How to smoke salmon (with video)

Smoked salmon is one of my favorite meals and it is easy enough to do yourself. Smoking it yourself can save you some money and it can be quite fun. In this video the presenter uses a cooktop smoker, which can be found for around $40 from most good stores. However, there are many different types of smokers and it pays to do a little bit of research to find the right one for you. Most people start off with a cheap smoker to practice with and move up to a high end model once they have mastered the art.

Salmon is high in Omega 3 oils, which is very good for the heart and developing brain. There has been extensive study on salmon and its health benefits and the general consensus is to try and eat wild salmon where possible.

How to smoke salmon - video

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A bad day fishing beats a good day at work

I managed to get the week off work and made plans with my old man to fish our local harbor today. Even though everything seemed right we just couldn't take a trick and the day ended with a quick run back to the boat ramp to beat one of the tropical storms we get. The fishing was slow and even though we caught a few fish they were all very small. Sometimes fishing is like that though and the uncertainty and challenge is what makes it fun.

Most anglers have heard the saying a bad day fishing beats a good day at work, but what I want to know is if you stand by this saying or not? Please leave a comment.

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How to cast a fly rod (with video)

Fly fishing is a rewarding way of fishing and even though I am not much good at it I still enjoy my time spent with fly rod in hand. Learning to cast a fly rod is probably one of the hardest learning curves in fishing and I certainly had (or should that be have) my fair share of difficulties. Fortunately these days learning to cast a fly rod is made easier with the Internet and I am going to share the resources that have helped me.

How to cast a fly rod

The Overhand cast (back cast)
The overhand cast is the basic fly fishing cast. It is used to pick your fly line up off the water and reposition your fly on a different target.



The Roll Cast
The roll cast is useful when obstacles behind an angler prevent a normal backcast. This instructional video shows the roll cast:



Fly fishing casting guides and resources
Basic casting technique
Roll Cast
Overhand Cast

There are many more advanced casting techniques and tips that you may want to eventually learn, but this information should help get you started in the wonderful world of fly fishing!

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How to attach a boat anchor (with video)

Surprisingly, even to me, I have written about attaching a boat anchor to the boat before. However, I get many requests each week for a post about this and it is about time I addressed this topic.

Attaching the anchor rope to the boat
The most important consideration when attaching your anchor to the boat is to make sure that you are using a secure and strong knot. I have heard countless stories of people attaching their anchor with a single overhand knot (or granny knot as we call them), or even worse not attaching it at all, and throwing it overboard. These stories usually end with someone diving after the anchor rope and finally in tears!

The anchor bend knot is my choice for attaching the anchor to the boat. It is a strong and very secure knot, but is surprisingly easy to tie. This knot can also be used for attaching the anchor rope to the anchor chain (or directly to the anchor in emergencies).

Instructional Video


I hope this little post was helpful.

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Fly Tying Instructions - Wooly Bugger (video)

The wooly bugger (also spelled woolly) is one of the most well known and versatile fly patterns available. It can be tied in a variety of colors, hook sizes and patterns to suit your fishing scenario. They can be tied to imitate a variety of different fish food forms including baitfish, crustaceans, insect nymphs salamanders and leeches. It is most often tied in green, red, olive, gray, grizzly, brown, black, yellow, white, and purple. This fly can be fished near the surface, or with the addition of weight it is often fished deep.

The wooly bugger is deadly on trout and salmon, but can be used successfully on a variety of species including bass. It is a big fish fly and consistently rates as one of the most popular flies. The Wooly bugger is a versitile fly and can be cast upstream like a nymph or cast across a stream and left to drift with the current. Fish the wooly bugger slowly while imparting a little bit of action on the fly.

How to tie a wooly bugger (video)
This video comes in two parts and is very well presented.

Part 1



Part 2



I hope you have enjoyed this post.

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Fish finders for kayaks

Fishing from kayaks is becoming quite a popular pastime. Even where I live I have seen people in ocean going kayaks going out to the close inshore reefs. That might not seem like such a big thing, but I live in an area famous for big crocodile attacks. Anyway onto todays topic...

Fish finders for kayaks
Fish finders for kayaks are really not much different than fish finders for boats. The main difference being that space is a premium and you will probably want a slimmer receiving and sending unit. Any portable fish finder will work as well as any streamlined boat model. However, make sure the model you purchase is usable with a portable re-chargeable battery.

Choosing a fish finder for your kayak
Select a model with as many pixels as possible for better definition. Spending a few extra dollars in this area can make a lot of difference. A cone angle of 20 degrees will be perfectly adequate. The power of the fishfinder is not really a concern when fishing from a kayak unless you are planning on exploring over 200 feet of water. Transducer selection is very easy with a kayak and the model provided with the unit will be perfectly usable, even through the kayaks hull.

Installing the fishfinder transponder on kayak (transducer)
I am not an expert in this area and there are already some very good resources in this area. It doesn't look overly simple, but most people should be able to follow the guide through. Here are some great resources:

Sonar install for a kayak

Video of kayak sonar installation

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How to fish swimbaits

Fishing for bass, and other species, with swimbaits is becoming increasingly popular. Fishing with large swimbaits has become one of the most popular methods of catching very big aggressive bass especially during the spawning season.

Choosing a swimbait
Swimbaits vary greatly is sizes, colors and design. You can find tiny shad, crappie, and bluegill imitations to huge 12" trout swimbaits that will run very deep. Just like the fly fishing saying it is best to "match the hatch" and choose a swimbait that resembles what the bass are feeding on at the time. For really big bass during spawning try a large trout swimbait.

When to fish swimbaits?
Simbaits can be fish all throughout the year with some success, but they seem to be very popular between January and May in the pre and post spawn.

How to fish swimbaits?
Fish swimbaits around structure and when during spawning near spawning areas. Top areas include main lake and secondary points, along deep or inside grass lines, and along creek channels running through spawning flats.

When fishing around wood cover, run your lure into stumps and through laydowns, pausing momentarily after making contact with the cover. Most bass will hit either on the pause or once the bait starts up again. In grass, make sure you’re getting your bait deep enough to tick the top of the grass. When your lure starts to snag, give it a sharp snap. Many of your bites will come as the swimbait rips free. (thanks to lakeforkguidetrips.com for this info)

As with all forms of fishing experimentation is the key. Work likely areas until you discover a pattern and replicate your success.

Rigging a swimbait
This video shows the basic rigging method, but there are many variations. You local tackle shop should be able to show you all the variants of this method.

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