Saturday, January 21, 2012

Shimano's Top Five Spinning Reels Revealed


Shimano has some of the best spinning reels available on the market when it comes to a variety of fishing adventures. Five of the top spinning reels are detailed below and what makes them stand out from the rest in the business of fishing whether it be freshwater or saltwater pursuits.

The Shimano Stella FD spinning reels are considered to be a luxury reel because of the casting is considered to be the superior due to the titanium lip spool and revised line lay. This reel also has the advantage of smooth and solid retrieve. The drag maintains a smooth pressure over all of its setting without overheating.
Shimano's Stella SW spinning reel is the equivalent luxury reel for saltwater fishing. Six models of this reel vary in line capacity, the weight, gear ration, drag, and ball bearings used. This Stella SW will allow you to cast the farthest up to 500 yards and catch the largest fish. This reel includes the Propulsion, Paladin, and Aero Wrap features that Shimano is known for.
Shimano Stradic FI Spinning Reel won the Best in Category Freshwater Reels in 2007 with a combination of new technologies with their proven components increasing the durability. Featuring a Waterproof Drag System, Shielded A-RB Bearings, and a size up to 8000, the Stradic FI is equipped to catch any fish. Seven models of the Stradic include the Stopperless design in two models lowering the back play. Gear ratios vary on each model and the ball bearings on all of the models are 5s with varying weights, all with a reliable performance in any casting tests. With a repairable drag clicker and maintenance port that goes with it, the Stradic FI will allow you to get your money's worth by lasting longer.
Shimano's Baitrunner spinning reel also features the latest technology such as the Propulsion Line Management System and the S A-RB Bearings which are more corrosion resistant than standard stainless steel ball bearings. All three models have a secondary drag system that allows for controlled free spool with the bail closed and you can flip the lever or turn the handle for primary drag to take over. Featuring a Super Stopper II that is a one-way roller bearing that eradicates back-play for hook sets, a rubber handle grip that is soft and easy to hold for long periods of time, and the Dyna-Balance to avoid wobble during a catch, this reel has the ability to attain beautiful casts and catches of large freshwater and saltwater fish.
Shimano's Sustain is a premium reel ranked between the Stella and the Stradic that has a more affordable price with the same advanced technology of their higher models making them so popular. The Sustain FE features the new Paladin Gear Durability Enhancement, Propulsion Line Management System, and Aero Wrap II Oscillation as well as the fact it is improved with a titanium coated spool lip for excellent castability. It features A-RB non-corrosive ball bearings, a Super Stopper II roller bearing, and an unhurried oscillation for better line lay.
No matter which one is chosen, any of the Shimano's top five spinning reels are a sure catch that will allow a fisherman to achieve a smooth cast, excellent hook, and reel in the next big fish.
Terry Newton has a website of fishing reels of many brands and types such as the spinning reel. We maintain a blog and website where you can get answers to the rest of your questions and even ask questions to be discussed. Come and shop.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Top Five Penn Spinning Reels


Penn Reels have been known for their quality fishing reels for nearly eighty years. According to consumers and critics, "Penn has the best fishing reels on the market." Whatever nature has to throw at them, a Penn Reel can handle it. Penn Spinning Reels are so solid that they out last any other fishing reel, thereby making them very economical as well. All Penn Reels have the best components that money can buy. Penn Reel has every type of fishing reel imaginable. Their reels will cast better and easier than all the other brand reels and will almost certainly out last their usefulness. Penn Reels have wedged more than 75 existing IGFA world records, as well as twelve all tackle marks.
No matter what kind of fishing activity is carried out, there's are enough Penn spinning reels waiting to do the job. There are spinning reels by Penn, bait casting reels, boating reels, and Penn surf casting reels, to name a few. The following list is comprised of the top five Penn spinning reels.

1. Penn Sargus 
This Penn reel model was introduced in 2008 and is built to take all the abuse thrown at it. This Penn reel is an inshore and light offshore version with an aluminum alloy frame, corrosion resistant machined aluminum handle, an aluminum alloy frame, and rotor and side plate. An inestimable anti-reverse roller bearing and multiple stainless ball bearings create a smooth drag with equal casting pleasure.


2. Penn Slammer 
The Penn Slammer has been noted as "the best spinning reel and preferred by guides and fishing charters everywhere." This complete metal model has all the advanced features Penn has created throughout the years including a shielded drag washer, Leveline Oscillation Structure, a Techno-Steadiness rotor and worm drive with unlimited anti-overturn.


3. Penn Spinfisher SS GR 
According to the most prestigious fishing publications, the Spinfisher SS GR has more than 75 present IGFA world records under its belt counting a dozen all tackle marks. A soft dark carbon balances the weight, however, its stainless steel shaft design and anodized aluminum spool has turned the Penn Spinfisher into one solid reel.

4. Penn General Purpose Line-counter Level Wind Reel 
This top quality reel has a machined and anodized aluminum spool, machine cut brass key gear, meticulous machined stainless steel pinion gear, HT-100 drag washers, and a stainless steel reel stand. In addition to a stainless steel balance wind, easy composite side plates, and a major brass gear. The handle is equalized by an oversized paddle knob making it easy to grasp.

5. Penn Gold Label Series Slammer Live Liner Spinning Reel 
This Penn spinning reel is the best reel for anglers who are privy to the ease of a spinning reel with the expediency of a traditional reel. With modifiable drag tension, the Penn Gold Label Slammer permits anglers to sustain manageability over numerous sized live bait, making it the perfect reel for game fishing. The present Slammer Live Liner is outfitted with an automatic live liner function to enhance the usability of the reel and in reply to wishes and feedback from various captains, skippers, and anglers. Different from the live liners before, that needed an angler to toss the live liner drag lever to connect the fighting drag, the latest Live Liner can be set in motion automatically.
Terry Newton has a website of fishing reels of many brands and types such as the baitcasting reel. We maintain a blog and website where you can get answers to the rest of your questions and even ask questions to be discussed. Come and shop.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Fly Fishing Line - Choosing the One That Is Right for You



The fly fishing line weight needs to be the correct one for the rest of the system. Fly fishing systems are graded according to the weight of the line, and the weight of the system you use depends on the intended use. The lines are graded from 1 to 15, with one being the lightest and fifteen being the heaviest. Rods must be numbered to match lines i.e. a number 1 rod needs a number 1 line in order to work properly. This is because the amount of spring or flex that a rod has is balanced to the line weight. If the line is too heavy it will overload the rod and it won't be able to cast it forward properly. Too light a line won't stress the rod enough to get the best spring and again the line won't travel as far as it could.
Variations on this situation occur though when you are attempting to make either quite short or quite long casts. You average rod/line combination is set for about six metres of line being used for casting at any one time. Obviously this amount of line has a given weight. If there is more or less line being used the weight will obviously vary, potentially affecting performance. So if you are using less line, such as when making short casts of fast water, you may want to use a heavier line to get the best from the rod. Or if you are making long casts, such as on lakes or other still water where the fish can see you more easily, you may want to switch to a lighter line so as to not overload the rod.
Fly fishing line weights.
When starting out, most people choose a rod/line weight of 6. This is a good all round weight that will do for most fishing situations. It has sufficient ability to cope with the longer casts needed for lakes, but could still be used for the shorter casts needed for many rivers. However if you know you are going to be doing one form of fishing more than others it may be worth buying a rod/line combo more suited to that style of fishing from the outset. Many people also start to expand their collection of rods and lines as they get better at fly fishing.
The smaller rods and lines in the 1-3 range are particularly suited to small rivers. This is where you need a delicate presentation of small flies on fine leaders and a large clunky line and rod simply won't mange this! However as the flies and leaders get larger and heavier, and the casts longer you will need to start looking at heavier combos. Weights 4 to 6 are good for average size rivers.
Once you get beyond size sixes you are into rods designed for large rivers and lakes. Casting heavy flies and leaders into the wind takes some real grunt and these rods can deliver that. Size 8 is generally the largest you will find for trout fly fishing. Beyond this you get into the double-handed rods used in salmon fishing.
Fly fishing line types.
Fly fishing lines also come in a variety of tapers and shape, the most common being weight-forward or double taper. This refers to the actual diameter of the line, which varies along its length.
You can also get several different types of line that vary in whether they sink or float. This enables you to get at fish at different depths in the water.
Fly fishing lines also come in a variety of colours. For beginners it is usually better to choose a brighter colour as this makes it easier to see on the water to watch for strikes, line drag or other mistakes. As you progress you may want to choose duller colours as they are less likely to spook the fish.
Like most things in fly fishing, choosing your line can quickly become overwhelming if you are not careful. However for most people starting out a number 6 floating, weight forward line on a number 6 rod will be quite adequate.
The fly fishing line is essential for the fly fisher, however choosing it can be bewildering. We detail the options available to help you choose at http://www.flyfishingline.net/.

Friday, January 13, 2012

North Country Spiders, Fishing and Tying Techniques


Spiders cover a vast series of fishing flies that can be dated as far back at the 1700's. They originated in the North of the United Kingdom and are still commonly used today by many modern fly fishermen today. The term Spiders is actually inaccurate, Anglers of old did not have the entomology skills we possess today as it was thought trout were taking surface Spiders when in fact, they were more likely to be taking emerging flies.
There are many famous Spider patterns which are used by modern day fly fishermen. Notably the Partridge and Orange and Snipe and Purple of which, seem to be a favourite for the United Kingdom's North Country River fishermen. They are generally fished in teams of three using a drift technique; casting at a 45 degree angle downstream on a river ensures the spiders sweep around in a realistic manner without the fly line causing any drag. Spider patterns are commonly used for targeting Brown, Brook and Rainbow trout but Grayling also favour them. A spider with a splash of pink in it will create a hotspot a winter Grayling cannot resist; a great addition to the winter fly box.
When dressing a Spider pattern, you have to ensure that you take a minimalistic view; less is certainly more with these flies. Hackles should be no more than one and a half turns around the hook shank and the thread should be bedded evenly onto the hook. The materials which are generally used on North Country Spiders (or in the United States of America, Soft Hackle Flies) have rarely changed since their conception. Pearsall's silk being the standard thread, dubbed body furs from a Hare's mask or mole and game bird hackles from Grey Partridge, Starling, Woodcock, Grouse, Snipe, Tawny owl and Golden Plover. Obviously, due to laws governing the protective of some game birds, not all of the hackles of old can be sourced for modern day tying and substitutes are commonly used.
A recent addition to the Partridge of Redditch range is the introduction of the classic style spider hook. The fine wire, Captain Hamilton bend makes them an ideal candidate for tying the North Country Spider patterns and soft hackle river flies. Finished in bronze and available in sizes #12 to #20 they echo the hooks of latter days but combine the strength and confidence of modern hook manufacturing techniques. The return of the classic spider hook has been an essential element to tying North County Spider Patterns.
You can see more on the Partridge Classic Spider Hook by Visiting Fly Tying Company.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Fly Fishing Knots: How to Tie an Albright Knot




The Albright Knot is a useful knot that any fly fisherman should have in their arsenal. The tight, barrel shape of the knot allows it to easily move through guides, which is a huge advantage of this knot over most others. Best of all however, this knot does something that other don't, it gets stronger with the more tension you apply. The nature of the knot takes an opposing force on either end of the rope, and uses it to tighten the knot. With this being said, this information does you no good if you don't know how to tie it. Read below for more information.
The knot begins with two pieces of line (or rope) laid in parallel, overlapping approximately 5-6 inches. For the purpose of this article, line 1 will be the top line and line 2 will be the bottom line. Pinch the end of line 2 and cross it under line 1 approximately 1-2 inches from the end of line 1. While still pinching line 2, bend it back on itself about 1-2 inches, crossing over the other. Now pinch the end of line 2 where it ends in parallel with the same line 2, and pinch the end of line 1 with your other hand. Pull a length of line 1 (about 5-6 inches) through the loop created by line line 2, and cross it under the end of line 2. With the end of rope 1 pointing toward yourself, pinch the end and begin to wrap it around the folded portions of rope 2, as well as itself. Your should notice that as you wrap the line, the loop created by line 2 should become smaller. After completing approximately 5-7 wraps, take the end of line 1 and make sure it is pointing toward yourself. Hold the end of the line and feed to through the eye of the loop created by line 2. At this point the two ends of line 1 should be pointing in the same direction, and the two ends of line 2 should be pointing in the opposite direction of line 1. Now grab all 4 ends of the lines and pull outward from each other, tightening the knot. Now trim the ends of the lines as needed.
If one correctly you should see a knot which resembles a barrel, and conforms to the circular shape of the string. By pulling on the ends of the string, you can see that the wrapping of one string around the other creates friction which prevents the inner string from slipping out of the knot.
Interested in learning more about Fly Fishing Knots? Then check out the Clinch Knot to see more examples of easy to tie knots every fisherman should know.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Lubatti
Images Source http://animatedknots.com

Friday, December 23, 2011

Guide to Mission Fly Fishing

To begin with fly fishing is fishing with fake or artificial flies attached to the hook. For best results these flies should look realistic and natural so as to catch the attention of the fish. Practiced in both freshwater and saltwater, this type of fishing is a favorite among many anglers but it requires one to master the techniques to attain success in this particular style of fishing.
The fly line is what sends the fly to the target; the line weight carries the hook through the air. These artificial flies are thus made with fur, animal hair, fur made of both natural and synthetic substances to make them lighter. These flies used for fly fishing are specially designed to different sizes and colors as well as patterns to resemble the local terrestrial and marine insects, baitfish or other attractive prey of the fish.
Fish like trout and salmon are the most common fly fishing targets. Bass, pike, carp, grayling redfish, striped bass, snook etc are favorites of anglers. Tuna, marlin, sharks and wahoo are some target fish for saltwater anglers. However for these big catches, one needs extra strong and durable rods, reels and lines.
So instead of rushing to buy fly fishing gears, you need to understand a few basic things. If you are a beginner, you need not spend a fortune in the fishing gears. Starting with the entry level equipment and moving on from there would be a better idea. Pre packaged gears are also available these days and buying them ensures that you are indeed buying a good quality gear. In this regard the best person to help you out would be an experienced fishing guide.
Joining a fly fishing club will do a beginner a world of good. This way you will be able to interact with other fly fishermen from your community. They are the best people to give you a few fishing tips, which will come in handy while you are at it. Learn the basics from the instructors. Practice fly casting drills and the place does not matter, even your backyard will do. Go through the books, magazines, journals on fly fishing, knot tying, fly casting and this way you can learn a lot about this amazing sport. It is important to know your local water if you want to excel in fly fishing. Last but not the least you need to be patient with yourself. No one mastered fly fishing overnight and nor will you. It will come to you with practice, patience and perseverance.
Once you learn to cast the line correctly and tie the knots with perfection and have acquired enough knowledge about the fish and their habitat, and gathered enough know how about fly fishing, you are ready to roll. Fly fishing makes a wonderful hobby. Not only is it a challenging way to catch fish but at the same time a great way to be one with the nature, out the beautiful surroundings. The places where fly fishing are practiced are serene and picturesque; so along with some satisfying fishing spree you can also feast on the bounty of nature.
Allan Simons is an avid fisherman from Australia. He is also an accomplished writer; he writes articles on fishing, fishing guides, fishing tackles and other such related topics.

How to Catch Any Fish - Bait Fishing Tips

 If fishing with a worm, try inflating the worm with air using a syringe (there are special worm syringes for this that you can buy). By doing this you can float the worm off the bottom and hopefully right in the fishes' faces. If you just fish a worm on the bottom without doing this they are harder for the fish to see and they can crawl under things and hide.
If fishing with live crayfish, try pinching one claw off. This makes them appear more vulnerable and helps them stand out more. To do this, just grasp one claw very firmly with a pair of pliers. The crayfish will eject the claw on its own and seal off the hole. If you try to pull it out it can kill the crayfish.
Try to use the smallest hook that you can get away with for the fish you are trying to catch. This will impede the movement of the bait less and look more natural.
When fishing with live bait it often pays to select the friskiest bait possible. This is not universally true, as sometimes fish are lazy and don't want to chase a fast-swimming bait. If that is the case you can bang the bait on the side of the boat or clip the fins before casting. This will disorient them and hopefully cause lethargic predatory fish to want to pick them off.
If fish are not in a biting mood, it usually helps to chum the water with bait. If you see fish eating the chum but avoiding your hook baits, try hiding your hook completely in a bait, throw in some chum, and let your bait free sink down with it. You can pull line off by hand to make the bait sink naturally in the water. This works great many times. To increase effectiveness try using a fluorocarbon leader to decrease the visibility of the line.
Be careful when handling bait. When using live fish for bait, try to cradle them in your hand rather than grabbing them hard. If they are wiggling around too much for you to easily put them on the hook, try holding them upside down. This disorients many fish and causes them to wiggle less.
If fish are holding deeper and you are using live fish for bait but don't want to use a weight, try hooking them above the anal fin. This causes many types of fish to swim downwards.
Check out great tips on catching over 70 other species of gamefish, as well as unbiased tackle recommendations and high quality fishing photos at my website: http://www.howtocatchanyfish.com