I have been fishing Grassy Lake in New Brunswick for many years and have always enjoy fly fishing here over my spinning gear. There have been many days that it just tends to get too windy to enjoy so we either switch to spinners or we move to a different place that’s more protected from the wind.

My favourite and most productive artificial fly is the Woolly Bugger. It resembles a leech and works like magic if you know how to fish it. It took me to the point of giving up on the Woolly Bugger before I found that pattern that worked.

I was getting pretty frustrated with the Woolly Bugger and finally just decided to try something else and started stripping it in a lot faster than I was fishing it and BAM I hooked and landed a nice little brookie. So I thought I would give it another try.

The same thing happened, nothing, nothing, I finally gave up and started stripping in really fast to change the fly and BAM another brookie. I maybe slow but I eventually catch on.

I cast my Woolly Bugger out toward some lily pads and immediately started stripping back to the canoe and that was it. The Woolly Bugger works almost every time.

So much fun.

Here are a couple of videos. The first will show you how you can tie your own Wooly Bugger and the second will show you how to fish it so you don’t have to fumble around trying to get it right on your own.

Tying The Wooly Bugger

How To Fish The Wooly Bugger

I don’t know if you would really call this ice fishing but it was opening day for trout fishing and I took a friend to a spot that I have had great luck with on opening day. But it wasn’t that spot we ended up fishing first.

As I was taking my friend through some rough hiking so I could show him a few places he could fish later in the season with his fly rod. I always bring my fly rod with me opening day. It’s just something about catching a nice brookie on the fly opening day, April 15.

Usually there is still plenty of snow and ice so I was really surprised to see the center of the pond I fish during the summer months had a huge opening in the middle. Now I wasn’t silly enough to venture onto the ice, that would have been suicide. But that didn’t stop me from putting my fly rod together along with a nice deer hair fly.

My friend just laughed at me. He was wondering how I would ever get a trout to shore if I even got a strick.

The sun was high and it felt quite warm. We didn’t even need gloves on.

My first cast was not even close to the open water. My arm needed a little more practice and then I was in the water. Well my fat little trout fly was in the water.

My buddy didn’t even bother to try, not even with his spinning rod, until I that fly hit the water and a trout nailed it. Well he nailed it but it was way too big for the little guys mouth. He was about 6 inches long.

I didn’t catch a trout at that spot but it was a lot of fun watching the little brookies jump for that fly.

I tried a few other flies but nothing. It seems they only wanted to play with a fly they couldn’t eat.

After a half hour of playing around my buddy was begging me to take him to the spot I had intended which was only about another 20 minutes of fighting through the bush. But that story is for another day.

I have a new fishing buddy I just met last year and I plan to take him to this same spot. It’s been a few years since I have been there, hope it hasn’t been over populated with humans now.

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With there being endless black bear hunting outfitters to choose from, the task of selecting the right outfitter can prove to be difficult.  Communicating with others that have had hands-on experience with an outfitter is by far the most effective way of finding the proper outfitter for you.  The second most influential way is via the Internet.

Below are some key questions you should ask any bear hunting outfitters so that you select the right outfitter to suit your ideal black bear hunting trip:

1. How many hunters / non-hunters per week?

2. Lodging / Sleeping Quarters – How many persons per room and description of accommodation?

3. What are some examples of your daily meals for the week?

4. Do they have laundry facilities?

5. What is the allowed arrival and departure times?

6. How many un-hunted active black bear hunting bait sites do you provide per hunter?  Can I be moved if desired?

7. Descriptions of their tree stand set up and bait sites?

8. Do they provide transportation to and from the bait sites?

9. What are the hunting departure and pick-up times and how long after dark is the last hunter picked up?

10. Is morning black bear hunting offered if desired?

11. Will the outfitter be on the premises all week?

12. Is the outfitter accommodation licensed?

13. How many hunters per guide and per vehicle on departure to the site?

14. If I harvest my black bear early in the week what type of recreation are available?  (ie:  fishing, other hunts, near by towns or cities, etc…)

15. What type of practice range do you offer for both bow & rifle?

16. If my weapon malfunctions, is there a local archery or rifle shop near by?

17. Once I have harvested my black bear, where will it be registered?  Who will skin and cut the meat?  Is there a freezer on site?  Is there a local taxidermist and do they provide a price list?

18. References from both successful & non-successful black bear hunters?

19. Are there any additional fees?

All of the above questions take time to be answered, but the right black bear outfitter should be glad to supply you with any or all of those answers. Once you have found an outfitter you feel happy and comfortable with, it is time to start preparing for your black bear hunting trip.

Preparing For Your Black Bear Hunting Adventure

To be fully prepared, have your outfitter send you a list of important things to take along for your weeks stay.  Here are a few examples of items that I believe have made for better hunting experiences:

* Passport and proper identification for border officials

* Bug Suit (if hunting during bug season)

* Two-way Radios

* Clothes for all weather conditions (hot, cold, rain, etc…)

* Snack food items

* Camera

* Compact foldable soft weapon cases

* Cooler & Meat Bags

* Knife & Tool Kit

* Non-scented soaps, shampoos, etc…

There is one final very important note to mention.  Have your outfitter send you a non-resident firearm declaration for you to prepare in advance.  They take about 20 minutes to fill out at home, but will save you time with custom and border officials.  Remember that all rifles will need to be removed from their respected cases, so don’t have them buried under your luggage and hunting gear.

For Black bear hunting that isn’t in your own backyard you need to know questions that you should be asking any bear hunting outfitters and you also need to be sure you bring all the things that will make your black bear hunting trip an experience to remember. Big Paw Outfitters will answer all your questions and just ask they will even send you the list of what you need. http://www.bigpawoutfitters.com/bear.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_Mann

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Fishing through the ice is a sport that can be enjoyed by everyone in the family. Unlike other Winter sports, it’s cheap to get fixed up and with just a little bit of knowledge, a Greenhorn can have an excellent chance at success their first trip onto the ice.

But what’s required to begin ice fishing? One has so many choices in fishing reels on the market now, First Timer could easily lay out hundreds of their hard earned money on ice fishing supplies and never get what they really need.

Knowing this, I sit down and made this collection of basic ice fishing tackle that a First Timer will need to start. What’s even better is that for less money than it cost for a trip to the grocery store, you should be able to nab all the fishing gear that a Beginner will need to start fishing.

Before anything else, you will need an auger meant for ice fishing to cut holes in the hard water. I recommend a 5 or 6 inch ice auger for panfish. For bigger fish like Walleye, Pike or Channel Catfish, then I recommend a 8 or 10 inch ice auger. You have two choices, power augers or the manual augers. You need to keep in mind that the manual augers are less expensive but require more effort to drill a hole. You will also need a scoop to get the ice chips out of the ice hole.

You’ll want to buy quality tip ups or ice rods. A lot of fishermen bore a lot of holes over rock piles, weed beds and other types of bottom structure and use numerous tip-ups to increase their chances of catching fish. Other fishermen prefer to ice fish with an ice fishing rod. For Beginners, I’d want a few tip ups along with a good rod so you can see which tactic catches you the most fish.

Fishing line should be designed for cold water that is associated with ice fishing. The near freezing water can make the line so stiff that it breaks easily. That’s why you’ll want to be sure and obtain line specifically designed for ice fishing. Cortland makes a product called Ice Line that is great. The line you buy for ice fishing is the most crucial part of your ice fishing supplies.

Beginners will want to get some jigs and lures designed for ice fishing. Tiny jigs are excellent for panfish like Perch, Bluegill and Crappie. Also tear drop jigs and tiny spoons will come in handy when the panfish get finicky. As for bait, panfish love mealworms and spikes while larger fish such as Walleye prefer Worms or baitfish like smelt. Be sure to talk to local fishermen to see what’s they recommend a Beginner use their first time out on the ice.

It would be wise to bring something to sit on. Many seasoned ice fishermen prefer an ordinary five gallon bucket. Some will even bring lawn chairs out on the ice, but a 5 gallon bucket will also help you haul your gear to and from the ice.

And this is all you need to to start ice fishing. Make sure you get a fishing license and read up on the regulations for the body of water you plan on going fishing at. Getting a ticket for breaking a law can put a damper on your ice fishing efforts. You’re cleared to go fishing and start drilling holes in the lake. Never forget the first rule of ice fishing, be safe and follow all the safety rules for fishing on the ice.

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Ice fishing is carried out on a frozen body of water. Lines and spears are part of the ice fishing gear together with other tools meant to break the hard surface and cut a hole for uniform access to the unfrozen depths underneath. They may sit on a stool in the open air on the ice near the opening through which they get their fish. Some fishermen have made this activity even more pleasurable as they have built cabins of wood around the opening which are heated and equipped with bunk beds so that they could also take a bit of rest.

Ice fishing is very popular especially in the cold areas on our globe. Some countries where it has become a hobby during free time are the European Northern ones like Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Norway, Russia and even Germany. The Great popularity levels are reputed by ice fishing in the North of the United States, as well as in Canada and Alaska.

Getting into more details about the fishing gear used, we may realize that it is pretty different from other types of fishing in that it has become rather specialized. A fishing line or a spear would surely prove worthless in this type of activity in the absence of a chisel or an ice saw to start things with. Keep in mind that the ice break through is the one to come first. But despite the hole the freezing process is unstoppable, therefore most fishermen also get a skimmer with them to remove that newly formed ice layer. Most people also rely on a heater not only for their sakes but also for keeping the area around the hole warm enough to avoid letting more ice be formed. This is the reason why wooden huts or cabins which retain the heat indoors are held in high esteem by ice fishing fans.

Ice fishing is based on three different methods, each with its specifically designed tools. First, you can use small-sized rods with colorful little lures or baits. Secondly, you can tip-ups that are a great means of catching fish in large quantities within a certain period of time. And last, there’s spear ice fishing for which you need a larger hole and fish decoys.

No matter for which of the three you go, things with ice fishing will never be like in the all days. It seems that today, with the help of sonars, ice fishing lovers can identify the areas where fish are located in the large body of water under the ice. Presently fishermen will make about 100 holes per day if they want a lot of game and have so much better results than those of their predecessors’ who relied on just one hole and waited for the fish to come by.

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A good fly fishing tackle shop is a wonderful thing to find close to where you live because it will come in handy when you get ready to go on a fishing trip. This tackle store will carry all of the equipment you could possibly want and some you may not have thought of. Most stores carry tackle boxes, fly rods, reels, flies, baits, lines and nets. Brand names you may find there include Daiwa, Esox, Shimaro and St. Croix. A local tackle store is a good place to try out rods and reels and be sure you like one before you purchase it.

Going on a trip arranged by the local tackle shop will help the fishing enthusiast enjoy the hobby in the company of a local expert who enjoys fly fishing as much as they do. The local will be well versed in the best times to get the best catch, the tides of the river and all of the tips and tools necessary for an enjoyable fishing trip. The local fish and their eccentricities can be handled in the company of a pro. Local knowledge can be valuable for a keen, amateur fisherman who is bent upon an excellent catch at the end of the day.

Today, internet fly fishing tackle shops or online fishing tackle portals are available. Many fishing enthusiasts find the online shops better stocked and easier to deal with than the local retail ones. Shoppers purchasing fishing tackle online enjoy the convenience of products almost always being available and seldom out of stock. Different gear for different types of fish can be researched and bought through the internet, which is a wealth of fishing knowledge at your fingertips.

In the U.S., each state has not only its own specialty fish but also its own rules and regulations for fishing. Local tackle shops are the best place to get the lowdown about the laws, regulations, seasons and limits. You can also find out if any of the local fish species are threatened or endangered. A local fly fishing tackle shop is not only a place to buy fishing supplies but also the place to “tackle” a number of fishing issues before setting out on a pleasurable fishing trip.

Fishing is a lot more than only a a simple pursuit to some people. For certain people it is a way of life. Sure, they have day-to-day jobs that provide them an income yet it is the fish that keep them coming back for more. They learn simple happiness in just sitting back and waiting for that big one to take the bait and make their day. It is how they spend their extra time and it is what makes them satisfied. Happiness can be waiting for you too when you take up that rod and reel.

For additional helpful information click here Essential Bass Fishing Guides also head on over to Bass Fishing with more helpful material at Fly Fishing For Bass

Anyone who really enjoys getting out in the fresh air to do a little bit of fishing may end up developing a taste for fly fishing. This type is quite a popular, and can involve fishing for trout or even bass. It basically depends on what type of fish you wish to catch! The great news for anyone looking to getting into fishing with a fly rod for bass is that there are several places throughout the United States that are known as hot spots. With a little bit of research, you could even find a couple of wonderful fishing areas within a decent driving distance from your home.

Largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and striped bass can be caught with a fly fishing rod. Some of them can be challenging, especially because they are a fairly aggressive fish that are large in size. As a matter of fact, many fishermen will tell you that their feisty nature is one of the main reasons why they like bass fishing in the first place. The thrill of the challenge and the reward that comes with the catch can make all of your preparations very worthwhile.

It is important to have a fly fishing rod that can hold up to the stress that an aggressive bass can put on it. Once you have the bass hooked, you will be putting enormous amounts of pressure on the rod. If it cannot handle with weight of the fish, then you could break the rod and into the water it will go. You should always do some research before you purchase a rod to be sure you are getting a good quality product. Another good idea is to go to the local tackle store and try one out. This will help you to be sure that the rod fits you and you are comfortable with it.

Once you find a fly fishing rod that is suitable for you, also ask the experts about flies and which ones are best. Some flies are meant to be used when smallmouth bass fishing. Others are used when for largemouth bass fishing. Before you leave on your fishing trip, consult the local store to make sure you have not forgotten anything.

Do you have a hobby that is fulfilling and produces its own rewards? If you don’t perhaps it is time to find a hobby that can be your solace against the manic lifestyle that so many individuals lead. You should take up fishing. It is a great way to devote a easy going Saturday morning and can give you the satisfaction of knowing that you were pitted against the forces of nature and won. Even if you do not like to consume fish you can still catch and release. A couple of hours on a lake or river may be just what you need yet you will have to get the the necessary supplies and the proper tools.

To discover more head on over to Finesse Bass Fishing and certainly try Bass Fishing School with more helpful material at Striped Bass Fishing