Fishing Tips & Tricks

Well people are always asking me how to do things when I am out fishing. Well here are a few of the most asked questions from my last trip.

1. What is the best knot to tie? Well that is easy, use the one you know how to tie the best, it is the fastest and if it hasn't failed on you before, use it. If you want to learn a new one, don't do it when your fishing. Always practice a new knot at home after a trip or before a trip, they will fail the first few times you tie them and you don't want to lose a fish due to a bad knot. Most of the major fishing line manufacturers as well as the hook maker all have a cheat sheet on how to tie knots that you can pick up at your favorite tackle store. Try a few out and find new that is easy for you to tie and doesn't break when you put pressure on it.

2. What is the best bait to use? Well that all depends on the fish you are targeting at the time. I was on a Off-Shore trip and we where after tuna, in that case my suggestion was live bait. With live bait you always want the liveliest and best looking bait. The bait should be the slimy and not red spots, as well as the hardest one to catch in the bait station. You can also use trolling lures, these can be a feather or Cedar plug are my favorite ones. But check with the crew if it is a charter and they will tell you what has been working the last few trips.

3. What is the best line? Line that doesn't break... The best line is one that fits your fishing style, I mean it depends on the fish and the conditions.  Mono is the basic and most common used, but with the new spectra lines and braided lines it can be one of those or a combination of those lines. I use a Spectra line with a short top shot of mono or fluorocarbon of the same weight or one size smaller. If you are in an area with a lot of plant material or rocks you should go with the straight braid or spectra line. This line will give a better chance if you get caught on something.

4. What is the best time to fish? When the fish are Biting.. The best time to fish depends on the a few things and what you are fishing for. But a few things hold true for all fishing, Moon phase, weather and water temperature. Moon Phase cycles have an impact on the tides and a few days before a full or new moon and a few days after are always a good time to fish. Weather fronts moving into an area with a change from high pressure to low pressure is a good time as well, the day a storm is moving in is a great time to fish a lake. Temperature of the water is something to watch, in ocean fishing you want to find the breaks in the water and fish those warm to cold changes.

5. Who makes the best reels? The reels that fit your price and work the longest without repair. I know that it is not a clear answer but to name one or two brands would not help you pick the one best for you. I use different reels for different types of fishing and I have my own favorites. You can check with some of the fishing forum and websites on reel reviews and they can give you a good starting point. Check to see which ones are asked most about getting fixed and cross them off your list. Check to see who has the most positive feed back or the best pricing in the style you are looking for. Always remember price is not always the important point, you can pay a little more now and save you a lot later.

The best tip I can give you is talk with other fisherman and people in the sport, the more time on the water the more you will learn or  find out. As long as you are fishing and having fun you are doing it right.

One Cool Tuna - Jeff