If you are planning to go fishing for Walleye, you probably already know the importance of planning ahead. If fishing for Walleye in the fall, this is a fantastic opportunity to plan, prepare and compare to last year's fishing experiences. This will help you improve your chances at catching this year and being successful.

Walleye are found in all types of waters- both big and small, slowing and still- and everything in between. The more walleye fishing trips you make, the better able you will be to get your techniques right and be more successful on future trips.

Here are some hints, tips and ideas that we have gathered from a considerable number of years at walleye fishing and that we hope will be helpful in teaching you how to catch walleye in the fall months.

Tips for Crankbaits- Crankbaits are great for catching walleye, especially in lakes and rivers but it's great if you can learn the best tactics for making them work. Some popular ones to try are:

Rapala Husky Jerks

Smithwick Rattlin' Rogues

Bombers

Excalibur Shad-R

Rapala Shad Rap

Rebel Shad-R

You may want to get several different brands and different types of action and then experiment with them and see which ones work best for you. It can vary from day to day depending on water conditions so always having different choices is a great idea. You will usually want to cast with a slow to moderate retrieve to attract walleye but again, you should experiment until you find the right action for that day.

Fish the shallows- Don't forget to look in the shallows for walleye. They often stay in more shallow waters looking for warmth and fish as much as 6 pounds have been known to be caught in shallow waters.

If you don't have any luck in the shallow water, especially in the fall, then go ahead and head for deeper waters. Look for underwater islands, sand bars, rock bars and other areas where walleye may congregate.

Also try any place with a dip in the water or near channels. If trolling is allowed where you are fishing, this is also helpful in using crankbaits for walleye in the fall.

You may find that the walleye in your waters are being finicky on a particular day. But that's okay; it just means you need to mix up your tactics a bit.

Try to probe wider or fish from a boat on flat lines. You may also try trolling with downriggers. Try to cast out 40-80 feet from the boat and in a quiet area if you're not getting the results you want.

Troll for early fall walleye- In the late summer or early fall, trolling is one of the best tactics to use for walleye no matter what body of water you are fishing in.

However, if your fish are located deeper than 15 feet in the water, a new tactic may be in order. Try vertical jigging instead. You can lower your lure to the depths that the fish are hanging out and then pump the rod up and down a bit to jiggle the bait and get the attention of the bass.

Just remember not to be too anxious to snag it as bass are sometimes harder to hook due to their tough jaws.

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Are you planning on crappie fishing in the great state of Ohio? There are many wonderful places to fish for crappie all over the state but if this is your plan, you need to learn as much as you can about the area and where you will be fishing. Ohio has many great lakes, rivers and other water sources for fishing for crappie. When fishing for crappie in Ohio, you need to take the weather conditions into consideration as well. It's important that you learn about the patterns that crappie can have depending on the season and the weather.

In Ohio lakes and rivers, crappie are most often found in the deeper waters near main-lake and main-river structures. They will usually be a few feet down, depending on the temperature and water visibility. You can often find them along the main channels and near schools of baitfish. Sometimes you will need to experiment with different baits and also with different water depths until you find the best results. This is the best way to get crappie to respond to your efforts and make great catches. So what else do you need to know about crappie fishing in Ohio?

In the winter months, the crappie may seem less active but they're still there. The trick is in knowing where they are. Just like the weather, crappie will have different stages and this influences the way they behave. If you live in a colder area of Ohio, the crappie may still be locked into their winter patterns even later in the year such as past February. In warmer areas, they will have already fallen into a spring pattern by February or the latest, March.

Crappie are most often found in the middle depths of the waters you are fishing in. therefore, if the waters are 40 feet deep, you can find crappie around 20 feet or so. If the lake or river is 20 feet deep, you may find the crappie around 8-10 feet under. If the sun is bright and the water is clear, they may be a few feet deeper than you would normally find them. When it gets near dusk and the sun is going down, they may surface more.

When crappie are spawning, they tend to be closer to the surface and also closer to the water's edge. They like to hang out in trees and other brush areas near the water edge and they are easier to catch here during spawning season. The amount of daylight, temperatures of the water and other factors will also contribute to their spawning cycles as well. When you learn to track the patterns of the spawn, you can catch crappie most any time of year in Ohio.

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This little reel is a real value. I use it when fishing for bass. I am a huge fan of Abu-Garcia reels. When I first made the switch over to bait-cast reels(and it took some practice to be able to effectively use one, as you well may know from your own experiences), I tried all of the different kinds of baitcasting reels. Even though there are some good quality reelsout there like the Shimano and Quantum, they just couldnâ??t hold up to my Abu-Garcia Ambassadeur. I mostly use the 5500 series reels since they are biggerthan the 4600 models, therefore they can hold more line of a lower test size or an equal amount at a higher test size of the 4600. They seem to balance off better with 6 foot 6 inch rods or longer.

Here's Why I Use Light Line:
1 The reason is to it use in clear water, so as to not spook the fish.2 The second reason to have it handy is to use it on pickyfish. 3 And the third is to use light line on light weight lures. It is very tough to cast a light lure with any distance with heavy line no matter what the reel is. Both of my young boysfound that out on there own by stringing their reels early on with 20 and 30 pound test line for light fishing because they didn't want them to get away, only to find that they couldn't cast but ten feet!  I am talking about using lures such as Fluke's and basically anything in your box that is less than a 1/4 ounce including spinner-baits. The rule goes as follows, use the biggest line that you can get away with. This is to prevent break-offs and abrasions on the line. If you are fishing for catch and release you owe it to the fish to use heavy enough line to get him in after you hook him. If you donâ??t then he is swimming around with ten feet of line and a lure sticking out of his mouth and will probably die because of it.

Why use this Reel With Light Line?:
I have been asked this question several times before. Other questions I have been asked are why not use the 5500's with light line and just get another 5500? I use five 5500's and only one 4600 and the 4600 is rarely the most important reel that I use all of the time. Unlike the 5500's, this reelâ??s release mechanism is directly under the spool, in the middle of the reel. This makes it easy to click the release and simply slide your thumb up to stop the reel. It is easier. The spool is much narrower than the spool on the 5500 as well. It handles the same amount of line at 6-8 pound test as a 5500 handles at 12-14 pound test. Therefore the spool spins equally as much and the guide goes from left to right as much on both reels for the same distance of cast increasing accuracy and comfort by 100%.  It also balances out with a smaller rod much nice than a heavy and big reel.  And it fits so perfect in the palm of your handmaking finessing much, much, easier. I prefer to do my finesse fishing with the reel completely in my hand, ready to set the hook at any time because unlike any other way of fishing, you provide all of the power in the hook set, you are not reeling constantly like a spinner-bait, or buzz-bat, or crank-bait, where the fish is already caught by the time you know he is on. Having a smaller reel that fits into your hand makes all the difference in that split second that you know he is on and you set the hook.

Feel:
As I mentioned previously, this is a great little reel and fits perfectly in any grown man or womanâ??s hand for a finesse reel. If you dare introducing a son or daughter on a bait-casting reel or think he or she is ready to move up to one, this reel is just about the right size and the same equivalent compared to the average size adult bait-caster.

I like the handle on this reel. It has gray soft rubber grips which are very comfortable to use on a long day of fishing or a tournament. They are not slippery, this is very important during a tournament when every fish counts, you donâ??t want your hand slipping off the reel or the whole thing might end up in the water.

Looks:
This is a nice looking reel, it is all silver and is shiny out of the box, but if you use it enough you can wear that shine off within a couple years, that is a good thing. I would say it is one of the better looking reels on the market. When you look at this reel you think durability, and you thought correctly.

Finally, you have that boat that you have dreamed about for so many years.  Anyway,  before you  decide to go  out for a great day  on the water  , you  have  to  outfit  it with electronic  accessories  that will make your boating experience  safer and more  fun . Northstar Marine Electronics knows exactly what you need to get the maximum enjoyment from your boat.

 To begin with  , a VHF radio is a safety  feature   obligatory for every boat . If you or your boat is in distress, a VHF radio can make the difference between finding help right away and being left to your own devices.

The NS100 VHF radio  comes  in  single/dual station   configurations . They feature dedicated distress call button that automatically transmits your MMSID and position until an acknowledgment signal is received. It  can access  all  marine  VHF channel banks,  even the  weather ones.

The Northstar Explorer 721 and 725 have a built-in barometric pressure sensor that gives weather and fish activity predictions. The "Happy Fish" icon on the  display  helps you  in determining the  likelihood  of  finding  fish. The 721 and 725 can each be outfitted with wireless handheld units, and the 725 has a "Track Your Buddy" feature for locating up to three boating friends and placing their locations on  your chart display.

Northstar Marine Electronics has a range of navigation tools, including the Chartplotter 8000i, a multipurpose instrument with a 12 inch touchscreen display. If you  a're going  to  acquire  one piece of equipment  in addition  than a VHF radio, then you might  consider  the 8000i. It features the following goodies: chartplotter, depth sounder, radar, video monitor, network camera monitor, DVD player, CD player, music jukebox, fuel and engine management system, and instrument repeater.

If  you are  just  looking  for a chartplotter / sonar combo , then you should  consider  the Explorer series, models 660, 657, and 650. Each  variation has a built in  32  megabyte  background maps with intricate cartographic detail  . It gives you the option of using C-MAP NT MAX chart technology provided by cartography leader C-MAP. The Explorer 538 is a stand alone chartplotter with a simple menu system and daylight viewable screen. It comes with  the regular   background map of 16 MB and has a  place for the C-MAP NT MAX cartridge. The 3.A  display  of  8  inches is "transflective"  featuring  high contrast  so you can  read it in  sunny days   with ease. This chartplotter is a good companion electronics component with the Explorer 438 fish finder. The 438  model  has a 640  by  480  monitor that  gives  great detail. It has digital sounder technology to give you the highest quality sonar images. Advanced displays include A-scope, split screen variable zoom, and your choice of color palette. With 256 colors, you can see the nature of the floor structure and detail that will help you identify fish habitats.

Marine elecronics selection doesn't have to be frustrating. Northstar has the marine electronics equipment that will help you enjoy your boat safely and comfortably while using equipment that's at the leading edge of technology. 

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Your wonderful gaming instrument, the Xbox can behave in a strange manner at any time, as other electronic gadgets sometimes do. You miss the enjoyment and instead feel down with the problem and resort to get it repaired to bring the console back to the original self. You have to think of the Xbox repair guide to be able to take up the repair work. Taking proper care of electronic equipment is all right, but you never know what will happen to a normal functioning Xbox console after a few moments of use. You can do the repair work if you know the basics of electronic instrument repairing or follow the Xbox repair guide.

Start with unplugging the article from the electrical power socket. It is wise to use hand gloves in making repairs of electrical articles and especially the Xbox. The primary reason of malfunctioning of this gadget happens to be the accumulation of dirt on the lens. It could be identified if you had found the picture freezing or disrupting the loading process, it is just like cleaning the normal DVD.

Usually, the console would resume normal service after this cleaning process of lens. If it continues to show problems, you need to look into the machine to find out the actual trouble. You have to open the machine to check for torn wires inside it. Torn wire from the main cable is to be stripped from both ends of the damaged area and should be soldered or attached with proper covering of electrical tapes to prevent short-circuit problem. You can do the same thing to any other cable if that is found damaged.

Check out for any torn wire and connect them properly. Some of the control button may have turned sticky due to continuous use. Open the screws from the back and get those buttons cleaned in solutions of soap and tepid water and dry them before putting them back to their original places. Once you complete the preliminary repair work of the console by examination and restoration process, it should hopefully run in normal way.

If the problems are not particularly major, the console should function in a regular manner with the actions that you have taken following the Xbox repair guide. Check the warranty period of the machine and take advantage of the same. Otherwise, you have to call on a skilled technician to repair the Xbox to make the machine working again. It is better that you make it certain to study the Xbox repair guide to avoid dependence on others.

Taking a bass fishing trip in winter is one of those things that everybody that loves a challenge will undertake. It is also a pastime for the hardened bass

fishing enthusiasts because it is anything but easy. In fact, it is perhaps the most difficult bass fishing experience you will ever have!

However, if you get your techniques right then it would be a much better experience for you so it is all about working on your technique and style.

Before you start learning new techniques though, you have to bear in mind that you will need several personal skills.

For example, you will need to have a lot of patience and also a versatility to be able to change your technique on the lake as and when necessary because winter bass fishing is a waiting game.

Some techniques will work sometimes but then will not work again for a couple of weeks so you have to be prepared to try out various techniques and methods on a trip until you find the one that works.

The reason why bass fishing is so hard in winter is because bass are cold blooded creatures and do not tend to feed so much as a direct result of that. In winter, their bodies cool to the temperature of the water around them.

As such, their bodily processes slow down as well. They may take a few days to break down food and digest it properly so they will not need to feed as often. This is why you have to entice them and make the bait look as attractive as possible via your techniques.

Fish Slowly

In spring and summer, you should attempt to fish for bass at pace to match their own activity. However, it is the complete opposite in winter because the same principle applies. You should fish at the same pace as the bass move because it is only then that they will feel secure enough to take your bait.

If you fish too fast then they will automatically not think to attack the bait purely and simply because it will be too fast for them to catch. Try moving your line about two inches every five minutes. If that does not yield results then try casting your line every five minutes and leaving it stationary in the same spot.

Fish Deep

Fishing deep is always a good idea in winter because bass head for the warmest waters and they are not generally towards the surface. They will instead go deep into holes and under banks. As such, it is worth doing a little scouting before you actually start fishing. Does the lake have overhangs or nooks that bass could seek refuge in? If it does then you should initially target those areas.

Cast your line as deep as you can, preferably so it drags along the bottom and then raise it slowly, inch by inch over a period of ten minutes or so. Recast your line and raise it over twenty or thirty minutes if that does not attract interest the general rule is the longer you leave it in place, the more interest you will get in the line.

Fish Undercover

Vegetation is also a big favourite of the bass in any lake in winter. Vegetation is always warmer and provides them with a safe haven. As such, you should locate a body of underwater vegetation or a vegetative bank and then deliberately cast your line into it, skimming the bait as low as possible in the water and then repeating the technique as outlined above in the section about fishing deep.

There is one thing that you should bear in mind when choosing to fish vegetation though. You should always use a weedless lure. If you use a wedded one then you will get tangled in the vegetation and would undoubtedly end up losing the lure to the water. This can be frustrating and would interrupt your rhythm. A torpedo or frog is perfect for this and will bring you the greatest chances of success.

As a serious fisherman you need a boat. Having a boat can really boost your purpose of fishing. A good boat is necessary to ensure that a fisherman can reach the best locations where there is the most catch. For those who like water skiing when not fishing, it is important to choose the right boat. Therefore, it is necessary to know ways of buying the best boat for any kind of fishing needs. 

Owning a boat can be a costly affair. Therefore, as a fisherman you need to plan and decide carefully the amount of money you are comfortable getting a new boat with. Before making the purchase, a number of considerations regarding the running costs have to be made. These costs may include the registration fees, insurance fees, regular maintenance cost, dry dock fees, launch fees and gas. 

It would not be wise to buy a boat that would be too expensive for you to operate. The whole point of buying a boat is to be able to go fishing either for fun or for some money. You do not need to put a big dent into your pocket for the sake of fun or a few heads of fish. 

A boat can be bought from either a dealer or from a person who already owns one but wants to sell. When buying a boat from a person rather than a dealer, it is important to visit the local courthouse to find out what necessary paper work you require for that kind of transfer. This should make it easier for you to register the boat in your name after the purchase. Getting a receipt of the sale from the seller can save you a whole lot of frustration later on. This should be accompanied by a signature of the seller, you as the buyer and a witness to the sale. 

Do not just buy a boat for the sake of buying one. Repair costs can set you back financially especially if you do not pay close attention to details of the boat when buying it. Hence, make sure all the components are working properly. You could make a request to the private seller to allow you to test drive the boat. He should also come along during the test drive to ensure he sees or becomes aware of any problems the boat may have. If the seller is reluctant to honor your requests, it would be safe to assume that something is probably wrong with the boat. The best option would be to buy a boat from a dealer. 

Once a purchase has been made, contacting the insurance representative would be the next best step. Ensure that all the paper work for the insurance is in place. The insurance should cover all the fishing equipment in the boat or any electronic components. It is best to know exactly what the insurance will cover, for instance, if it covers the boat for hitting under-water objects or even above-water obstacles.

 

We've been receiving a lot of questions asking me about fishing for bass in Texas, and it's no wonder why the state is so popular for fishing with its over 6000 reservoirs and almost 5000 square miles of inland water.

Before you head off for a Texas fishing adventure, first we need to cover a few things, such as pests you'll find. Black widow and brown recluse spiders are known to frequent Texas, along with scorpions, centipedes, fire ants, and a plethora of flying, stinging insects. Additionally, copperheads, rattlesnakes and the Texas Coral Snake may all be living close to where you visit, so be prepared by arming yourself with knowledge on what to treat and how to treat it. A first aid kit combined with some special items just for the area you are traveling to is never a bad thing to bring along, especially if you will be taking children along with you.

Now don't let some friendly cautionary advice turn your head away from Texas, as dangerous and painful pests can and do reside all over the place elsewhere, too. The best thing about Texas fishing is the selection, and here are some great places to start looking:

Caddo Lake used to be a natural lake that received quite a bit of expansion upon the building of a dam on Cypress Creek. Caddo Lake is a great beginner's area to catch loads of bass all day and year long, but only if size doesn't matter so much to you. Over 6 pounds per is pushing expectations here, but the scenery is beautiful and the bounty is plentiful. Check the Cyprus trees at Caddo Lake to find some great hiding spots.

Lake Fork is an excellent place to find a record catch. Beautiful, spacious, and plenty of hiding spots, this lake is definitely where its at, but the fish here are wise and require a great deal of trickery to be caught. My advice here is to sneak out at night without motor and catch them when their guard is down.

Lake Sam Rayburn, with its treasure cove full of hiding spots and structure, has long been a winning area in Texas, and doesn't show any signs of losing in the near future. A vast, scenic area close enough to civilization to mix up a family fishing trip with some city life, this lake has what its got to get great amounts of great-looking and great-tasting bass almost year round, although I suggest during the week when things are slow.

Toledo Bend is just about as good as it gets for cover, even rivaling Lake Sam Rayburn in size and structure. Another beautiful area, this reservoir is partially in Louisiana and is fed by a large number of creeks as well as the Sabine River. The best place in the spring is just on the other side of where the Sabine River empties out into the reservoir, particularly any large muddy areas off to the side of the river, but be careful of the current.

The Rio Grande River empties out into Amistad, which can be a great place for the experienced bass fisher, but beginners need to either steer clear of the area or only go with a seasoned guide. Not only is this fertile topwater area only a potent spot if you know what to look for, but it can also be dangerous with the winds that frequent the area for a good part of the year. Even an experienced boater in a small enough boat can get tipped here!

And that's just a drop on the bucket of what Texas has to offer.

So you love to go fishing and now you want to take a bass fishing vacation. Good for you but did you investigate your vacation or did you just wake up one day and decide that's what you want to do for the weekend. If you just woke up one day and decided, then you should be warned that a bass fishing vacation is not for everyone especially if your wife doesn't like to fish.

Vacation Packages

There are as many bass fishing vacation packages out there as there are species of fish, picking the right one all depends on what you are looking for. The first question that you want to ask yourself is where you want to go, Alabama, Arizona, Main, New York, North Carolina. Then you have to ask yourself how long do you want to be gone, maybe it's just for a weekend or as long as a few weeks. Once you figured that out then you have to ask yourself how much money you want to spend.

You can spend anywhere from .00 to 0.00 dollars a night. It all depends on the accommodations and amenities, whether or not if you want to stay in a tent or a full service resort all depends on you. I would suggest a full service resort if you are taking a non-fishing better half. The advantage of using a bass fishing vacation packages is that the travel agent will do all the foot work for you but it comes at a price.

Doing it Yourself

You can save a bundle of money if you plan a bass fishing vacation on your own. It's not a difficult task to perform, it just takes time. Again decide on where you want to go then decide on how much you want to spend.

Where you save money is that you are doing the foot work so you're not paying a commission plus you don't have to compromise anything that a bass fishing vacation package may or may not offer. This is the ideal way if you plan on staying in your home state.

If you are planning to go out of state then I would recommend that you use a bass fishing vacation package for a couple of different reasons. The first reason is the license will be included in your trip package and the second reason is that most of the packages will offer a fishing guide so you can get the most for your buck.

Lake Hubbard is one of the largest lakes in the United States. On itself, it is the ideal place for freshwater fishing. The lake has a total area of nine thousand acres. And so if you are a serious fisher, you'd know that you haven't done any true-blue American way of fishing yet without experiencing the waters of Lake Hubbard. So if you're currently looking for good places to fish, the resources of Lake Hubbard would definitely appeal to you.

With many good feedback and praises the fishing spot gets from fishermen and sports fishing fans, you can be sure that it is one of the nicest areas for your fishing hobby. Lake Hubbard is located in the north eastern part of Illinois. So if you happen to be quite close to the place, prepare your things this coming weekend and check out the area.

Fishing in Lake Hubbard is currently very popular among all fishing enthusiasts. Lake Hubbard is known for big catches, fishing enthusiasts simply can't oversee the place. It is the spot where dream big baits can become real. The place offers fishing adventure that every angler will treasure for the entire span of their careers or hobbies in sports fishing.

The prime fishing spots in the Lake Hubbard are ideal for everybody who is looking for spectacular fishing. More than just plain fishing, the lake has so much more to offer. There are a good number of inns, hotels, and restaurants in and around the area as well. Swimming, golfing, canoeing, and nature tripping are just few of the most favorite activities tourists enjoy. Indeed, Hubbard Lake is a place not only for fishermen. It is also a place where the entire family can enjoy. And that's regardless if they are into sports fishing or not.

The best time to book a place in Lake Hubbard would be during summers or springs. These are the times of the year when walleye are at their peak. But expect crowds of fishermen and tourists on the area around that time. Being so, it may appear so hard to fish, because there will be distractions all around. This is very true during the summer. Come winter, the people milling about so much less. But winter isn't the best time to fish at all. And that's because the lake tends to freeze up.

Novice fishermen are very welcome at Lake Hubbard. There are guides and expert fishers over the fishing grounds that can help you. They are more than willing to assist beginners land their first catch. Fishing trips are scheduled regularly. And because the place is so big, you would certainly find it difficult to cover all the main fishing spots in a single weekend. So if you are planning a long fishing vacation very soon, consider Lake Hubbard. It could just be the best idea and experience you will have the ever. Bring everyone along. Surely, they will find enjoyable things to do while there. Lake Hubbard is also the best place to teach your younger ones how to fish. There are simply too many things to do in the area. All of these are reasons why the great Lake Hubbard is fast becoming to be one of the best fishing destinations in the world.