Tips on where to finf fish

Freshwater Lakes & Ponds

Lakes and ponds are great places for fish to live. They produce abundant plant food and offer plenty of cover for fish to hide. Shoreline structures like docks, logs, stumps, brush and rocks provide shelter, shade and protection for fish. Which means they also provide great fishing opportunities for the anxious angler.

You can fish lakes and ponds from the shore or from a boat. You can find fish in shallow or deep water, in open water or near natural or man-made structures. In lakes, you can catch freshwater fish like largemouth and smallmouth bass, pike, pickerel, perch, panfish, trout, even salmon.

Get to know your lake structure. Points, inlets, holes, sunken islands, dams, submerged objects (manmade or natural) and reeds and weeds are all considered structure. You should always fish in and around structure. It's a simple formula.

* Structure creates shallows
* Shallows create plant growth
* Plant growth attracts bait fish
* Bait fish attract game fish, the fish you want to catch


Cliffs and Steep Shore Banks

A shear cliff or bank that goes straight down into deep water provides no structure, break line or gradual path to deeper water. So it doesn't attract fish. On the other hand, a cliff or bank that has an underwater shelf or slopes gradually toward deeper water does attract fish. You should also look for crumbled-off rock at the underwater base of sharp cliffs. Deep-water fish may be attracted to these rocks for food or spawning.


Rocks

Rocks are structure. They provide fish with shelter (cover), food and a possible place to mate. Remember, always fish structure. If the rocks are in deeper water or on the edge of deeper water, they provide an even better place to fish. Just don't snag your bait.

FISHING TECHNIQUES 4

Jigging

Jig fishing is popular and challenging. Why? Because the person fishing is creating the action that attracts, or doesn’t attract, the particular type of fish he or she is trying to catch. Here’s how it works. Cast out and let your jig hook sink to the bottom. Then use your rod tip to raise the bait about a foot off the bottom. Then let it drop back to the bottom. You can jig up and down, side to side or up and down and sideways. Jig rigs come in all sizes, shapes and colors, and can be used with or without live bait.


Jig and Worm

Attach a worm to your jig hook and use it to bottom hop or sweep through your target area. To bottom hop, cast to the target and let the jig sink. Then reel in slowly, twitching the rod with every third or fourth turn of your reel. To sweep, cast to the target and drag the jig parallel to the bottom while reeling with a fairly tight line. Slow and steady gets the fish when you’re sweeping with a jig and worm.


Ice Fishing

Fishing through a three-foot hole in the ice? Yup. It’s a unique way to catch multiple species of northern, fresh-water fish. And thanks to advancements in garment design, portable fish houses and fish locating devices, it’s becoming more and more popular every day. One- to three-foot rods are most often used and simple reels hold the line. You can also ice fish with tip-ups. When a fish hits your tip-up gear, it releases a lever that raises a flag or rings a bell. This means you should stop playing cards with your buddies and start reeling.

Many fisherman fish with no protective structure other than their winter clothes. Longer fishing expeditions can be mounted with simple structures. Larger, heated structures can make multiday fishing trips possible, but these are often eschewed by seasoned fishers, many of whom do not use these larger shelters. In other words, they think they are wimpy.

For those who are game for a cozier experience, a structure with various local names, but often called an ice shanty, ice shack or just plain shack, fish house, bob house, or ice hut, is sometimes used. These are dragged or trailered onto the lake using a vehicle such as a snowmobile, ATV or truck. The two most commonly used houses are portable and permanent shelters. The portable houses are usually made of a heavy, watertight material. The permanent shelters are made of wood or metal and usually have wheels for easy transportation. They can be as basic as a bunk, heater and holes or as elaborate as having satellite TV, bathrooms, stoves, and full-size beds, and may appear to be more like a mobile home than a fishing house.

Ice Fishing Basics: Setting Up Traditional Ice Fishing Tip Up
Courtesy of ExpertVillage.com

Fishing From Boats

Big or small, motorized or outfitted with paddles, a boat simply allows you to cover more water. But for most folks, a boat simply makes fishing a lot more fun. The boat you choose should be based on where you want to fish and what kind of fish you’re stalking. Some boats are better on rivers, streams and ponds. And some are best used on large bodies of water. Choose your boat wisely and follow the rules.

* Know your boat and how to handle it.
* The water you’re in contains hazards such as submerged trees and rocks.
* Watch the weather conditions and follow emergency procedures.
* Always carry safety devices and know how to use them.
* The boat operator is legally responsible for the boat and the safety of those on board.
* Understand the rules of navigation, the courtesies of safe boating and always complete a boater safety course prior to operating a boat for the first time.

Catch and Release

Catch and release was first introduced in Michigan in 1952, as a way to reduce the cost of stocking hatchery-raised trout. Since then, conservationists and sport fisherman alike have promoted catch and release to ensure sustainability and avoid over fishing. Proper catch and release fishing techniques also reduce fish fighting and handling times and help avoid damage to fish skin, scales and slime layers— damage that can leave fish vulnerable to fungal skin infections.
Here are some simple rules.

* Don't keep a fish out of water longer than you can hold your breath.
* Never tear a hook out of the fish. Make or purchase an efficient hook remover.
* If a fish loses consciousness, try to revive it by gently moving it forward and backward so water moves through its gills.
* When the fish begins to struggle and can swim, let it go.


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Sea bass with roasted pepper vinaigrette BBQ recipe

Ingredients

For the vinaigrette



* 3 bell peppers, preferably red, yellow, and orange

* 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

* 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice

* 2 tablespoons finely chopped Italian parsley

* 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

* 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic

* 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

* 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

* 1/4 teaspoon Tabasco sauce

* 4 skinless sea bass fillets, about 6 ounces each and 1 inch thick

* Extra-virgin olive oil

* Kosher salt

* Freshly ground black pepper


Method



To make the vinaigrette: Grill the bell peppers over Direct High heat until the skins are evenly charred on all sides, 10 to 12 minutes, turning every 3 to 4 minutes. Remove from the grill and place in a paper bag; close tightly. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes to steam off the skins. Remove the peppers from the bag and peel away the charred skins. Cut off the tops and remove the seeds. Cut the peppers into 1/4-inch strips and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the remaining vinaigrette ingredients. Add the peppers and set aside for as long as 1 day.


Lightly brush or spray the fish fillets with olive oil. Season them with salt and pepper to taste. Grill over Direct High heat until the flesh is opaque in the centre, 5 to 7 minutes, turning once halfway through grilling time. Remove from the grill and serve warm with the roasted pepper vinaigrette spooned over the top.

Makes 4 servings.

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FISHING TECHNIQUES 3

Live Lining

Your line is “live” when your boat is anchored in a flowing body of water like a river or stream. Use live or prepared baits and keep them on or just off the bottom. Live lining off the bottom allows your line to drift with the current through holes and rocks where the fish may be holding. Your equipment and the size of your hooks and lures depend on what type of fish you’re after.


Chumming

To attract fish or get them biting again, you can throw “chum” into the water where you’re fishing. You can use ground-up bait fish, canned sweet corn, dead minnows in a coffee can (for ice fishing), pet food, even breakfast cereal. Or stir up some natural chum by scraping the bottom with a boat oar. Be sure not to over-chum. You want to get them interested in feeding; you do not want to stuff them before they get a chance to go after your hook. Chumming is not legal in all states. Check local fishing regulations to make sure you are not illegally stimulating the hunger of your future catch.


Bottom Bouncing

Bottom Bouncing is done from a drifting or trolling boat, and it’s a great way to attract or locate fish during most seasons and times of day. Use a buck tail jig or natural bait and drag it along the bottom. The dragging motion causes the lure to bounce along stirring up small clouds of sand or mud. After a few strikes with bottom bouncing, you can drop anchor and apply other methods to hook the particular kind of species you’ve attracted.


Trolling

Most trolling is done using a small electric motor that moves the boat quietly through the water so fish aren’t spooked. But you can also troll by towing a lure while walking along the edge of a shoreline, bridge or pier. The speed of the boat determines the depth of your bait. And the depth of the bait is determined by the species of fish you’re trying to catch. Use a spinning reel or a bait caster for trolling. Some states don’t allow motorized trolling, so check out your local fishing regulations to avoid tangling with the fish enforcers.


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FISHING TECHNIQUES 2

Fly Fishing

With fly fishing, various materials are used to design a very lightweight lure called a fly. Fish think the fly is an insect and they take the bait on, or just above, the surface of the water. It takes a little practice, but fly fishing is a pure and exciting way to fish.

Unlike other casting methods, fly fishing can be thought of as a method of casting line rather than lure. Non-fly fishing methods rely on a lure's weight to pull line from the reel during the forward motion of a cast. By design, a fly is too light to be cast, and thus simply follows the unfurling of a properly cast fly line, which is heavier and casts easier than lines used in other types of fishing. The angler normally holds the fly rod in the dominant hand and manipulates the line with the other close to the reel, pulling line out in small increments as the energy in the line, generated from backward and forward motions, increases.

Still Fishing

Still fishing is a versatile way to go. You can do it from a pier, a bridge, an anchored boat or from shore. You can still fish on the bottom or off the bottom in ponds, lakes, rivers and streams for a variety of species. And you can still fish during most seasons and during any part of the day. Your equipment and the size of the hooks and bait you use depends on what kind of fish you¹re after. But your best equipment for still fishing is patience. You have to wait for the fish to bite.


Drift Fishing

Drift fishing allows you to fish over a variety of habitatsas your boat drifts with the currents or wind movement. You can drift fish on the bottom or change the depth with a bobber or float. Natural baits work best. But jigs, lures and artificial flies will produce good results, too. You can drift fish on ponds, lakes, rivers and streams any time of the day and year.


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Baked Yogurt Tilapia

Ingredients:

4 Tilapia filets
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard.
4 table spoons mayonnaise
1 Lemon
1/3 teaspoon black or white pepper
1/2 teaspoon red pepper
Few pieces cornflakes
1/2 cup white wine
50gr. Butter
Salt to taste

For the yogurt souse:
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
3 tablespoons yogurt
White pepper, lemon juice and dill to taste

Directions:

Rinse the filets and dry them. Pour the juice of one lemon over them and season with salt and peppers.
In a baking dish pour the white wine and place the fish filets. Smear with mustard and mayonnaise. Place pieces of butter and cornflakes over each of them and bake for 20 minutes in 200°C oven.
For the yogurt souse just mix all the ingredients.
Serve with vegetables and white wine.


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FISHING TECHNIQUES 1

Bait Casting

Bait casting is a style of fishing that relies on the weight of the lure to extend the line into the target area. Bait casting involves a revolving-spool reel (or “free spool”) mounted on the topside of the rod. Bait casting is definitely an acquired skill. Once you get the hang of the technique (check out the casting animation), you will be casting your lures right on target into the structures where fish are feeding and hanging out.

With bait casting, you can use larger lures (1/2 to 3/4) and cast them for longer distances. To get started, you’ll need a rod with good spring action, a good quality anti-backlash reel, 10–15 pound test line and a variety of specific bait casting lures.

Spin Casting

We won’t say it’s foolproof, but spin casting is an ideal fishing method for beginning anglers. Spin-casting equipment is easier to use than bait casting. You can use it to cast both light and heavy lures without tangling or breaking your line. Basic equipment includes a 7-foot rod, a spinning reel and 6–10 pound test line for casting 1/16 to 3/4 ounce lures. You can use an open-face, closed-face or spin-cast reel for spin casting.

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Salt Water and Tides

Tides raise and lower the water level approximately two times per day and affect where fish are located and how they feed. The timing of a high or low tide changes daily and is also different for each coastal area.

A shallow area that might hold fish and may be a good spot to fish during a high tide, might be a bare mud bank during low tide conditions. And a slough (a slight depression in the bottom) that might be perfect for bottom feeding fish during a low tide, might be too deep and difficult to fish on a high tide.

Running tides (rising or falling) are best since they cause bait to move and promote active feeding among coastal fish. Changing tides, time of day and location are also important when you're fishing in brackish water—coastal water that's a mix of salt water and fresh water and contains saltwater and freshwater fish. Brackish water is found in most tidal creeks and rivers along coasts and is highly affected by tidal movements.

In general, the best fishing is almost always on a rising or falling tide—not dead low or dead high tide when there is little or no water movement.

Determining the best time to fish requires checking on many fishing factors and outdoor conditions. Read the local newspaper and visit with folk at a local tackle shop to get accurate tide information.

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Seasonal Lake Turnover

Turnover refers to the exchange of surface and bottom water in a lake or pond. This annual recycling program happens twice a year. There's spring turnover and fall turnover and summer stagnation in between. From spring to fall, warmer water goes from the top of the lake to the bottom and cooler water moves from the bottom to the top.

An understanding of turnover, combined with knowledge of what kind of water a particular fish likes, can make you a real fishing genius. As always, good luck.

Spring Turnover

Once the ice is out, the water on the surface of a lake starts to warm. When it reaches 39 degrees it begins to sink and is replaced by cooler water from below. This exchange continues until the water temperature is constant in the entire lake. Early in this process, fish will stay in the shallow areas of the lake where the water warms up faster, and where the first plant growth of the spring occurs.

Summer Stagnation

During the summer, the sun heats water near the surface of lakes, but it doesn't sink. Eventually a condition known as "stratification" develops, putting a well-defined warm layer of water over a cool one.

Fish like the cooler water, but they also need the higher oxygen levels found in warmer water. So they'll migrate to an area right between the two levels of water called the thermo cline. The thermo cline can occur between 2 and 10 feet in depth, depending on the size of the lake.

It's best to find a point or some other form of structure that extends out from the shoreline and slopes gradually down into the thermo cline. This should be a place where fish can find warmer water, but have quick access to deeper, cooler and safer water.

Fall Turnover

With the arrival of fall and cooler air temperatures, water at the surface of lakes cools, becoming almost as heavy as the cooler bottom water. Strong autumn winds move surface water around, which promotes mixing with deeper water. This is fall turnover.

As mixing continues, lake water becomes more uniform in temperature and oxygen level, allowing fish to move around freely. Fish can be difficult to find as long as these conditions prevail, usually continues until the weather turns cold, chilling the lake's surface.

Water Temperature and Turnover

Each fish has a different range of water temperature in which it can survive. Although fish cannot always find the exact temperature they prefer, they are usually found in water close to that temperature.

By combining a knowledge of preferred water temperature and lake turnover, you can kind-of-sort-of predict which fish will be in a particular part of a lake at a particular time of the year.

Fish that like warmer water will be surface feeders in the summer and bottom feeders in the fall. And fish that like cooler water will feed deep in the spring and on the surface in the fall. But don't hold us to this. Fish are always tough to catch.


Temperatures

Too many hot days in the summer can make fish in shallow lakes, ponds and rivers sluggish. The same thing happens in the winter when water temperatures are lower. Why? All fish are cold-blooded. Meaning they can't keep their body temperature at a constant level like humans and other warm-blooded animals. So the temperature of their surroundings influences the fish's body temperature and bodily functions. Really high and really low water temperatures reduce the amount of oxygen in the water, making fish less active and picky about when and what they.

So here's the first rule of when to fish. Fishing will be slower when it's too hot or too cold.

Understanding this bit of biology will help you decide what kinds of lures and baits to use, and how fast or slow to work them. Work your tackle slower in colder water and faster in warm water.

Light

Fish prefer early morning and evening sun to the bright sun of midday. Morning sun warms the shallows, creating more comfortable water temperatures for fish to feed. Late morning is best when the sun has had more of a chance to warm the shallows. This is particularly true during early spring in shallows with dark or mud bottoms because dark areas absorb heat more rapidly than light sandy bottoms.

Warm water temperatures make bait fish more active and available to game fish on cool early-spring days. On hot sunny days, fish move to cooler, deeper waters to stay comfortable. High-heat conditions make shallow and top water lures and bait best only in the early morning and late afternoon when cooler temperatures and lower light levels allow fish to cruise the shallows for meals.

In midday, hot water surface temperature, decreased surface oxygen and occasional increasing winds cause fish to move deeper. In these conditions, deep fishing baits, rigs and lures are best.

Already, you can see how a combination of time of day, light and weather can affect your fishing.

Variable Weather Conditions

Wind

Wind can play a large role in fishing success. Wind pushes water and surface food to the far shore, with bait fish behind it, and with game fish behind the bait fish. So if you're fishing from shore on a windy day, fish where you have to cast into the wind. That way your lure moves with the wind, just like the other food in the lake at the same time. If you're fishing from a boat, cast with the wind on a sheltered shore.

Storms

Storms and changing weather patterns affect fishing success since fish are keenly attuned to changes in barometric conditions. With many fish, feeding increases during the hours immediately before a cold front, but slows during and after a storm or front hits.

Fishing after a cold front is poor and continues to be poor for a day or two. Warm fronts cause surface water temperatures to increase, putting fish into a feeding mode. This can be particularly true in the winter, when a warming trend can cause otherwise sluggish fish to start feeding actively. Most of this feeding activity is on or near the warm surface.

Cloudy days improve fishing since the clouds prevent light penetration. Overcast skies cause fish to cruise for food more than they would during bright days when they tend to hide and stay close to structure. On overcast, cloudy days, fish are less likely to be at specific structure spots or areas and more likely to be scattered throughout a waterway.

A light rain is another good time to fish, especially a warm spring or summer rain. Rain can help you hide from the fish since the rain breaks up the view a fish has through the water surface. This is true for shore, wade or boat fishing. Rain also washes insects and bait into the water, creating a feeding binge for fish.

Hard rain conditions are a poor time to fish. A hard rain muddies the water, makes it difficult for fish to find bait or lures and causes heavy runoff, which can clog their gills. The increased water flow in rivers from any rain increases current flow and makes it difficult for fish to maintain a comfortable position in the river. High water levels can also create rapids, waves and unsafe fishing conditions.

When there's lightning or the possibility of lightning, get out of the water immediately, whether you're in a boat, wading or on shore. Safety first. Plus, there's no way you're going to catch fish in a violent storm.

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When to fish.

Spring/Early Morning

Fish aren't biting. The water is cold and doesn't heat up because the sun is low and the rays bounce off the water. But don't go home yet, because winter is over and fish are hungry and spawning. Best to wait until a week or so after thaw, as spring turnover takes time for the water temperature to even out to 39.2 degrees.

Spring/Late Morning-Early Afternoon

Fish are biting off and on. The water begins to warm up because rays begin to penetrate the water. Remember to fish the downwind shoreline, as the winds will push the warmer surface water along with surface food into that area.

Spring/Afternoon-Early Evening

Fish are eating a lot because their metabolism and digestion are cranked. Water is warm because the sun is directly overhead.

Summer/Early Morning-Late Afternoon

Fishing is excellent from before sunup to just before mid-morning. At this time of year there is abundant food and cover for fish, so finding hungry fish can be a challenge.

Summer/Late Morning-Early Afternoon

Fishing is poor for most of the day. Fish move to deep water to cool off.

Summer/Afternoon-Early Evening

Fishing is excellent from early sundown until dark as the waters cool and fish rise up from the depths.

Fall/Early Morning

Fish aren't biting much from sunup to early morning. The water is cool because the sun is too low to penetrate the water.

Fall/Late Morning-Noon

Fish are biting off and on in warmer, shallow water. The water is generally cool due to the season.

Fall/Afternoon-Early Evening

Fishing is excellent. Sun is directly overhead for several hours and the water gets more comfortable near the surface. This makes for seasonally good fishing because fish are putting on weight for the winter. Look for bait schools where bigger fish are more likely to be.

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How to Keep Fishing Worms Alive for Fishing

Step 1

I would suggest that you use red or night crawlers worms. They are also called fishing worms, earth worms.
You can start with some shredded newspaper, moistened,or any paper similar to newspaper. Use the black and white pages do not use any paper with color ink. Add a couple of handfuls of garden soil or fine dirt not clay its to hard and lumpy, not potting soil, and a couple of crushed egg shells. Keep the bedding wet but not soaked. The moisture helps them to breathe, but too much water will drown the worms,just practice with the dampness until you get it right.
You can feed your worms fruit and vegetable scraps and starchy scraps, like bread, oatmeal, and pasta. Do not feed them too much acidic foods, like citric fruits, coffee ground and tea bags. They do best with a pH between 7 and 8. You can use egg shells to balance the effects of coffee grounds, orange and lemon peels. Make sure that the eggshells are cooked before giving them to the worms.
Never feed your worms meat, poultry, dairy products, or salty food , like potato chips. These will create odors and bring in bugs and insects,fly's and such.
Your fishing worms should eat about half their body weight each day. Take this into consideration when you are deciding how much food to add to the fishing worm box or container.

Step 2

Worms require oxygen so keep the lid partially open to allow air to circulate.If you have a garage keep them over in one of the corners near the door for good ventilation do not put them in direct sunlight.Earthworms have the ability to replace or replicate lost segments.
Do not over feed the worms. Overfeeding can lead to odor problems. As your worm population increases, you can add more food per day. Burying the food in the damp newspaper will keep mold from growing in the fishing worm farm.
Remember not to get the fishing worm bedding too wet, add some dry bedding, leave the cover off for a few days, or carefully drain the water off. If it is too dry, add some cool water and leave the fishing worm farm loosely covered. The fishing worm long, slender body helps it move through moist bedding. The fishing worm eats and digests the food you put in the soil as it moves through it.

Step 3

Fishing worm Fishing worm You can go out at night when the grass is wet and pull some worms for your worm farm.Remember these fishing worm will last for awhile but you need to take them fishing before they get to old and start dieing.


Tips & Warnings

* Finally, don't beat up your live fishing worms by fishing them too fast.Let them bounce along the bottom slowly for best results when using live fishing worm .


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Grilled Snapper with Orzo Pasta Salad

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups uncooked orzo (rice-shaped pasta)
Cooking spray
4 (6-ounce) red snapper fillets
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided
1 1/2 tablespoons minced shallots
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons orange juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 1/2 tablespoons extravirgin olive oil

Directions:

Cook pasta according to the package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain and keep warm.

Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle fish evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Add fish to pan; cook 3 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness.

Combine remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/8 teaspoon pepper, shallots, parsley, lemon juice, orange juice, and mustard in a small bowl, stirring well. Slowly add olive oil, stirring constantly with a whisk. Drizzle the shallot mixture over pasta; toss well to coat.

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How To Fish For Walleye

SPRING
Top Baits: Small crankbaits, small jigs and plastic worms.
Fish shallow to moderate depths as the walleye move into the shallows to spawn. Gravel ledges, points and submerged humps in protected areas are prime holding areas.

SUMMER
Top Baits: Crankbaits, Jigs and plastic worms.
Fish shallow in the mornings and evenings and move deeper as the sun rises. Use lures that mimic crawfish as this is a favorite food of the walleye. Follow points and rocky or gravel structure deeper until you establish the proper depth.

FALL
Top Baits: Jigs, crankbaits and spoons.
Fish shallow to moderate depths in the mornings and evenings. As the sun rises move deeper toward outside structure and use small spoons or jigs.

WINTER
Top Baits: Jigs, spoons and plastic worms.
Try moderately shallow depths in the mornings then move deeper as the sun rises. Walleyes are less active in cold water, so move your bait in a slow, easy to catch manner and fish deep structure.

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Fishing surprise

It was a beautiful June afternoon, I was out on a charter in the bay and we were going fishing for stripped bass. The day started out great and a couple of people reeled in some nice fish. I do not have my own rod and really do not know much about them but I really enjoy fishing and when I get the chance I am on board. The mate put the bait on my hook and cast out for me and I just waited until I felt a hit. When it hit a couple of times I gave it a chance and then I hooked it and started to reel it in. This fish gave me a good fight and a workout and about 10 minutes of fighting and reeling I got it to the boat and to my surprise I caught a 3 foot sand shark. I never experienced anything like that before and I will never forget it and as the day went by everyone caught their limit of 2 strippers and I actually caught a 44 inch stripper which was the biggest fish of the day besides the shark.


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Jamaican Brown Stew Fish

Ingredients:
900g fish filets (catfish)
1 medium onion sliced,
3-4 stalks green onion chopped
1 jalapeno chopped (chili pepper)
4 small tomatoes blended coarsely or diced
1 heaping teaspoons fresh grated ginger
garlic powder to taste
Thyme (1 tsp if dried, 1 sprig if fresh)
salt pepper to taste
maggi cube
red pepper to taste
1 tablespoon browning sauce,
1 tablespoon soy sauce
juice 1/2 lemon or 2 limes
flour to thicken
2 1/2 cup water
oil to coat pan
1 heaping tablespoon butter

Directions:
In large non-stick pan heat oil, season fish with favorite Cajun spices , or just salt and pepper if desired. Fry fish in oil until cooked through and slightly golden. Drain fish on paper towels, set aside.
In large pot Fry sliced onions, tomatoes, jalapeno, ginger, garlic powder, and thyme, in about half of oil from fish until water begins to evaporate from tomatoes and onions are soft. Add water, browning sauce, soy sauce, maggi cube, lemon juice, red pepper, butter, and flour paste to thicken. Bring to boil. Adjust seasoning to taste at this point. Add ketchup if too bitter, water if too salty, salt or another maggi cube if too bland. Add green onion. Lower heat, cut fish to about size of your palm if not a bit larger, add to stew. Simmer about 15-20 minutes on low. Serve over white rice with fried plantains on side.


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Good fishing tips

Fishing can be an incredibly relaxing way to just let loose and forget about the outside world. If you are looking to get away for awhile here are a few fishing tips that will help you out along the way!

The first tip you should consider when going fishing is the time of the year and the location. This can make a big difference when it comes to fishing. If you are looking to go ice fishing, then you need to choose the right location and the right time of year. If you want to fish for a certain type of fish, then you need to look into when that type of fish actually flourishes and where you can find them. Knowing this simple amount of information can help you in catching the most amount of fish that you want.

Choosing the right rod that you are going to fish with is going to make all the difference. Sometimes it is not all about spending the most amount of money on the best type of rod, and if you are just starting out on your fishing journey, then you want to buy fishing gear that is not that high in price. This way if you find that fishing is not the sport that you want to get into, then you will not feel so bad about the money that you spent. Keep in mind that there are different types of line and lures that you will use in order to catch a certain type of fish, so finding the right gear is going to be essential in catching the right fish.

When you catch a fish you need to know how to handle it in a certain way. You need to know how to take the hook out of the its mouth, and you need to know how to store it. If you are simply looking to just catch and release the fish, then taking the hook out of the mouth is going to effect whether or not the fish actually lives or dies, so just make sure you know how to handle it.

If you are looking to fish for just an hour or two to escape from the stress of family or work, then you are going to need a way to get rid of the fish smell on your hands. Use a hand cleaner that has an acid base such as orange or lemon, this is going to help to get your hands clean and smelling fresh.


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How to Bone a Fish

You can debone fish both before and after cooking. The bones separate quite easily after cooking, but it's often more pleasant to eat fish when the bones are removed beforehand.


Step1
Place the cleaned and dressed fish on cutting surface.

Step2
Hold the fish by the head (if the head is still attached; it doesn't need to be) and slice into the fish behind the gill until you feel the knife touch backbone.

Step3
Turn the knife so it's flat against the backbone, touching the ribs. The edge should face the tail.

Step4
Cut along the backbone through the fish from head to tail, under the fillet.

Step5
Turn fish over and repeat. At this point two sets of bones will remain in the fillet.

Step6
Cut away the rib cage bones, which will be visible, by sliding the edge of the knife between the rib bones and the meat of the fillet.

Step7
Pull out the smaller set of bones, called pin bones, that run through the center of the fillet.

Step8
Use your finger to feel for the pin bone tips sticking out of the fillet. Use tweezers or needle-nose pliers to grab the tips and pull them out.

# The sharper the knife, the better. Fish flesh is usually very delicate, especially trout and smaller fish, and requires a very sharp knife to cut cleanly. Serrated knives and electric knives are not recommended. They will make a mess.
# Fish should be cleaned and dressed before deboning, that is, they should be gutted and rinsed in clean water. (See the related eHows for instructions.)
# Flat fish, such as halibut, sole and flounder, have the same sets of bones, but they're aligned differently. You can fillet them and leave the bones behind completely. Fillet flatfish by making a cut down the backbone (feel for it with your fingers first). On either side of the backbone, cut down until you feel the ribs, then slice under the fillet along the ribs until you reach the edge of the fish and the fillets are removed in two pieces per side.
# Since you'll be using a very sharp knife, be careful.


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Cajun Kitchen Seafood Gumbo

1 pound mixture of lump crab, crawfish tail
and black tiger shrimp
1/2 bunch celery, chopped
4 large onions, chopped
2 large bell peppers, chopped
2 cups flour
1 cup oil
2 1/2 large cans chicken broth
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
Pinch of thyme
1 cup bourbon
Heat all ingredients except seafood meat and chicken broth in large pan over low heat, creating a dark brown roux. Pour in broth and bring to a boil, stirring well so mixture doesn't stick to pan. Add seafood, return to boil. Lower heat, cover, and simmer until seafood is tender.


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How can I sneak up on fish?

Some freshwater fish are wary and easily spooked, quick to stop biting or head into less accessible deep water. Especially in smaller ponds, lakes and rivers, fish are well aware of the sounds in their underwater world and are startled by intruding ones, like paddles splashing in the water or gas-powered outboard motors . Quiet, clean electric trolling motors help anglers move undetected throughout your favorite fishing spots. Smooth steady paddling is the key to not disturbing fish in a kayak.
Electric trolling motors are made for every-sized boat, provide hours of quiet propulsion at a time, and are available at prices starting as low as $99. They come with batteries that are quickly, easily and inexpensively recharged through any electric outlet.
A kayak is generally a silent watercraft, and good paddling technique makes your kayak nearly undetectable as it slides across the water's surface. You want to avoid moving directly above fish, where your shadow might spook them, but your kayak can get you close enough to cast into productive water.
Trolling motors and kayaks enable anglers to sneak into bays, stump beds, cattails and other shallow water hotspots.


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BASS FISHING FUNDAMENTALS

Many anglers believe that a bass cannot read differences in air pressure.
According to many studies, if a bass is holding in three-feet of water, a difference in water pressure caused by a difference in air pressure would be so low that neither man nor fish could detect it.
But, If that bass changes depth by three inches, the change in water pressure would be far greater than any change caused by a change in air pressure. And a bass changes depths by more than three-inches several times an hour, while it takes eight or more hours for the change in air pressure that is equal to a three-inch change in water depth.
There is an alternate theory. Moist air is lighter (weighs less) than dry air; and warm air is lighter than cold air. Therefore, warm moist air causes low air pressure readings, not the other way around.
Conversely: dry, colder air causes increases in air pressure, not the other way around.
When the atmosphere changes from sunny to cloudy,the air pressure drops and the fish react to the change in cloud cover,not to the change in air pressure. Similarly,a cold front is a mass of cold, dry air that pushes away any warmer, moister air in front of it. When a cold front approaches we see cloudy, rainy weather,which causes a drop in air pressure. Then,immediately behind the front there is cooler,clear,dry air. These conditions cause a rise in air pressure.
Differentials in air pressure behind the front cause a strong northerly wind.The bass react to changes in cloud cover and changes in wind, not to changes in air pressure.
When a cold front passes through, it has a major effect on bass fishing. Whether it is cause or effect, the bass seem to get lockjaw after a cold front passes through.
Bass instinctively hold close to cover when the sun is shining, and they scatter as the sky clouds over. When the sun is shining expect the bite to come when the lure is close to cover. On cloudy days the bite can occur anywhere. On sunny days constantly toss the lures at cover. On cloudy days fan cast large areas. On sunny days toss crankbaits or spinner baits at cover, but if this does not work, toss jigs-and-pigs or soft plastic at the cover.
On cloudy days work large areas rapidly with crankbaits or spinner baits, and sometimes throw soft plastic at cover.
With either sun or clouds, try throwing a lizard on a Carolina rig, but work the rig more rapidly on cloudy days than on sunny days.
And last but not least.....

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES
IS TO REMEMBER THAT FISH DO NOT HAVE HANDS So
IF YOU FEEL A BITE.....SET THE HOOK !!!!!

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Water Temperature

Water temperature has an important influence upon the activities of all fish. Fish are cold-blooded and their bodies are always the temperature of the surrounding water. During the winter, colder water slows down their metabolism. At this time, they need about a fourth as much food as they consume in the summer.

Most fish don't spawn unless the water temperature is within rather narrow limits. The surface water temperature gauge built into many of our sonar units helps identify the desired surface water spawning temperatures for various species. For example, trout can't survive in streams that get too warm. Bass and other fish eventually die out when stocked in lakes that remain too cold during the summer. While some fish have a wider temperature tolerance than others, each has a certain range within which it tries to stay. Schooling fish suspended over deep water lie at the level that provides this temperature. We assume they are the most comfortable here.


Lowrance liquid crystal graph marking a thermocline on Skiatook Lake near Tulsa, in Oklahoma, between 40 and 50 feet of water. Notice how the thermocline stays consistent across the body of water regardless of bottom contour.

The temperature in a lake is seldom the same from the surface to the bottom. Usually there is a warm layer of water and a cooler layer. Where these layers meet is called a thermocline. The depth and thickness of the thermocline can vary with the season or time of day. In deep lakes there may be two or more thermoclines. This is important because many species of game fish like to suspend in, just above, or just below the thermocline. Many times bait fish will be above the thermocline while larger game fish will suspend in or just below it. Fortunately, this difference in temperatures can be seen on the sonar screen. The greater the temperature differential, the denser the thermocline shows on the screen.


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Fish Grotto Avocado Shrimp and Crab Salad

2 California avocados, large, peeled and diced
(Note: Reserve 4 slices for garnish.)
1 cup celery, chopped
8 ounces creamy French dressing
8 ounces tartar sauce with pickles
8 ounces shrimp meat
8 ounces crab meat
Plate Garnish
4 red leaf lettuce leaves, large
8 cherry tomatoes
4 sprigs parsley
Paprika
Gently mix all ingredients. Divide evenly into four mounds. Form each mound into oval avocado shape, and place on lettuce leaf-lined plate. Top each mound with one of the reserved avocado slices. Sprinkle on paprika for color. Garnish side of mound with two cherry tomatoes and parsley sprig.
Serve with warm Italian bread.

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Water and Bottom Conditions

The type of water you're using the sonar in affects its operation to a large degree. Sound waves travel easily in a clear freshwater environment, such as most inland lakes.

In salt water however, sound is absorbed and reflected by suspended material in the water. Higher frequencies are most susceptible to this scattering of sound waves and can't penetrate salt water nearly as well as lower frequencies. Part of the problem with salt water is that it's a very dynamic environment - the oceans of the world. Wind and currents constantly mix the water. Wave action creates and mixes air bubbles into the water near the surface, which scatters the sonar signal. Micro-organisms, such as algae and plankton, scatter and absorb the sonar signal. Minerals and salts suspended in the water do the same thing. Fresh water also has wind, currents and micro-organisms living in it that affect the sonar's signal - but not as severely as salt water.

Mud, sand and vegetation on the bottom absorb and scatter the sonar signal, reducing the strength of the return echo. Rock, shale, coral and other hard objects reflect the sonar signal easily. You can see the difference on your sonar's screen. A soft bottom, such as mud, shows as a thin line across the screen. A hard bottom, such as rock, shows as a wide line on the sonar's screen.

Soft Bottom | Hard Bottom

You can compare sonar to using a flashlight in a dark room. Moving the light around the room, it's easily reflected from white walls and bright, hard objects. Moving the light onto a darkly carpeted floor returns less light because the dark color of the carpet absorbs the light, and the rough texture scatters it, returning less light to your eyes. Adding smoke to the room (children, don't try this at home!), you'll see even less. The smoke is equivalent to salt water's effect on the sonar signal.

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Transducer Cone Angles

The transducer concentrates the sound into a beam. When a pulse of sound is transmitted from the transducer, it covers a wider area the deeper it travels. If you were to plot this on a piece of graph paper, you would find that it creates a cone shaped pattern, hence the term "cone angle." The sound is strongest along the center line or axis of the cone and gradually diminishes as you move away from the center.

In order to measure the transducer's cone angle, the power is first measured at the center or axis of the cone and then compared to the power as you move away from the center. When the power drops to half (or -3db[decibels] in electronic terms), the angle from that center axis is measured. The total angle from the -3db point on one side of the axis to the -3db point on the other side of the axis is called the cone angle.

This half power point (-3db) is a standard for the electronics industry and most manufacturers measure cone angle in this way, but a few use the -10db point where the power is 1/10 of the center axis power. This gives a greater angle, as you are measuring a point further away from the center axis. Nothing is different in transducer performance; only the system of measurement has changed. For example, a transducer that has an 8 degree cone angle at -3db would have a 16 degree cone angle at -10db.

Although the half power point is the standard for measuring cone angles, fish detection angles are much larger. Lowrance sonar units have very sensitive receivers and can detect return echoes from fish, structure or the bottom out to 60° or more. This means that the fish detection angle is 60° even though the cone angle is only 20°.

20 degree cone angle | 8 degree cone angle
Lowrance offers transducers with a variety of cone angles. Wide cone angles will show you more of the underwater world, at the expense of depth capability, since it spreads the transmitter's power out. Narrow cone angle transducers won't show you as much of what's around you, but will penetrate deeper than the wide cone. The narrow cone transducer concentrates the transmitter's power into a smaller area. A bottom signal on the sonar unit's display will be wider on a wide cone angle transducer than on a narrow one because you are seeing more of the bottom. The wide cone's area is much larger than the narrow cone.

High frequency (192 - 200 kHz) transducers come in either a narrow or wide cone angle. The wide cone angle should be used for most freshwater applications and the narrow cone angle should be used for all saltwater applications. Low frequency (50 kHz) sonar transducers are typically in the 30 to 45 degree range. Although a transducer is most sensitive inside its specified cone angle, you can also see echoes outside this cone; they just aren't as strong. The effective cone angle is the area within the specified cone where you can see echoes on the display. If a fish is suspended inside the transducer's cone, but the sensitivity is not turned up high enough to see it, then you have a narrow effective cone angle. You can vary the effective cone angle of the transducer by varying the receiver's sensitivity. With low sensitivity settings, the effective cone angle is narrow, showing only targets immediately beneath the transducer and a shallow bottom. Turning the sensitivity control up increases the effective cone angle, letting you see targets farther out to the sides.


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What is a transducer

The transducer is the sonar unit's "antenna." It converts electric energy from the transmitter to high frequency sound. The sound wave from the transducer travels through the water and bounces back from any object in the water. When the returning echo strikes the transducer, it converts the sound back into electrical energy which is sent to the sonar unit's receiver. The frequency of the transducer must match the sonar unit's frequency. In other words, you can't use a 50 kHz transducer or even a 200 kHz transducer on a sonar unit designed for 192 kHz! The transducer must be able to withstand high transmitter power impulses, converting as much of the impulse into sound energy as possible. At the same time, it must be sensitive enough to receive the smallest of echoes. All of this has to take place at the proper frequency and reject echoes at other frequencies. In other words, the transducer must be very efficient.


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Shellfish Paella

Al Dente's Shellfish Paella in a Clay Casserole

1/3 cup olive oil
2 pounds white onions
2 1/2 pounds tomatoes
2 pounds green peppers
16 manila clams
8 mussels
1 pound squid
8 jumbo shrimp
1/2 pound Spanish chistorra
1 pound chicken
1 1/2 cups short rice
Touch of saffron
2 liters chicken broth

Heat oil in a shallow clay casserole or large skillet. Add onions and sauté slowly over low heat, adding tomatoes, peppers, chistorra, chicken, squid, clams, shrimp, mussels and saffron.
Add rice and chicken broth. Cook for about 25 minutes.
Let stand 10 minutes before serving.

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Fishing with my dad

When I was 13 my father asked me if I wanted to go fishing with him and my brother. I said yes and it was a nice clear summer morning and we headed down the shore.We boarded a party boat and a little while after that we headed out to the captains fishing spot and dropped our lines.We did not fish a lot so we used their rods and the mates took care of everything but reel in the fish when we hooked one.My brother got sea sick and went inside to sit down and me and my father both hooked a fish.When we reeled them in I had a blue fish and my father had a small fluke that had to be thrown back because it was too small to keep.Throughout the day we caught 4 more fish and the last fish before we headed in was on my line.I reeled it in slow because I was only 13 and not very big and when it came up it was a huge doormat fluke that was easily the biggest fish of the day.


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Fish finder frequency

Most sonar units today operate at 50 kHz - 200 kHz (kilohertz) and there are advantages to each frequency, but for almost all freshwater applications and most saltwater applications, 192 or 200 kHz is the best choice. It gives the best detail, works best in shallow water and at speed, and typically shows less "noise" and undesired echoes. Target definition is also better with these higher frequencies. This is the ability to display two fish as two separate echoes instead of one "blob" on the screen.

There are some applications where a 50 kHz frequency is best. Typically, a 50 kHz sonar (under the same conditions and power) can penetrate water to deeper depths than higher frequencies. This is due to water's natural ability to absorb sound waves. The rate of absorption is greater for higher frequency sound than it is for lower frequencies. Therefore, you'll generally find 50 kHz used in deeper saltwater applications. Also, 50 kHz transducers typically have wider coverage angles than 192 or 200 kHz transducers. This characteristic makes them useful in tracking multiple downriggers. Thus, even when these downriggers are in relatively shallow depths, 50 kHz is preferred by many fishermen. In summary, the differences between these frequencies are:

192 or 200 kHz

* Shallower depths
* Narrow cone angle
* Better definition and
target separation
* Less noise susceptibility


50 kHz
* Deeper depths
* Wide cone angle
* Less definition and
target separation
* More noise susceptibility



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Total System Performance

There are four facets to a good sonar unit:

•High power transmitter.
•Efficient transducer.
•Sensitive receiver.
•High resolution/contrast display.

We call this our "Total System Performance" specification. All of the parts of this system must be designed to work together, under any weather condition and extreme temperatures.

High transmitter power increases the probability that you will get a return echo in deep water or poor water conditions. It also lets you see fine detail, such as bait fish and structure.

The transducer must not only be able to withstand the high power from the transmitter, but it also has to convert the electrical power into sound energy with little loss in signal strength. At the other extreme, it has to be able to detect the smallest of echoes returning from deep water or tiny bait fish.

The receiver also has an extremely wide range of signals it has to deal with. It must dampen the extremely high transmit signal and amplify the small signals returning from the transducer. It also has to separate targets that are close together into distinct, separate impulses for the display.

The display must have high resolution (vertical pixels) and good contrast to be able to show all of the detail crisply and clearly. This allows fish arches and fine detail to be shown.


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Sonar tutorial for Lowrance and how it works

Sonar Tutorial

People have been fishing for thousands of years. Every person fishing has had the same problem - finding fish and getting them to bite. Although sonar can’t make the fish bite, it can solve the problem of finding fish. You can’t catch them if you’re not fishing where they are - and the Lowrance sonar will prove it

In the late 1950s, Carl Lowrance and his sons Arlen and Darrell began scuba diving to observe fish and their habits. This research, substantiated by local and federal government studies, found that about 90 percent of the fish congregated in 10 percent of the water on inland lakes. As environmental conditions changed, the fish would move to more favorable areas. Their dives confirmed that most species of fish are affected by underwater structure (such as trees, weeds, rocks, and drop-offs), temperature, current, sunlight and wind. These and other factors also influence the location of food (baitfish, algae and plankton). Together, these factors create conditions that cause frequent relocation of fish populations.

During this time, a few people were using large, cumbersome sonar units on fishing boats. Working at low frequencies, these units used vacuum tubes which required car batteries to keep them running. Although they would show a satisfactory bottom signal and large schools of fish, they couldn’t show individual fish. Carl and his sons began to conceptualize a compact, battery operated sonar that could detect individual fish. After years of research, development, struggle and simple hard work, a sonar was produced that changed the fishing world forever. Out of this simple beginning, a new industry was formed in 1957 with the sale of the first transistorized sportfishing sonar. In 1959, Lowrance introduced “The Little Green Box,” which became the most popular sonar instrument in the world. All transistorized, it was the first successful sportfishing sonar unit. More than a million were made until 1984, when it was discontinued due to high production costs. We’ve come a long way since 1957. From “little green boxes” to the latest in sonar and GPS technology, Lowrance continues to lead in the world of sportfishing sonar.


How it Works

The word "sonar" is an abbreviation for "SOund, NAvigation and Ranging." It was developed as a means of tracking enemy submarines during World War II. A sonar consists of a transmitter, transducer, receiver and display.

In the simplest terms, an electrical impulse from a transmitter is converted into a sound wave by the transducer and sent into the water. When this wave strikes an object, it rebounds. This echo strikes the transducer, which converts it back into an electric signal, which is amplified by the receiver and sent to the display. Since the speed of sound in water is constant (approximately 4800 feet per second), the time lapse between the transmitted signal and the received echo can be measured and the distance to the object determined. This process repeats itself many times per second.

The frequencies most often used by Lowrance in our sonar are 192 - 200 kHz (kilohertz); we also make some units that use 50 kHz. Although these frequencies are in the sound spectrum, they’re inaudible to both humans and fish. (You don’t have to worry about the sonar unit spooking the fish - they can’t hear it.)

As mentioned earlier, the sonar unit sends and receives signals, then “prints” the echo on the display. Since this happens many times per second, a continuous line is drawn across the display, showing the bottom signal. In addition, echoes returned from any object in the water between the surface and bottom are also displayed. By knowing the speed of sound through water (4800 feet per second) and the time it takes for the echo to be received, the unit can show the depth of the water and any fish in the water.


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What is a Chartplotter and why do I need one?

A chartplotter is an electronic navigation system that combines a GPS receiver with the capability to display electronic charts/maps, letting you continuously monitor the position and movement of your boat in relation to the surrounding physical environment, both above and below the water.

With its integral processor combining GPS data with electronic charts — the accuracy of which influences the efficiency of the system — a chartplotter pinpoints the location of your boat and can use the GPS data to calculate boat speed and direction, as well as determine the time and distance to the destination or next waypoint. It displays all this data in real time so that a navigator knows exactly where his boat is and where it’s heading, as well as continuously updating its position relative to its surrounding physical environment..

Boat owners often use chartplotters to preload routes that can then be edited at any time before or during the trip. Some chartplotters allow the navigator to store hundreds of routes at a time for future use. Each route consists of a number of waypoints to assist navigation and avoid hazards, such as shallow rocks or reefs, represented by longitude and latitude references and depicted on a screen to give a visual representation of the boat’s surroundings. Each waypoint is a numbered position and as the boat progresses past each one the system indicates the distance travelled and course remaining until the next waypoint. It will also show if the boat has strayed off course and provide information to correct the bearing in order to arrive at the next waypoint.

With the combination of GPS functionality and embedded charts, chartplotter have become an essential navigational tool which is relatively inexpensive to buy and easy to install and use on any type of craft. With a single SD card now capable of storing electronic charts for the entire western coast of the U.S., they are remarkably cost-effective.

Today’s chartplotter has come a long way from conventional paper charts and they often feature a range of additional functions including man overboard markers, zoom abilities and much more. Manufacturers, however, continue to recommend that boat owners continue to carry paper charts for important areas, in case of power failure.


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Fish Finders- The first step is to figure out what fits into your budget. Once you know the amount you can spend,look at the features available for these fish finders to determine what features interest you so you can catch more fish.

Common Features of the Best Fish Finders


In general we recommend the purchase of simpler fish finders for beginners and then step up to advanced further down the line. There are a lot of features to learn about on the advanced fish finders so if you’re a beginner start simple and save yourself a few dollars.



For most people LCD finders will work great. CRT displays are great, but they require a lot of power and the cost of these fish finders really makes them more of a luxury than a need. LCD finders will find fish just like the CRT will without all of the unneeded features for your average weekend fisherman.

When it comes to fish finder displays, being able to read it in direct sunlight is half the battle. Any quality brand name LCD finder should work fine for most fishing needs.

Frequency of the fish finders is expressed in kHZ, you will have a variety to choose from. High frequency fish finders are for smaller bodies of water and show great bottom and fish detail. Low frequency finders are for larger bodies of water both from a depth and width perspective.

Good fish finders can make the difference between a great day of catching fish and a good day of fishing.


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Broiled Bass Recipe

Broiled bass

Ingredients
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup lime juice
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/4 tsp. ground ginger
1 tbsp. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. Dill weed
1-1/2 pounds fillets

Preparation
Combine all ingredients except fish and mix well. Place fillets in a large ziplock bag and pour the marinating mixture over them. Push out air and seal the bag. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours, turning the bag over midway.

Cooking
Spray the broiler ban with nonstick cooking spray. Remove the fillets from marinade and place them on the pan. Broil for 8-10 minutes, until fish is firm and opaque, and easy to flake with fork.

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Early morning fishing trip

It was a very brisk early November morning and we were scheduled to leave the dock at 5am. I left my house at 4am,stopped at a deli and got a taylor ham,egg and cheese sandwich and a coffee and headed to the marina.Everyone arrived right behind me and grabbed the coolers and gear and boarded the boat.As we were headed out we ate and the mate set up the rods for those who did not have their own and in about an hour we are at a spot that the Furuno fish finder told the fish were.We are fishing for stripped bass and are using live eels on this day and it is absolutely freezing out on the water.In about 10 minutes I hooked one and started reeling it in and it is giving me a good fight.The mate grabs the net and pulls it in and let me tell you this fish was 45 inches and heavy,they did not have a scale to weigh it,and it was ultimately the biggest fish caught that day.Everyone pulled in their limit of 2 keepers and the captain had 2 tags so we had 2 extra fish and also had quite a few blue fish that I split with 1 other person because not too many people care for them.It was a great trip all around but very cold for early November but we could have stayed out all day if we could.

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What are you looking for

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?

The depth determines the fishing technique, and what type of lure or bait. The finder lets you see who may be at home down there, but it will not guarantee a catch. That part is up to your skills. In most fishing you will use your unit to look for underwater structure, such as tree stumps, ledges and significant bottom changes. Cover consists of underwater object such as tree stumps, weed beds, logs etc. You may also be looking for drop-offs which are gullies and channels or break-lines, which is a sharp bottom drop off point. You may just be looking for fish activity. If you locate a tight ball of baitfish then they are probably being chased by a predator. A loose school indicates no activity.

A finder is not necessarily going to tell you what the fish is. Image interpretation involves understanding both the underwater features and fish behaviour to distinguish between bait fish and the target fish. Distinguishing between the bass and the shad or other species is the angling part.

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Cajun Fried Bass

Cajun fried bass

Ingredients
1/2 cup Bisquick
1/4 cup milk
1 egg
1 cup corn meal
2 tsp. cajun seasoning
1/4 tsp. salt
1-1/2 pounds bass fillets
oil for frying

Preparation
Whisk together the Bisquick, milk and egg in a medium bowl. Mix the corn meal, cajun seasoning and salt in shallow dish. Dip the fillets into the wet batter first, then dredge in the corn meal mixture.

Cooking
Fry the fillets in hot oil until golden brown, turning once. Drain on paper towels and serve. Ranch dressing makes a great dipping sauce for this

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How sonar works

AN INTRODUCTION TO SONAR

The fish-finder started off as a submarine finder. The recent developments in computing power and microelectronics have resulted in major advances in SONAR development.

I spent a couple of years on new submarine SONAR systems, and this defense level capability has now entered the fishing world. The term SONAR is derived from the words SOund NAvigation Ranging.


HOW DOES SONAR WORK?

An fish-finder electrical signal is sent to the transducer. The electrical signal to energize the transducer crystal is generated by an amplifier. The energized crystal reverberates at a particular frequency, to convert the electrical signal into mechanical acoustic or sound energy. The acoustic energy or sound waves causes oscillation of the water molecules through which the sound travels. The sound is pulsed out in a defined beam. These do not travel out in a straight line but in a wave pattern. The acoustic pulse travels through the water at a rate of approximately 4800 ft (1500m) per second in saltwater and 4920 ft/sec in fresh water.

When the energy strikes an object within that beam such as fish, the sea bottom, or a structure then some of the energy is reflected, or echoed back to the transducer. The transducer collects this return, passes it back to the unit and this processes it into display data. As the processor is programmed with the rate of sound transmission in the water it calculates the time difference between the transmission and reception of the returned signal to give a range or depth figure. This result is then displayed as a number or as an image on a screen.

Freshwater and saltwater tends to absorb and scatter sound signals, and the higher frequencies are more susceptible than lower frequencies. Water is frequently being mixed due to environmental factors such as wind and wave actions. The water has air bubbles, suspended materials such as silt, minerals and salts that vary in quantity. There are also micro-organisms that include plankton and algae, all which scatter, absorb and reflect sonar signals.

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How fish finders work

All fishfinders operate using Sonar. Developed during World War II, this technology uses sound waves to "view" underwater objects. A sound wave is produced by the fishfinder and sent through the water. At the source, the wave is narrow; however as it penetrates deeper, the sound wave spreads forming a cone, or what is commonly called a beam (think flashlight). When the sound wave encounters something within this beam, it bounces back to the fishfinder. By measuring the very small amount of time between when the sound wave was send out and when it bounces back your fishfinder calculates the distance and draws it on the screen.

If the signal doesn't encounter anything along the way, it reaches the bottom. Soft bottoms like mud and weeds tend to absorb the signal. Hard bottoms such as rock reflect a stronger signal back. These subtle differences in sonar reflections appear on the display screen. That's how a fishfinder "reads" the bottom and everything in between.

Depth finders, or fish finders, are sonar units that bounce sound waves off the bottom of the lake to determine water depth and the presence of objects between the bottom and the surface. The first fish finder used a rotating diode, while units today use liquid crystal or CRT displays to show the bottom and fish that may be present.

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Just want to fish.

On a nice Sunday morning I was sitting outside on the porch thinking about what I could do. I hopped on my bike and rode around for a while and all I kept thing about was fishing. No body was around so I grabbed my rod and went to a pretty big river close to where I lived. I really can not stand worms so when I found one I hooked it while it was still on the ground so I would not have to touch it. I cast my line and sit and just think how great it would be if I was a fisherman when I grew up. Before too long I had a hit and I reeled it in but there was nothing on the hook. Whatever hit took my worm and I had to get another one so I went through the same process and cast my line. I waited for at least 3 hours and got another hit but this time I waited a few extra seconds and then it hit again and I hooked it and reeled it in with a little bit of a fight. It was a pretty big carp and had to weigh about 5 pounds and I looked at it and threw it back and did not catch another one the rest of the day.

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Out fishing on the bay.

When I was 14 I was on vacation down the shore in Jersey and one day my dad had an idea to rent a small boat and go out in the bay and do a little fishing. Only 3 of us went and my dad grabbed some drop lines for crabbing and his rod and my friend I had there came with us and brought his 2 rods because I did not have one. We stopped at the tackle shop for some bait and headed to the bay and loaded up the boat. I have always gotten sea sick so I took dramamine and was fine. We set up and cast our lines and my dad used some chicken legs on the drop lines for the crabs. The day past as we reeled in some nice blue fish and about a half bushel of blue claw crabs. We really had a good time and went back to the house and had a feast with the fish and crabs we caught with some pasta and salad.

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Stop and fish.

One day when I was about 13 my friends and I were riding our bikes next to a river. We really weren't doing anything so we decided to go back home for our fishing rods and go back to the river. We got back and we found what we thought would be a good spot to fish. We did not have any live bait because we had no idea what and if we were going to catch anything so we just put on a lure. Most of the day past and someone finally caught a good sized carp which he threw back. That is all that was caught that day but we had a great time fishing.

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Nothing to do but fish

One Saturday morning my friends and I were just sitting around doing nothing and I suggested we go to the lake and do little fishing. They agreed and we got our gear and headed out. At the time we were young and really had no clue what to use as bait so my friend suggested that we use corn. We did and caught a few fish that someone called sun fish and a couple trout. We threw them all back and we really had a great time at the lake all day just talking,joking around and fishing.

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