Articles and stories on fishing in general

Posts and other content that look at all things fishing in general, salt water and fly fishing.

Fishing Simplified?

I usually try and ignore the mangled English that can sometimes be found flowing from the keyboard of people for whom English is a second language – but the following gem is from a US boat rental website, mostly in English…

“Popular Fishing Types: Choice your best.

Fly Fishing
Fly fishing is an very old and severe sort of fishing that has a unmatched way of fishing. Although this is severe in nature, but moreover a really relaxing sport. Flies are the many critical apparatus in fly fishing and flies are synthetic in nature, but shut to the originals. use of fly fishermen fishing techniques, fishing both uninformed and salt water, but of march not similar ways. Britain, Japan, North America and Australia are the places where people are going to be staunch to fly fishing.

Fishing Game
Game Fishing is popularly well known as the low sea competition fishing, competition fishing or offshore fishing offshore. This fishing is really renouned in Australia and New Zealand. In the fishing diversion fishing to grasp tuna and marlin go. The ships are about 18-21 feet are best for such adventures. In Hawaii, these boats are well known as the butterfly navy on the other palm are called “party boats in New Zealand.

River Fishing
River fishing is one thing that is really renouned amid the local race of places. This is similarly renouned and interesting as infectious fish in the sea. River fishing requires calm and a proper outline will make it even more enjoyable. If you’re on an exploit of this, then do not dont think about to project in to the place only. I will not give great results in minimal time.

Reef Fishing
The embankment refers to a shallow of rocks, coral or sand that rises nearby the aspect of a body of water. So fisherman can fish from the seaside of a sea, stream or lake. Before you go fishing on the reefs you must be have a great thought about the height of the H2O goes fishing. It is not a correct thing to fish in unknown waters, if you are out fishing on the reefs. It is appropriate to take a thick rod with you, since this sort of fishing requires a great treat of strength and infrequently the fishermen finish up violation their rods. Weather conditions and breeze citation are moreover a few special factors that you must be consider. When it comes to lures, live shrimp, crabs, mullet and a accumulation of other fish work well in this sort of fishing.”

There is more but my head hurts!

Posted by Tony Bishop in fishing humour, weird fishy stuff

Pretty accurate hook size chart – if you print it

Finding an accurate hook size chart has been difficult, many are wildly inaccurate, even from reputable manufacturers – but at last I found one.

I have just uploaded a PDF document of Tiemco fly and salt water hooks. The sizes appear to be fairly accurate, but only if you print the chart at 100%. Sizes on your screen are not accurate as they are distorted by the pixel setting your screen uses.

The hook styles and shapes do not cover all hooks, but all the basics are there, so it is an excellent overall guide.

For full run-down of hook information see this.

Posted by Tony Bishop in Articles and stories on fishing in general, big game fishing, fishing flies, fly tying, salt water fishing, salt water fishing tackle

My Oath–it’s pointless swearing at fish

A while ago I wrote a light-hearted article for a fishing magazine on the subject of swearing which seems to be deeply embedded in many fishermen. I thought I did  pretty good job, till I read this…

“… what all this hoop-tidoo is leading up to is the uselessness of swearing at fish. Firstly it is rude. Secondly the fish can’t hear you. A good swear is sometimes effective and even therapeutic when it is directed at a tree that has decided that it can’t live without your line; a good swear might even work (though I doubt it) when directed loud enough at a bull that has just come up to make sure you aren’t about to start chatting up one of his cows; but no amount of effing and jeffing (as my old Gran used to call it) will upset, embarrass or discombobulate the fish that has just broken you off and swum off to fight another day.

Now not only is this discourteous to our quarry, it looks and sounds daft. What is a grown man doing shouting rude words at creature with its ears full of water.

My response to such a situation is to sit down, put my head in my hands and try to remember how to breathe.  …”

– Mike Harding (The Rochdale Fluffchucker)– Fly-Fishing and Fly-Tying Magazine(UK)

Posted by Tony Bishop in fishing humour

Fly Fishing Answers, Learning the Double Haul – on MidCurrent

This tip on how to get the double-haul timing right to achieve longer fly-fishing casts is so simple, and so effective, (I have tried it), you must give it a go.  See it here.

While you are there make sure you read Tom Rosenbauer’s article on the double haul, and take a look at Joan Wulff’s video on hauling it is nearly definitive.

Posted by Tony Bishop in Fishing Videos, fly fishing how-to

Video: First Recorded Marlin on Fly?

Over on MidCurrent  is an amazing piece of vintage footage of what may well be the first marlin recorded on fly fishing gear.

The clip includes some of the most incredible jump sequences ever captured on film.

A must see.

Posted by Tony Bishop in Fishing Videos, fly fishing, salt water fly fishing

Separating Stuck Rod Joints

There can be a problem that affects all rods with joints, sometimes they just stick and it is the Devil’s own job to separate them.

With the exception of strong surf rods, one of the worst ways to try and unstick the joints is to have a friend grab one side of the joint and you the other side, and pull. It is very hard to keep the rod dead straight and a broken rod at the joint is a common result. Even worse is for you and your friend to try and twist the rod in opposite directions as you pull. Result – same as above. This is especially true of light spinning and fly-fishing rods.

There are two methods that work for me – but I am totally at a loss to know why.

First, put the behind your back, clasp the rod with each hand on either side of the joint and pull apart. I have seen this work, and experienced it myself, on apparently immovable joints.

Second method, and again I do not know why it works, is to pack the joint with a bag of ice or frozen peas for about ten minutes, then pull apart.

Stuck rod joints can be avoided by a couple of quick tips:

  • Before joining the rod give the male joint a good rub down with a cloth to remove dust or fine sand.
  • After cleaning the male spigot rub it a few times up and down the side of your nose. The natural grease imparts a very fine lubricant.

When joining the rod pieces, just seat the two halves firmly together, never force down on the joint. Ramming the two pieces together is a definite ‘no-no’.

And finally, it is a good idea to test that the joint is firm regularly during a fishing session. A loose joint, can lead to a broken rod, because the overlap between the male and female parts becomes too short. This is especially important when fly fishing.

Posted by Tony Bishop in Articles and stories on fishing in general, fly fishing how-to, salt water how-to and tips

Rock Snot Cure-All – Not!

There is a growing trend in the USA for various states to consider banning felt sole wading boots. A couple have already taken the plunge and of course anglers are exhibiting all the angst that hit new New Zealand fly-fishers when the ‘no felt soles’ regulation came into being.

Some US sites are promoting ‘Uncle Jacks Didymo Killer’ because various test have shown it to be a an excellent rock snot killer, on contact with didymo.

In fact some sites are suggesting Uncle Jacks is so good it will negate the need to ban felt soles. Unfortunately this is simply not the case. Uncle Jacks is a good and effective surface spray, and works well on any didymo that it makes contact with. But it is the contact bit that hides the problem.

Tests conducted here in New Zealand and elsewhere have shown conclusively that wading on infested rocks with felt soles forces the didymo ‘spores’ deep inside the felt, so deep, that no surface spray gets anywhere near it. The spores can live in damp felt for weeks. And it only needs a tiny number of the minute ‘spores’ to infest a river.

There are two ways to ensure didymo is killed in felt soles:

  • Dry them for at least 72 hours in a dry, warm environment.
  • Freeze the boots for at least 12 hours.

As to the rest of the wading gear, waders, boots, laces, boot tongues, wading staff, landing net, etc., anything that makes contact with the river – go mad with Uncle Jack’s or any other sprays that do the business, there are a number of them. They will deal to didymo – but in felt soles? Afraid not!

Posted by Tony Bishop in environment and conservation, fly fishing how-to

Muddy Waters – Of Mud, Mothers, Eels and the Boy

Reading the story in my last post about a big eel attacking a trout here in New Zealand reminded me that the first story I ever wrote for New Zealand Fishing News magazine was about eels.

It was written about 22 years ago – don’t time fly! It was pretty well received way back then, so maybe it is time for a re-run. Have a read here

Posted by Tony Bishop in fishing humour, New Zealand Fishing

A little video on New Zealand

Put together by Chris Benny Imaging, this video goes just a little way to explaining why I love living here, and just how great it was to come home after nearly a month travelling, literally, around the world.

Posted by Tony Bishop in Fishing Videos, New Zealand Fishing