Here is a topic that is often debated between night fishermen. Depending on how you like to fish at night, here is what you should look for in general:
Sidebar: There is a device discovered in 1947 that will keep your night line tighter than anything else. The "Evening Secret" is amazing, and you should at least check it out. (http://www.eveningsecretfishing.com/specialsecret/night-line.php)
If you are going to be fishing with a blacklight, you will want to be sure you spool up a clear blue fluorescent line. The clear blue is especially made to work well with blacklight night fishing, so it is highly recommended.
When you go night fishing, never use a line that is less than 20lb test. 20lb is the minimum weight you should even think about. You won't be dealing with those wimpy "day fish".
Ideally, if you are blacklight fishing, you will want to use the 20lb clear blue fluorescent line. When the blacklight hits that line, you will be amazed at how well that line shows up.
Of course, if you do not need to watch your line closely (such as when you are using a spinnerbait) then the color is not as important.
Why do you need a minimum of 20lb test line?
Simple, the fish you will be catching at night are going to be bigger! Sometimes we catch fish twice the size as those we caught during the day at the same spot.
The bigger fish feed at night, so while your buddies are catching the little guys during the day, you can come in and take the 'monsters' at night.
Berkley makes a good clear blue line for night fishing. You should probably get a spool before you plan a night fishing trip. It is called the Berkley Trilene XT Fluorescent Clear Blue. You can pick up a pony spool for about $2.50 and a filler spool for under $6.00.
If you are not blacklight fishing, the color is not as important as the strength of the line. Just make sure it is strong enough to handle the big boys you may come across out there at night.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Tips for Campings
Every person and family will for camping to enjoy the outdoor and natural environment. Especially During holidays families will pack their tent and food to travel to a remote park or natural campsite. We have a few helpful hints and information for the need for your next camping trip. Precautions and preparations during a camping trip are important and will make the trip goes smoothly, will also protect you and your family. If you are reserving a campsite, try to do it ahead of time to make sure you will have a spot to camp. Arrive with plenty of daylight hours left as well, so you can check the area and set up your tent. Trying to set up a tent after the sun goes down will quickly turn into a long and cold ordeal. It is also good to make sure there is no glass or food lying around the campsite before you set up. You should arrive during the day also lets you find a great, level spot to set up your tent and help you find some trees to protect you from the wind and any rain. Try to remember to check for poison ivy and poison oak before the sun goes down. When you set up an area to have a fire, make sure the fire would not spread. Always have someone nearby to watch the fire and keep water close in case of emergency. When you put out your fire, be sure to use water and throw soil onto the area, just to make sure any burning embers you cannot see are cut off from oxygen and would not spread. Try to avoid making the fire too large, this will increase the chance for it to be out of control and spread around the campground. Dispose of all your trash safely in trash bins, or take it with you if the bins are not there. The food should not be left around to attract animals, this is very important in camping areas that have large predators like mountain lions and bears. Leaving trash around is also very harmful to the environment and could hurt wildlife. It is also inappropriate for the campers that will come after you. There are many tips for traveling at http://www.fidetips.com/travel for you to read. Bring a first aid kit with you when you go camping, this will probably come in handy if you go hiking or swimming or come into contact with poison ivy. You should also bring any personal medications for anyone coming on the trip, along with these things like sunscreen, bug repellent, bee sting kit, tweezers, scissors, antiseptic wipes, roll bandages, adhesive tape, sterile gauze, cotton swabs, compresses, ipecac, fresh water, blankets, snake bite kit, burn ointment, poison ivy cream, band aides, antibiotic cream, and pain reliever. When you are walking or hiking keep a look out for any wildlife, avoid approaching them under any circumstances. Even animals that are normally non-aggressive may carry diseases or behave unexpectedly especially with their cubs. Always be on the lookout for snakes, spiders, warps and other animals or insects around the campground. You should also wear bug repellent to keep ticks and mosquitoes away from you. It will be a present and happy camping trip for yourself and the family, if you follow the advice and precautions.
Making Fishing Lures: Basic Tools Required - Part 1
Lets start with the basics, you need a clean solid work surface such as a bench, table, or desk, you will need a vise which will hold the various lures for drilling, filing, bending, and other operations. Almost any bench vise of good size will serve the purpose. Unless you have a permanent workbench, this vise doesn't have to be fastened to the table or desk until needed.
A small anvil is also useful if you plan to make many metal lures or parts for such lures. It is used for cutting, bending, punching, and riveting. However, if you get a big bench vise of the machinist's or utility type you can use the anvil surface found on such vises. Or you can use a small block of iron with a smooth surface as a makeshift anvil.
A hammer, of course, is a basic tool for any kind of work, and for making fishing lures, about two or three hammers will suffice. If you already have a claw hammer, you can use it for many lure-making jobs. However, you should also get at least one ball peen or machinist’s hammer which can be used for shaping metal, driving punches, cold chisels, and other uses. A 12-ounce ball peen hammer is a good size for all-round work. Another type of hammer which is good to have is a soft-faced hammer. These are made of plastic or have rawhide, fiber or lead faces. The soft-faced hammer is used for bending and shaping metal and leaves no tool marks. A wooden mallet is also needed if you plan to shape your own metal spoons or spinners.
At least two saws will be needed. If you already have a hand saw, it can be used for working with wood. Since most lures are small, however, a back saw which has a thin blade and fine teeth is even better than a large hand saw with coarse teeth for accurate cutting. The other saw which is needed is a hacksaw that is used for cutting metal and other hard materials such as plastics. There are many types of hacksaws on the market, but the adjustable frame with a pistol grip is best. You will also need several kinds of blades to use with the hacksaw. These blades have from 14 to 32 teeth to the inch and come in all-hard or flexible tempers. Each type is best for a certain job, depending on the metal or material you are cutting. If you have one or two blades of each kind you'll be prepared for any cutting job.
Some kind of drill is needed for drilling holes in wood and metal. If you have a home workshop with a drill press you can use it for most of the work to be done. It is especially useful when drilling holes in metal. A portable electric drill is also a big aid when drilling, metal, especially if you have to drill many holes. However, when making fishing lures most drilling is done in wood or softer metals such as brass and copper. Here an ordinary hand drill will serve the purpose. Such a hand drill will usually take drills up to ¼ in. in diameter. When buying a hand drill it's a good idea to get the best you can get. A cheap hand drill may not work properly or will soon break or wear out.
You also need a set of twist drills to use with an electric or hand drill. For the drill press or electric drill you will need a set of high-speed drills. The high-speed drills can be used for fast drilling without losing their temper. For drilling wood or soft metals, carbon drills which are cheaper than high speed drills can be used. You should get a complete set of drills up to about ¼ in. in diameter. The smaller sizes are the ones you will use most often. It's a good idea to buy two or three twist drills of the same size in the smaller sizes so that if you break one you'll have a spare.
A small anvil is also useful if you plan to make many metal lures or parts for such lures. It is used for cutting, bending, punching, and riveting. However, if you get a big bench vise of the machinist's or utility type you can use the anvil surface found on such vises. Or you can use a small block of iron with a smooth surface as a makeshift anvil.
A hammer, of course, is a basic tool for any kind of work, and for making fishing lures, about two or three hammers will suffice. If you already have a claw hammer, you can use it for many lure-making jobs. However, you should also get at least one ball peen or machinist’s hammer which can be used for shaping metal, driving punches, cold chisels, and other uses. A 12-ounce ball peen hammer is a good size for all-round work. Another type of hammer which is good to have is a soft-faced hammer. These are made of plastic or have rawhide, fiber or lead faces. The soft-faced hammer is used for bending and shaping metal and leaves no tool marks. A wooden mallet is also needed if you plan to shape your own metal spoons or spinners.
At least two saws will be needed. If you already have a hand saw, it can be used for working with wood. Since most lures are small, however, a back saw which has a thin blade and fine teeth is even better than a large hand saw with coarse teeth for accurate cutting. The other saw which is needed is a hacksaw that is used for cutting metal and other hard materials such as plastics. There are many types of hacksaws on the market, but the adjustable frame with a pistol grip is best. You will also need several kinds of blades to use with the hacksaw. These blades have from 14 to 32 teeth to the inch and come in all-hard or flexible tempers. Each type is best for a certain job, depending on the metal or material you are cutting. If you have one or two blades of each kind you'll be prepared for any cutting job.
Some kind of drill is needed for drilling holes in wood and metal. If you have a home workshop with a drill press you can use it for most of the work to be done. It is especially useful when drilling holes in metal. A portable electric drill is also a big aid when drilling, metal, especially if you have to drill many holes. However, when making fishing lures most drilling is done in wood or softer metals such as brass and copper. Here an ordinary hand drill will serve the purpose. Such a hand drill will usually take drills up to ¼ in. in diameter. When buying a hand drill it's a good idea to get the best you can get. A cheap hand drill may not work properly or will soon break or wear out.
You also need a set of twist drills to use with an electric or hand drill. For the drill press or electric drill you will need a set of high-speed drills. The high-speed drills can be used for fast drilling without losing their temper. For drilling wood or soft metals, carbon drills which are cheaper than high speed drills can be used. You should get a complete set of drills up to about ¼ in. in diameter. The smaller sizes are the ones you will use most often. It's a good idea to buy two or three twist drills of the same size in the smaller sizes so that if you break one you'll have a spare.
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