Fishing Gear – Weather Instruments for Fishing

Conditions on the water can change in the time it takes you to bait your hook. One minute the seas are calm, the next a 40 mph wind is blowing buckets of rain into your face. Fish are affected by the surface weather, too. Many feed off insects that land on the water. Changes in temperature, rainfall and other weather factors influence their behavior.

The best way to stay safe and optimize your odds for a good catch is to carry good weather gear with you. That's as true standing on the shore as it is cruising on a boat. You need to know when to take shelter and it helps to know why the fish aren't biting.

Good weather instruments will provide a big assist is solving those problems.

There are a variety of tools the smart fisherman can take advantage of, including an anemometer. These hand-held units measure current wind speed and direction, maximum wind gusts and calculate an average for you. All those pieces of information are useful and it helps to have a unit that can store the values so you can cycle through them.

A barometric gauge measures air pressure. At home, that's usually no more than an interesting factoid. TV weathermen rarely even bother to report it anymore. But on the water that little piece of information can be a lifesaver. As pressure drops worsening weather is often not far behind. Air pressure is closely associated with changes in temperature, the chances of rain in the near future and other vital facts. Having a way to measure the current air pressure and the trend can be very useful for safe fishing.

The temperature, of course, interests everybody. It affects how we dress, where we'll steer the boat and the odds of that big trout you've been chasing coming out to play or not. It also affects the odds of rain in the offing and other weather phenomenon. An accurate gauge that tells both the cabin and outdoor temperatures is even more useful on the water than at home.

Weather instruments today often integrate all these features. There are units that will provide digital readouts for indoor and outdoor temperature, display air speed, direction, and pressure and even measure the amount of rainfall received over a period of time. They can include sunrise and sunset times, phases of the moon and storm alerts, too.

But the models used at home typically won't stand up to conditions encountered outdoors and on the open water. Specially designed units are required that are waterproof, corrosion resistant and provide sensors that are nearly indestructible. It's one thing to hang an outdoor temperature radio-transmitter on a covered front porch. It's quite another to stick it on an antenna on a boat that will do over 30 knots in heavy waves in a storm.

Equip your pockets and/or your boat with good weather instruments and you'll optimize your fishing experience. Don't be caught in the rain without them.

Fishing Gear – The Anatomy of a Fish Hook

A fish hook seems like a simple thing. A sharp point, a curve and an eye to attach to fishing line. But there's much more than meets the eye (or finger, ouch!) to the average fishing hook.

Every hook does have those basics. The point is usually supplemented by a barb, to prevent the hooked fish from slipping right back off. That section is called the bite or front length. The curve is called the bend. Po-tay-to, po-tah-to; it's the same thing. That bend straightens into the shank which contains an opening at the end, called the eye.

The distance measured between the shank and point is called the gap (or, sometimes, the gape). The distance measured the other way, from the tip to the farthest point of the bend is called the bite or throat.

So, why should a fisherman care? Because all these different attributes come in a hundred variations of size and style, and each (and the whole) has an effect on fishing. In short, you'll want to choose the right kind of hook for the type of fishing you do.

The point, for example, can be one of many options. A needlepoint looks just like its namesake. The sides of the point are rounded and smoothly tapered. The rolled-in style point reduces the pressure needed to set the hook. They set deeply, so the fish doesn't get off easily. Hollow points are great for soft-mouthed crappie that need to be handled with care, for example.

The shank can vary from short to regular to long. These terms aren't exact but most companies have adopted a standard convention. Sizes range anywhere from 32 (the smallest) to 1 (larger), then start over with numbers running from 1/0, 2/0... up to 18/0, 19/0, 20/0. The shank size isn't the only aspect here, but it's a key one.

Not surprisingly, smaller hooks are generally recommended for smaller fish and larger hooks for larger species. The more aggressive fish that tends to swallow live bait deeply is also easier to manage with a long-shanked hook. Larger hooks are also easier to bait and remove fish from without getting poked.

The difference between eyes is mostly a matter of convenience, but that's often no small matter. Tying onto a hook with wet, slimy hands can be tricky. Anything that makes it easier is a good thing.

Ringed eyes are the most common, since it then becomes easy to tie a standard knot, slip it on the partly open eye, and tighten down. That slightly open ring is sometimes extended into a loop, so that the eye looks like a two-lane road with a circular driveway at the end. Closed ends, called needle eyes, are sometimes used for saltwater fishing of larger species.

The overall shape can take on hundreds more variations, especially when two or three hooks share a single shank (called doubles or trebles). Aberdeen, circle hooks, jig hooks and a thousand more demonstrate the endless ingenuity of fishermen in pursuit of that great catch.

Fishing Gear – Tackle Boxes For Every Purpose

The amount of small gear a fisherman has to carry could tax a Roman legionnaire. Hundreds of lures, hooks of twelve types and line of six different weights all pose a challenge to focusing on the main activity. Tame that problem by investing in a tackle box that's just right for you.

If you go fly fishing you'll want something that protects all those unique and practical works of art you made or bought. Special compartments are a must but not hard to find. They protect the flies from crushing, which keeps them looking good and fully functional.

But flies aren't the only lures that need a good place to rest until they're called upon for sea duty. Imagine that treble hook on a jig that you plan to use just sliding around the tackle box. Not good for the points, not good for your fingers. Well-organized trays that are removable and interchangeable can keep all your lures available when and where you want them.

Those trays need to be designed to keep gear from rattling around in the boat. Sometimes fishing needs to be a quiet affair, since sound vibrations have frightened away more than one alert surface feeder. That secure fit has another advantage. It keeps gear separated the way you arranged it. You don't want to reach for your favorite Aberdeen to find it's gotten mixed in with a Cam-action you mean to try out later.

As you accumulate more tackle, you'll want more room to store it, of course. A tackle box that keeps more gear in a smaller space is always appreciated. Special designs allow for dozens of compartments neatly arranged in half a dozen trays. With carefully crafted locks and swivels they make getting at just the gear you want a breeze.

When it comes to good tackle boxes, sturdy is the name of the game.

That criterion is often satisfied by the use of high-impact plastic composites. Gone are the days when a tackle box was made from the same tin or plastic used for kid's lunch pails. Good riddance, too. Today's tackle boxes will stand up to anything you can put them through. Integrated, easy swivel handles are practically indestructible these days. Some even have small locking mechanisms to keep them from flipping up at just the wrong moment.

They come in a variety of styles to suit every taste and application. Many look like small tool boxes. Several contemporary designs are made to resemble slim satchels so they can be stored in places the more traditional shapes can not. Some provide tool-box style drawers that eliminate the need to open the box to get just that one piece of gear you want. That reduces the odds of spills in an unsteady boat.

Take your time and look through a lot of tackle boxes before you choose the one that's just right for you. A good one will last for years of fishing.

Fishing Gear – Sonar Units Sound Off

Before you can have much of a chance of landing fish you have to find them. Fishermen have developed a whole range of techniques to do that, some of which amount virtually to voodoo. But a little science can be a big help, even to the most artistic of fishermen. Sonar units are one great way to even the odds.

The basic principle of sonar is simplicity itself: send out a series of sound wave pulses. The waves bounce off objects in the water and echo back, somewhat like a shout in a canyon. But, naturally, the details are more complicated.

At first blush it might seem that they find too much. How do you distinguish a fish from a rock 50 feet under the water? You don't have to, the sonar unit does it for you. With specially tuned electronics and color coding a good sonar unit makes it a snap to distinguish different objects. Sound waves bounce off fish differently than they do off rocks.

Sonar units can locate a variety of things under the water, though, not just fish. Underwater sandbars and jetties, rocks and other obstructions can interfere with or damage your boat. They can be spotted easily, too. That makes navigation a snap, which can be especially important near the shore or along many rivers.

A good sonar unit will readily penetrate deep waters and create sharp images. A depth of 125 feet/38 meters should be nothing for even a modest-cost unit. Some will penetrate as deep as 900 feet/275 meters and still send back highly useful information. That's a big plus for fishing those really deep inland lakes or for deep-sea saltwater fishing.

Contemporary designs have come a long way from their ancestors of WWII. Many now sport 256 colors, screens several inches across and an amazing level of detail. Some models will allow three simultaneous views - side, front and back. For navigating through tricky waters that's a big plus. It also helps avoid losing track of the fish as you wind your way through a passageway full of underwater features.

Keep in mind that sonar units are most valuable when the boat is moving. That means the scenery underneath is changing and the unit has to be able to keep up. Fast refresh is a must. At the same time, the images can't get mushy or the detail will be lost. A good sonar unit will solve those problems handily.

Many have extra features that make the units that much more valuable.

Some have integrated GPS, a great addition for those in unfamiliar territory, out on open waters, or who just want to be able to find the exact spot they succeeded in last summer. With that feature often comes the ability to download maps of a specific area. That provides even more information about the conditions in a particular place. Some units make it possible to upload or print the sonar maps they create. That can be useful for those who want to study the underwater environment a little more at leisure.

Check out the latest sonar units and give your angling art a little boost from science.

Fishing Gear – Portable Generators for Fishing Trips

You can do just as your ancestors did and go fishing with nothing more than a thorn tied to a piece of plant fiber attached to a bamboo pole. But you'll do a lot better if you let modern technology help you get everything you can out of the experience. But that requires electricity and it's a little hard to find extension cords long enough to stretch to the middle of the lake or across a forest to the rivers' edge.

Portable generators to the rescue!

Whether you like to ice fish, cast at the water's edge or head out to sea for a full day of marlin hunting a portable generator can supply you with all the juice you need. They can power portable stoves, lighting, a small electric heater and more. A portable generator that provides over 2,000 watts can even power a microwave oven or a toaster oven.

You may want to take your laptop out on the boat. You may have to receive an email about a great spot to try, get a weather report from an Internet site or just let your spouse know you won't be home for three days because the fish are jumping. But laptop batteries have a way of dying just when you need them. You can plug into a portable generator just as easily as you would the wall outlet at home.

There are two basic categories: fuel or battery.

Fuel generators use either gasoline or diesel (sometimes, though rarely, propane) and tend to come in larger sizes, both physically and in terms of power output. They range anywhere from a few hundred watts to 5,000 watts. You can power everything in the average home with about 4 kilowatts or 4,000 watts, but essential items typically take no more than about 1.4 kw. Sometimes the requirements on a boat are a little higher, though, than powering just the basics at home during an outage.

Battery-style generators don't usually go by that name. They're more often just called power supplies or battery backup units or UPS systems. They're similar to the one you may use on your computer at home in case the power drops temporarily, only they provide more power for longer periods.

But apart from the name they serve the same purpose: to supply electricity. They do so by stringing together a set of (usually lead-acid) batteries in series. Some units supply as much as a gasoline or diesel generator, but they tend to be fairly expensive and heavy. But one that will recharge weather instrument batteries, power a laptop or even supply a small stove are available for a few hundred dollars.

Though they may provide more power, fuel generators are much noisier than a battery system. The engine noise they produce may or may not be significant on a boat, but in a forest at the edge of a lake they can be very disruptive. They also produce noxious fumes that require good ventilation for safety.

Batteries, though, can add up to considerable weight pretty quickly as you add more to the total system. On a boat that can be a significant factor. Onshore it may be even more so, since you have to cart the unit at least to the back of a pickup truck in order to have it with you on the trip.

Whichever type of generator you prefer to take on your fishing trip, the same basic criteria apply. They should be easy to use, indestructible and supply the amount of power you want for years and years.

Fishing Gear – Kayaks and Canoes For The Fisherman

Sometimes standing near the shore or wading into the stream is all you need to do to enjoy a full day of fishing. But it can be a big help to get out into the middle of the lake or down the river. You'll find a greater variety of fish and enjoy the scenery more when you have options.

Canoes have been used for fishing for thousands of years. While the basic design of an ancient canoe would be recognizable today, the materials and details of modern ones are completely up to date.

The first thing you'll notice about any contemporary canoe is that the basic shell is now made of material that is practically indestructible. With modern composites it's possible to make a housing that will stand up well to rocks, underwater logs and anything else you'll encounter on the water.

At the same time they've been made stronger, they are considerably more comfortable than their ancestors. Even those built only fifty years ago couldn't compete with the materials used today. Sure, fishing is an outdoor sport. But that doesn't mean you have to be sore after sitting in a canoe for several hours. With plush modern foam seats and hardy covers they'll provide a relaxing seat that keep its shape and wears forever.

Kayaks today offer many of the same attributes. They come in two styles: sit in and sit on. The latter is the more traditional, which allows a rider to actually sit on top of the vessel and paddle along. The other is closer to a canoe, but more angled at each end and narrower.

Whichever style you prefer, you'll need to get over some assumptions about the type of fishing you can do in a kayak. Kayaks tend to be narrower, shorter and lighter weight than a canoe. As a result, they may often travel faster through certain watery terrain. While they are often smaller than canoes, they can still do heavy duty. Fishermen on the Kona coast of Hawaii often bring in monster-sized 50 lb fish while angling from a kayak.

Both canoes and kayaks offer advantages that even a great boat just can't match. Because of their smaller size and lighter weight they can easily be ported to areas that boats just can't go. Some are small enough to be carried by a single person. But even the larger ones are no great burden for a pair of anglers to hold overhead on their way to that favorite fishing spot.

Sizes range anywhere from six feet for a single fisherman to over 20 to hold six with no danger. But even the longer ones are often no more than 150 pounds, making them a breeze to carry. That's the result of using ultra-light materials that still stand up to all kinds of weather and terrain.

If you'd like to extend your range, enjoy a leisurely cruise in outstanding scenery, or just need a vessel that you can use where a boat won't go, a canoe or kayak is just the ticket.