how to clean fishing reels

Have you ever looked at your fishing reel and thought "hmmmm! could do with a clean"? then though "looks way to complicated to strip down though"? Well, worry no further because I will take you through the procedure step by step so that your reel will be as clean as a whistle errr I mean a clean fishing reel. It really isn't that difficult and you wont need to attend night classes or anything close to that and once you have done it you'll never look back and you will never look at your reel with such disdain again.

It is actually very easy to clean your fishing reel and if you follow the instructions in this article you will accomplish the task easily and quickly. You will need a few items to hand before you start and these are as follows:

• A towel, preferable clean.
• A little screw driver, this is usually a Philips or cross head.
• A little reel grease or WD-40 will suffice.
• Some Q-tips, 5 or 6 will do nicely.
• Some kitchen roll or paper towels.

That's all you need to return your spinning fishing reel to pristine condition again, and I think you will agree that all the items are easily and cheaply obtained. OK, down to the task in hand, cleaning your fishing reel. You will soon have your reel looking great again and a good clean will prolong its working life. Please read on below and follow the simple steps, by doing this you will find it quite straight forward.

Step 1 - Separate the reel from your rod. This will make the operation much easier. Give the reel a general clean with some paper towels. The aim of this step is remove the bulk of the muck such as sand, and dried mud or dirt that is sticking to the reel body.

Step 2 - The dismantling process starts with the removal of the reel handle. Removing the handle is usually either by the removal of a screw or threaded bolt in the center of the handle crank, in which case remove the screw or bolt then the handle or the handle may be attached to the reel by a thread, in this case simply hold the reel to stop it rotating then unscrew the handle by turning it in the reverse direction. In either case put the removed handle on to the clean towel.

Step 3 - You should now see 3 to 5 screws. These screws are responsible for holding the fishing reel together. Remove them and set them down where they cant be accidentally scattered or lost. Once these screws have been removed a small plate should be visible, remove this and put it in a safe place with the screws.

Step 4 - At this stage you should now see the mechanism. Grab your Q-tips and clean out any dirt and dust from the innards of your reel. Once clean, smear a little grease or spray some WD-40 on the moving parts and gears.

Step 5 - All that's necessary now is to re-assemble your reel. Refit the plate and retaining screws, making sure you fit the same number that came out. Smear a little grease or oil on to the handle before refitting.

That's it! you have restored your fishing reel to look and work as good as new. Now that you have done it once, it will be something you can do on a regular basis. In the long run this will save you money on not having to buy new reels just because of lack of cleaning and a little grease.

Catching Big Bluegills

It may be that you have become quite accomplished in catching bluegills in great numbers but you are finding that the fish you are catching are all about the same size and you just cannot seem to find the bigger ones. No matter what you do regarding your technique, catching big bluegills is eluding you.

I would like to share a little secret with you. Catching big bluegills is not that difficult once I let you in to my little secret. The secret is in your choice of location. These locations will be waters that are high in nutrients and with an ideal prey to predator ratio. Also they must have a balanced number of anglers fishing and taking the correct type of fish. You could consider these waters as naturally managed and can take the form of a vast public lake to a small private pond.

There are many private lakes and ponds, where you will find perfect waters for catching those big bluegills. You will find them across the landscape mostly on private land so you must not just hop over a wall or fence and cast your line without expecting an unhappy landowner or farmer marching you unceremoniously off their land. It is akin to having someone coming, uninvited, into your house, parking their bum on your favorite chair, grabbing the television remote control and settling down to watch their favorite TV show. Some land owners have even found their selves in situations after giving someone permission to fish only to have liberties taken by all and sundry.

Once you locate a private pond or lake you need to have a plan to approach the land owner or farmer. Think this through very carefully, treat this person with great respect, he or she does not owe it to you to allow you fish their pond. Visit the land owner at a time that you feel will not be inconvenient to them such as meal times or too late at night. Once you have made contact you can chat about your desire to catch big bluegills. You must convince them that you will respect their property and will not leave any litter or trash behind and that you will not take any fish from the pond without their say so and also you could offer to share your catch should the land owner fancy a fish supper. It is advisable to give the land owner your contact details such as name, address and telephone number as this will go a long way to convincing them that your intentions are honorable. Another good idea is not to turn up with your gear as this could be mistaken as presumptuous. Go with an intention of introduction and future possibilities.

Be courteous and respectful at all times even if you are met with refusal. Just thank them for their time and apologize for disturbing them. You will find most farmers that you approach will, at least, listen to your request and many will be happy to allow you to fish providing you don't make it a public event and invite all your friends there for a picnic and barby. Do not take advantage of the good nature of your potential host.

Once you have struck gold and found the ideal fishing place to catch those big bluegills make sure you keep to your word and keep in touch with your host. Thank them regularly and give them gifts of cleaned fish or a bottle of wine or box of choccies and flowers. Initially ask permission every time before you go fishing and give the land owner the opportunity to say whether this is necessary or not as the case may be as they may find this a tad annoying.

You need to build a good and friendly relationship with the land owner or farmer without becoming presumptuous and without taking liberties.

Catch and Release Fishing

Practicing catch and release fishing is always the best way to preserve the waters you are fishing in. Fishing for dinner can be great fun, but catch and release fishing is just as enjoyable. Following these simple steps will ensure that the fish you caught will live to put up another great fight one day.

You will want to make sure that you retreive the fish as quick as possible. The less fatigued the fish is after you've caught it, the better its chances are.

Using barbless hooks will limit the injury to the fish when trying to remove lures and bait. You can fix you lures with pliers by bending the bard down to allow easy removal of your hooks.

Using a net that is made of a soft material will also protect the fish. There are some new nets that are made with rubber that will not only protect the fish, but also prevent your lines and lures from getting tangled.

What many people don't realize is that fish have a slimy protective layer on their skin. This layer helps protect them from harmful elements in the water and infection. To preserve this protective layer, wet you hands before handling the fish.

If possible, especially with larger fish, keep the fish in the water. If you want a picture of that catch of the day, then have the camera ready and have your fishing buddy snap the picture of it while in the water or lift it just a few inches out of the water. Leaving the fish out of water for too long will most certainly end with the fish swimming belly up.

When removing the hook, use pliers. If the hook was swallowed, remove the leader on the line as close to the fish's mouth as possible. Leave it inside the fish as removing it can cause great harm to the fish. Also, never put your fingers in the fish's gills.

When it comes time to release the fish, hold the fish in the water facing the current. This will allow water to pass over the gills to give the fish oxygen. Too many people just let the fish go before making sure it is fine. Hold the fish in your hands until it starts struggling to get free. Once it starts struggling, then you know it is lively and ready to be released.

Following this method of catch and release will ensure the safety of the fish you are catching. Fishing is always a lot of fun and making sure not to harm the fish you catch will only make it better. Catch and release fishing is always the best way to go.

Carp Fishing in the Margins

Have you ever wondered when you survey the day’s carp fishing location about the margins of the lake? Wonder no more because using the lake margins can be very fruitful and coupled with good angling techniques can improve your catch no end.

 

I have noticed that many carp anglers dismiss the lake margins as non productive, how wrong they are. They gaze out to the middle and far reaches of the lake and convince themselves that this is where the fish are. I have, in fact witnessed many an angler with two or three rods all with lines cast as far as the eye can see. Carp aren't daft and they sense all this mid-lake activity so hang out in the margins and very often you will find that the carp lake margins can harbor the monster carp that we all strive to catch, you know the ones we lie about that got away.

 

One secret of fishing for carp at the margins of the lake is that you must be very quiet when setting up your gear. Carp have sensitive hearing and vibration perception and will pick up on activity from the banks of the lake so don't be hammering in pegs or practicing your river dance moves as this will cause the carp to scarper for quieter waters. When fishing from the margins of the carp lake try to blend in with your surroundings by wearing dark green, brown or better still camouflaged attire, try to stay hidden and stay low when approaching the waters edge. Personally I try to set up my shelter behind a tree away from the edge of the water and not wear my hob-nail boots.

 

By taking those few precautions any carp in the margins, where you intend to fish, should remain there. Now we come to the tactics than can be applied to aid margin fishing for carp.

 

If there are a number of anglers already at the lake, fishing at distance, then this could be to your advantage as the carp, have most likely sensed this and have retreated to the margins to feed where they feel more secure.

 

Be selective in your choice of fishing spot. Look for areas that don't look obvious and avoid common and over used areas, the carp will learn to avoid these places. Locations where there are over hanging trees, under-cut banks, bits that stick out in to the water can be hives of activity for carp.

 

Some of the most active margin areas are those that are away from such disturbances as roads, car parks and foot-paths. Carp will see these places as potential threats so you should make a bee line to the bank furthest away from potential busy areas.

 

If you can find an area that other anglers won’t use because they think there are no fish to be caught, then you will find that this is where carp will feel safe and when you start baiting you may find that the fish will feed relatively quickly.

 

Margins tend to accumulate debris and potential snags so using single hook baits or pop-ups would be a better tactic so that you don't have to keep aiming the hook at the same spot to avoid snagging.

 

The ability to bait up more easily and with more accuracy is another advantage of margin fishing. It is also much easier to lay rigs on to the lake bed thus doing away with the potential of main line tangling that very often happens unknowingly with normal casting.

 

Bite indication sensitivity is also heightened when fishing at the water’s edge this is because there is less line to absorb the activity of the carp biting at your bait. For even more bite indication sensitivity use running leads this will also reduce the possibility of a fish unhooking the rig. One of my little tactics is to employ very slack lines and place the bobbins on the ground this ensures that the line is positioned in such a way that it is flat on the bed of the lake so as not to be noticed by the suspicious carp.

 

I have heard it said that carp don't like murky water stirred up by the wind, for example. Apparently they are concerned for their gills, well wouldn't you be? If you think it’s not true, then give it a try, you never know the stirred up water may be due to the carp itself kicking up the silt so these areas may prove to be fruitful.

The Best Time to Fish

The question is often asked, what is the best time to fish? My usual retort is "the best time to go fishing?...anytime!". Joking apart are there really periods of the day, days of the week or months of the year when fishing can be more productive? The simple answer to this is yes and, in this article, I am going to highlight the issues that can affect your fishing in relation to the best time to go. There is an argument to be had as to the fact that high numbers of fishermen, or women, catch less fish purely down to their chosen time to fish.

One thing an angler should not take for granted is Mother Nature, yes you did read that correctly, Mother Nature! Considering her, can be as important as your choice of lure or bait. It would not cross the mind of most anglers that Mother Nature can play a large part in whether you have a great days fishing or not. The aim of this article is to enlighten you on how to evaluate the best time to go fishing.

Weather conditions and the lunar cycle are two major factors to affect your angling. Mother Nature has full control over these powerful forces and these forces have immense impact on the demeanor of the fish and the more you empathize with this the more successful you will be at catching fish. I have personal experience of this as over my 25 years of fishing I have learnt to capitalize on the weather and lunar cycle to increase my catch.

I have learned, for example, that fish become active to a greater extent when the moon is at a certain stage of its cycle. It stands to reason that if a fish is more active it is more likely to be attracted to your offering of a meal. One such phase of the moon is when it is full so make no mistake this is not the time to start howling this is a good time to go fishing, where as howling at the moon can be fun for wolves, as a human, you are less likely to be arrested by choosing to go fishing instead. By fishing during a full moon you will not only catch more fish you may curb your howling urges.

The other powerful force to affect fishing is the weather. By having a basic understanding of meteorology and weather fronts passing through your locality you will know when it is the best time to whip out your tackle and go fishing. By keeping an eye on your local forecast and the phases of the moon you will soon be able to ascertain the best times to go fishing based on this information alone.

Cast your mind back to those times when you had a great days fishing. It seemed that no matter what you did regarding bait and lure you could do no wrong and you caught fish after fish after fish. These days were so successful because you unwittingly chose the best time to fish and not because of your angling expertise. By incorporating weather and lunar cycle information into your decision as to whether you go fishing or not will increase your yield, no doubt about it.

Best Lures for Spring Bass Fishing

Believe it or not, angling for largemouth bass is, by far, the favorite amongst freshwater fishermen or women.

Knowing what bait and freshwater lures to choose for use in the spring or pre-spawning, may just give you the edge and may just land you a prize winning largemouth bass.

With this in mind you have to consider many aspects before making your choice, for example:

• Weather conditions.
• Light conditions.
• Water temperature
• Water clarity.
• Location.
• Local preferred delicacies of the largemouth bass.

You can probably already ascertain why anglers get, some what, easily confounded and bewildered when it comes to making the correct choice of baits and lures for fishing for largemouth bass during the spring season.

Having said all that, by adhering to some general basic principles when making your bait and lure choice, that will be best for freshwater fishing for bass, will assist you in receiving a greater number of strikes for more of the time. By following these basic rules you will soon get to know what works best and under what conditions for the early spring fishing season.

I love fishing for largemouth bass in the spring mainly because I am a fair weather fisherman and I am not fond of the cold winter weather. Another reason is that the fish become more active to feed as they prepare for spawning. For me, I find that using a Jig with pork frogs or chunks sometimes known as "jig 'n pig" in fishing circles. I have also found that using actual pork meat rather than plastic imitation yields better results. As the largemouth bass is not so fussy in the spring I don't think it will stop to inspect the jig head for the presence of eyes and as it will, most likely, attack from the rear their view will be of the jig skirt. Personally I think that the shape of the jig and its weight are more significant than its visual appearance or color also I feel that by using a partly rounded jig head will assist in the reduction of weed and reed snagging.

Bass Lure Color

The most efficient color combination, I have found, is a black and blue jig coupled with a metallic flake trailer or a green/pumpkin trailer. These combinations when using two color artificial jig crawlers or trailers are ideal for almost all bass fishing expeditions and also try using a scented artificial trailer as, I have found, that this promotes a more serious strike and also persuades the largemouth bass to grip the bait for greater periods of time.

Bass Jigging

You will find that using a jig weight range of 1/4 and 3/8 ounce will be suitable for your needs for most conditions also regarding hooks use a medium gauge wire size 1/4 - 4 depending, of course, on your planned catch size.

For flipping and pitching, virtually all fresh water anglers use the jig and pig, however, when fishing in deeper water I have found jigs just as good. It is always worth remembering that the majority of your hits will most likely occur immediately after the jig enters the water and starts its dive. You may find that, particularly early in the spring when the water is still very cold and the fish lethargic and sluggish, that you will have to allow the jig to remain on the water bed for fifteen seconds or so then jiggle it along the bottom a smidgen preceding retrieval and re-casting.

Bass Fishing with Artificial Crawfish

Another bait that is ideal, and one of the largemouth bass's preferred meals, is artificial crawfish, they love this particularly early in the season. Try to do a good impression of the crawfish's movement by allowing the lure to settle on the water bed and then just jiggle it along the bottom to kick up some silt. This will fool the largemouth bass in to thinking that your bait is a crawfish exiting its winter residence. If you want to be really crafty you could use a "rattler", this will kid the bass into thinking they can hear the sound of the crawfish pinchers'. By using these methods you should be able to entice even the most obstinate of largemouth bass.

Bass Fishing with Spinners

Another great idea for catching largemouth bass, in the spring, is to use spinnerbaits. Ok, so I know that generally spinners baits are used because they imitate bait fish like shad, for example. However, If you use a large spinner, dress it and use it properly it will replicated the movements of a panicking crawfish. When using this imitation crawfish spinnerbait technique the best areas to fish are locations with weed beds or areas cluttered with timber such as back waters and creeks.

Crankbait Bass Fishing

A lipless rattling crankbait is another nifty lure to use in the spring over the flats. Using these in the shallow freshwater flats will attract some good sized largemouth bass as they will mistake your lure for a crawfish that is getting the hell out of there! Just remember to assist the natural strike reaction of the fish by pausing and ripping your lure.

As in all fishing you will find the best methods of catching that prized largemouth bass are gained by experimentation with different lures and techniques for a given set of conditions.

That's about it for this article I hope you have found it useful in your quest to land some good sized spring largemouth bass.

7 Freshwater Fishing Tips

Fishing, as we anglers know, is not just a case of bunging a worm on the end of some string and dangling it in the water. Ok you might be lucky with the string and worm technique but its not one of the seven tips I have lined up for you in this article. Apart from having the patience of a saint and meticulous planning there are many things to consider that could spell success or failure when you embark on your fishing trips. Here is a bulleted list of some of the things you should take into consideration.

-Choosing the correct rod, reel and fishing tackle.

-Selecting your location.

-Selecting the time of year and day.

-Choosing the right bait and lure.

-Targeting certain fish

1. Rod, Reel, and Tackle:

It may sound obvious but it is very important that you purchase the right tools for the job, so to speak. I wont talk about any particular brand, however, it is very important that you select the right equipment for the type of fishing you care to take part in, which in this case is freshwater fishing. Lets take rods to start with, they are available in various action types which is based on the flexibility of the rod. This flexibility,or flex as it is sometimes termed, is related to the length or height of the rod.

Rod flex:

-Extra light.

-Light.

-Medium.

-Medium fast.

-Fast.

Your choice of flex and height of rod should reflect the weight and size of the fish you are aiming to catch, for example, for fish of between two and ten pounds you should choose a short rod, conversely, a longer rod for heavier fish over this weight.

Your choice of reel is also very important. Generally speaking there are three types of reel you should consider for fresh water fishing.

-Baitcaster.

-Spinning.

-Spin caster.

The most commonly used, of the three, is the spinning reel, these are both easy to use and spool, however, it must be said that the rod and reel combination must be compatible with each other.

2. Baits and Lures:

For freshwater fishing, success or failure of your fishing sorties can be down to the correct choice of bait or lure. Remember that all fish do not eat the same food, so it is very important to select the correct bait for the species you are aiming to catch. Some fish, for example, have a preference for grubs and worms others would rather eat smaller fish or frogs. Fish such as bass, for example, prefer to eat minnows, crawfish, night crawlers and frogs. By selecting the right bait for your target species your will increase your chances of catching fish many fold.

As a rule of thumb, bait comes as two types, that is soft and hard. Hard bait is generally fabricated from plastic and fashioned to look like a small fish. Soft baits are in the form of live bait, worms, maggots, crawfish and frogs to name but a few.

3. Fishing Line:

You need to select your line carefully too when it comes to fresh water fishing. There are a few to familiarize yourself with.

-Monofilament.

-Braided.

-Fluorocarbon.

The strongest of the bunch is the braided line and is next to impossible to break. The most popular line, however, is the monofilament, this one comes in a variety of breaking strains or tests and a selection of colors. Some anglers also swear by fluorocarbon line for its sensitively, variety of tests and colors.

4. Choice Of Location:

In order of importance this one comes close to the top of the list. Choosing your freshwater fishing location, whether it be, lake, pond or river ideally with over hanging vegetation and objects, man made or other wise, sticking out into the water. It is these areas where fish like to lay in wait for their next meal to come along and hopefully that will be on your hook. Try to avoid places where the masses congregate to fish and over fish, look for new areas where fish may be hiding out.

5. Time Of Day:

Fish are more actively feeding at certain times of the day this is normally early in the morning and late in the after noon, however, this is only a very general guide as there are other factors such as the lunar cycle. The moons phases have a marked effect on a fishes appetite. During a full moon, for example, is a good time to go fresh water fishing as they tend to be more actively feeding than say when only a half or quarter moon. Also another thing to add into the mix is the time of year. During the winter months, for example, it is better to fish late morning to mid-afternoon when the water is warmer and the fish not so lethargic.

6. Focus On The Fish You Want To Catch:

By focusing on your target fish you will increase your chances of a good catch. Knowing the techniques involved, what rod, reel and line to use, the bait to use and the habitat of your target fish will all help your quest. Focusing your efforts on a particular species of freshwater fish can save you time and frustration. If you were, for example, wanting to catch sunfish then you would be wasting time using worms, maggots and plastic frogs, however, should you want to catch bass then these baits will be ideal, so if choosing to focus on fishing for bass, selecting their favorite food can only increase your chances of catching this particular species.

7. Patience, Patience, and More Patience:

Unfortunately, patience is not available from a store near you, but it is something, as an angler, you'll need in abundance. If you are not a patient angler then my advice is take up knitting. A patient angler is a successful angler. When fresh water fishing, keep on casting that line and baiting that hook you will be rewarded. You may be lucky enough to get a bite as soon as your bait hits the water, however, you may sit there for some hours. Whatever you do, do not give up.

In summary, by taking all of these tips into consideration before you go freshwater fishing you will, almost certainly, increase your chances of catching fish