaller species of catfish, you’ll need heftier equipment and specialized bait to attract these monsters.


Flathead catfish fishing requires live bait. In fact, the live bait you use should be sizeable in order to attract the flatheads because they do not appreciate a small meal. While you can use invertebrates, like worms, you will have to stuff your hook with several night crawlers to increase your chances of drawing in a flathead.


More useful bait would consist of large minnows or small shad and carp, as these are typically included in their diet anyway. If you choose not to use live bait to attract a flathead catfish, fishing with stink bait is probably the only way to attract your catch. This works on occasion because catfish find food mostly based on smell rather than sight, and large chicken livers or other rotting stink bait foods will permeate the water and drawn in your prey.

Dan Eggertsen is a fishing researcher and enthusiast who is commited to providing the best catfish fishing information possible. Get more information on flathead catfish fishing here: http://www.askcatfishfishing.com

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Carp Fishing Equipment

Fly Fishing – With The Right Equipment And Technique It Is The Most Enjoyable Sport

Fly fishing is a water sport and a very different fishing technique used to catch big game fish. The sport of fishing is also known as ‘angling’. Salmon and trout are the popular fish that are sought by anglers of fly fishing. In recent times other species of fish such as Bass, carp and pike have been added to the list of game fish that fly fishermen seek the world over. Fly fishing is believed to have originated in Macedonia in the 2nd century and has now become a popular sport among the European and American fishing community.

Fly fishermen have developed many different lures to attract the game they seek. They have also developed ways to cast and reel in the lure to hook the game that more often than not gets fooled into biting. Some of the lures that are popular among fly fishermen include:

1. Emerges and dry flies, these include stone flies and midgets.
2. Nymphs such as Mayflies and worms.
3. Streamers wet flies such as buggers and leeches.
4. Saltwater flies such as marlin and sail fish
5. Bass and Panfish flies examples are crawfish and eels

It is important to have the proper gear for fly fishing. The most important gear is the fly fishing rod. This piece of equipment may vary from 6 feet in length to 12 feet. The fly rod must match the weight of the fly line. A mismatched fly rod with the wrong weight line will result in improper casting and will ruin the whole exercise. The length of the rod itself is determined by the type of fish the angler is going after the bigger the fish the larger the rod and heavier the line.

The babboo split cane is a popular fly fishing rod. This rod is made by splitting the bamboo into four lengths and gluing it together again over a solid core. Freshwater trout fishing is a fly fishing sport that demands this kind of bamboo rod for success. Synthetic fly fishing rods are making their presence known; however, the die-hard fly angler will stick to the traditional bamboo fly rod and tackle.

The line of the bamboo rod is usually made out of horse’s hair. This line needs to be regularly dried or it will rot. The silk line used for fly fishing has the same requirement. However, these days the synthetic nylon line is the best suited for fly fishing as the line is stronger and lighter than the traditional fly fishing line.

Abhishek is an avid Fly Fishing enthusiast and he has got some great Fly Fishing Secrets up his sleeve! Download his FREE 93 Pages Ebook, “How To Become A Fly Fishing Pro” from his website http://www.Fishing-Masters.com/95/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.

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Fishing Tips

Fishing Tackle ? the Basis of

Fishing is the most popular sport in the world and can be a very fun, relaxing venture. In order to gain the full experience, the correct fishing tackle must be used. Fishing tackle, is essentially all the accessories one uses, when fishing. Fishing tackle ranges from the fishing rod, the line, weights, bait and even to the little stool you sit on. Each of the different fishing tackles co-ordinately works alongside one other, in order for the fisherman to fish. This article will give a brief overview of the main types of fishing tackle that you will come across.

The “fishing rod” is the fundamental attribute to fishing tackle and is used to catch fish. The fishing pole attaches the fishing reel and wire, which ultimately reels in the fish; if you’re lucky enough to catch one, that is. Fishing rods vary by size and are made from many different materials such as fibreglass and carbon fibre. This type of fishing tackle is influenced a great deal by the environment of the fishing carried out. For deep sea fishing, where on average larger, stronger fish swim; one must use a longer, thicker rod with a very thick, weighted line. The hook must also be very large and sharp enough to penetrate the fish’s mouth.

The “hook” and the “fishing line” are major elements found in fishing tackle. They are greatly influenced by the type of fishing carried out. Bigger hooks and thicker, weighted lines are used in saltwater, sea fishing, where swordfish and sharks are caught for example. Whereas, on the other hand, smaller hooks with thinner, lighter lines are used in freshwaters to catch fish such as carp and bass. However, this is merely an overview; obviously there are circumstances where you would need thick and weighted lines and bigger hooks to catch large freshwater fish. This therefore shows that fishing is a very unpredictable and exciting sport where the right fishing tackle is constantly needed in order to catch the right type of fish you are fishing.

Significantly different fishing tackle is used when fishing in freshwater or saltwater, in regards to the bait used. Fishing tackle can either be live, dead of artificial. For freshwater fishing, grubs and the garden worms usually work best. Whilst for saltwater fishing, sea worms, crabs and mullets are used. In my experience of fishing live bait always works best. The vibrations of a squirming tackle at the end of your hook will attract a lot more fish than a dead, or artificial bait would. In my personal view adding live bait to your fishing tackle adds a whole new element in fishing. In nature the small get eaten by the big. In our case the small will get eaten by the bigger fish, but ultimately we would catch the bigger fish, metaphorically making us the bigger fish to the once, big fish.

From this overview of fishing tackle it is possible to understand what fishing tackle is and the importants of having different tackle when it comes to carrying out different types of fishing, whether it is freshwater of saltwater.

Find out more about Fishing Tackle

Fishing Tips

Fishing Holiday Destinations Around The World

Fishing has grown into an extremely popular sport around the world. It has to be one of the most relaxing and satisfying sporting holidays to go on. There can be very few things more satisfying than taking a relaxing fishing holiday break in a peaceful location staying in a holiday home and participating in the sport that you love.


Scotland has some of the best salmon fishing in the world and a top fishing holiday destination. Many Americans come on vacation to Scotland to catch a Scottish salmon. During the day they fish in beautiful surroundings and at night many stay in a holiday cottage of farmhouse. That way the fishermen can get a taste of the local culture and cuisine, with many taking their caught fish back to their holiday cottage and cooking it themselves.


Trout fishing is popular in England with fishermen trying their hand at fishing a local river and staying in a rental cottage. Sea fishing has also become extremely popular in the U.K and many people now take their holidays down in Devon to go sea fishing. While fishing in Devon many fishermen bring their families with them and rent a holiday home to stay in during their vacation.


France has always been a popular tourist destination for its beautiful beaches, countryside and food. It is now also a favourite destination for fishermen going on weekend break fishing trips. Carp fishing is a popular French fishing holiday and some fishermen now go fishing to France on long weekend breaks. They find it a whole different world from the hustle and bustle of their normal everyday lives and find that it makes a relaxing holiday.


Many fishermen stay in local holiday homes and gites that are available to rent direct from their owners. When staying in these gites, they use them as a base to explore the rest of the countryside in the location that they are staying. There is nothing better than catching a fish in France and eating it with local crispy baguettes and locally produced French wine.


Europe provides many different types of fishing holiday and whether it be fly fishing, sea fishing or course fishing you are able to find a fishing holiday to suite your requirements and budgets. The beauty about staying in a holiday cottage or holiday home when on a fishing holiday is that you can pay as much or little money as you wish to secure your accommodation.


The more experienced fisherman looks for a different kind of fishing holiday. A popular location for catching catfish, char and trout is the French Rhone-Alps region and it is considered the kingdom of lake fishing, with slow, quiet water as well as rushing torrents.


The Ebro is the longest river in Spain and runs from the Atlantic coast in the north, to Spain’s Mediterranean coast, 130 km south of Barcelona. Many fishermen come here for the legendary fishing. They stay in holiday cottages and farmhouses and many combine the fishing with trips to the beach or cultural touring.


Iceland is also an extremely popular destination for fishing holidays. For those fishermen with a bigger budget for their fishing holidays, they may go on a fishing and safari holiday in South Africa staying in one of the holiday lodges. Others prefer to go to Yellowstone National Park in the USA gives and combine fishing with white water rafting. The truly adventurous fisherman may go fishing in the remote wilderness of Australia’s Northern Territory might appeal.

Andrew Gibson is MD of Direct Holiday Bookings. It is one of the fastest growing on line holiday home rentals websites. To see an example of why Direct Holiday Bookings is growing so rapidly have a look at Fishing holiday accommodation