Thursday, February 27, 2014


How to Start a Worm Farm for Fishing

Creating a worm farm is an economical way to raise bait for fishing. In addition, it is an environmentally friendly hobby, because the worms live off food scraps, keeping excess garbage out of landfills. The worm excrement creates nutrient rich compost that makes a superior fertilizer for your summer garden. The procedure can be performed year round assuming you have an area to keep the farm safe from extreme weather conditions.

Instructions

    1 Find a spot in your yard that is not in direct sunlight.
    2 Flip plastic tubs over and use an electric drill to put 1/4 inch drainage holes in the bottom of the container. Place holes about 2 inches apart in a grid pattern.
    3 Drill 1/4 inch air holes into the tubs. These should be drilled into one of the plastic lids as well as along the sides of both of the tubs. Drill holes in the lid about 3 inches apart in a grid pattern. The holes in the sides should be about 2 inches from the top lip, 2 or 3 inches apart, all the way around the exterior of the tub.
    4 Place the lid that does not have air holes on the ground and put bricks on each corner to keep it in place.
    5 Set one tub on top of the bricks.
    6 Add 2 to 3 inches of clean dirt into the bin and put about 3 dozen worms on top of the soil.
    7 Pour additional dirt over the worms to cover them completely.
    8 Insert the second tub into first. The bottom of the tub should come in direct contact with the soil that is covering the worms.
    9 Add some balled up wet newspaper to the top tub.
    10 Combine food scraps such as fruit and vegetable peels and coffee grounds with the newspaper. Don't add fatty meats to the mixture, but small pieces of lean meats are OK.
    11 Place a piece of cardboard over the food scraps and newspaper and put the lid with the pre-drilled air holes on the top tub.
    12 Put bricks on top of the cover to keep other predators from getting into the bins.
    13 Place additional food scraps into the top tub a few times a week and stir the mixture together.
    14 When the top tub becomes at least half full and has doubled in worm capacity, it is time to rotate the farm. This will occur once every 2 or 3 months.
    15 Remove the compost (worm excrement) from the bottom tub and use it to fertilize your garden. Compost can also be stored in an airtight container until you need to use it.
    16 Place the top tub filled with worms on the bottom and insert the bottom one inside of it as noted in Step 8. Repeat the feeding process as described in Steps 9 and 10.

Monday, February 24, 2014

How to Preparing for a Fishing Trip

Posted by Donnie On 7:43 PM No comments
If you're thinking about heading to the water to do some fishing, you'll want to get prepared and pack all the essentials. Take some extra time to get ready for your fishing trip. It will pay off when you make that first cast and fish start biting.

Instructions

Instructions

    1 Purchase a fishing license through the state you live in or will be fishing in. Ask about the rules and regulations for the area where you will be fishing.
    2 If you have a boat, check the water level for the area and make sure it's safe to take the boat.
    3 Verify whether or not the fishing spot is a catch-and-release area.
    4 Gather your fishing equipment and confirm that everything is in usable condition.
    5 If you are using live bait, locate a bait shop in the area. If possible, purchase the bait the morning of your fishing trip.
    6 Pack extra dry clothes, a cooler, snacks, beverages and sunscreen.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

How to Fishing for Grass Carp

Posted by Donnie On 2:15 PM No comments

Grass carp, or white amur, were introduced to the United States from their native Asian range to control aquatic vegetation in public and private lakes and ponds. These fish can consume their weight in plant matter each day and can weigh up to 100 pounds. Like the common carp, fishing for grass carp can be difficult. Misplaced or sloppy casts send the fish bolting for cover, and few tackle shops offer baits that appeal to carp. But anglers lucky enough to hook a grass carp find the fish fights well, jumps often and is sometimes among the biggest fish in the body of water.

Instructions

Bait Fishing

    1 A few days before you plan to fish, bait areas where grass carp are likely to feed. Open a few cans of canned corn and toss the contents into shallow coves, about 10 to 20 feet from shore. For a cheaper alternative, place a few pounds of dry feed corn in a 5-gallon bucket, cover with water, and place it in direct sunlight for three to four days. The seed corn is ready for chumming when it smells sour.
    2 Select a 6- to 7-foot light action to medium-light spinning rod and a reel spooled with 6- to 8-pound test monofilament line. Tie on a size-1 hook and pinch a few split shot 12 to 18 inches onto the line above the hook. Use as little weight as possible. Grass carp tend to reject baits on heavily weighted lines. Loosen the drag on your reel. Grass carp make long, strong runs when hooked, and an appropriately set drag can help you land more fish.
    3 Hook your bait. Large, mature grass carp feed heavily on plant matter. Good bait choices for grass carp include cherry tomatoes, mulberries, ficus berries, dough balls made of bread and corn, and, on occasion, earthworms.
    4 Make long casts and keep a low profile. Skittish grass carp spook at sudden movements along the shore or from baited hooks landing on their heads. Watch the fish as they feed and anticipate where theyre moving. After you cast, leave the bail open. The open bail, or free spool, feeds line to a carp that has taken your bait without feeling resistance, and gives you a better chance to successfully set the hook.

Fly Fishing for Grass Carp

    5 Select a 6- to 8-weight fly rod with a matching weight-forward floating fly line. These rods should have the backbone to help you land a hefty grass carp. Tie on a tapered leader in sizes 2X to 4X.
    6 Match the hatch. While grass carp can be caught incidentally using nymph patterns, select flies that resemble their primary food source: plants. Select flies in sizes 6 to 8. Traditional lightly weighted patterns in green tones, like olive, can fool grass carp. Fly tiers have also created patterns to imitate a corn kernel, a piece of bread, a mulberries or a ficus berry. For a realistic, natural pattern, try Sister Carol's Grass Carp Fly, which resembles a few strands of aquatic weeds. Some fly shops offer a few carp fly patterns, or you can tie your own.
    7 Look for actively feeding fish. Tailing carp will be foraging, head down, along the lake bottom. Search for carp that are swimming through the shallows and pausing to eat the occasional morsel. These fish are most likely to take a well-presented fly.
    8 Make precise casts. Anticipate where the carp is likely to move to next and cast the fly so that it lands roughly five feet ahead of the fish. Allow the fly to slowly sink or float on the surface.

Friday, February 21, 2014


How to Become a Fishing Guide in Pennsylvania

Fishing guides in Pennsylvania can take out groups of people who want to fish and show them where good spots are and teach them what techniques to use. Fishing guides need to comply with state, federal and local laws and make sure that their passengers comply with the same laws. The Pennsylvania Boat and Fish Commission can take away a fishing guide's license if he breaks any rules. Fishing guides must be over the age of 16.

Instructions

    1 Apply for a fishing guide permit from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Fill out the form provided by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. Submit the form with the application fee ($100 for residents, and $400 for non-residents, as of 2010).
    2 Take a course in boat safety. At the completion of the course, you will earn a boating safety education certificate from the PFBC. You can check their website for information about the boat safety courses (see Resources).
    3 Maintain a general liability insurance policy, which usually covers bodily Injury, property damage liability and medical payments. The minimum amount for the policy coverage is $250,000. You must have proof of your coverage.
    4 Get certified in CPR and first aid. The PFBC requires to keep your certification current, and you should carry proof of your certification at all times. Having an up-to-date CPR and first aid certification will ensure that you are capable of being in charge in case you encounter accidents during your fishing tours.
    5 Obtain a valid fishing license. You also need stamps and permits for all the waters that you intend to fish in. You can get a copy of the application form online from the PFBC website (see Resources).
    6 Renew your fishing guide permit by the end of every calendar year. You will need to send in a completed renewal form and an application fee.
    7 Advertise your fishing guide business. Put an ad in local travel guides, newspapers and fishing goods stores in Pennsylvania. Tell people that you are licensed to perform fishing tours and ask them to tell their friends about your business.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Tips On How to Fishing in the Ocean

Posted by Donnie On 4:32 PM No comments
Fishing is a great sport that is unique in that it can be both relaxing and exciting at the same time. Fishing in fresh water and fishing in the ocean requires different equipment. Be prepared before you go for the best fishing experience.

Instructions

    1 Decide what kind of fish you are hoping to catch in the ocean. The kind of fish you are after will determine the kind of tackle you will need to bring on your ocean fishing trip. Different kinds of ocean fish like different kinds of lures just like fresh water fish and there are also different methods for catching certain kinds of ocean fish.
    2 Choose a good quality salt water fishing rod. Fishing in the ocean requires a heavier, longer, and thicker rod than fresh water fishing requires. Not only are you going to be fishing in stronger currents, but the fish you will be catching are much larger and stronger than those found in fresh waters. An ocean fishing rod needs to be resistant to the corrosive salt in the water so choose a rod that is made out of a corrosion resistant material. Some good materials for an ocean fishing rod are graphite, fiberglass, aluminum, stainless steel, and wood. Do not use a rod that is made of several different kinds of metals as one part could wear out faster than the rest.
    3 Choose a good salt water fishing line for fishing in the ocean. Ocean fishing line should be thick and strong, usually made of monofilament. You need a line that can stand up to the fight that your ocean fish is going to give you once it is hooked. Buy fishing line that is specifically made for ocean fishing.
    4 Get some good salt water sinkers specifically made for ocean sinking. With the rough current and deep waters you need a sinker that is larger and heavier than traditional freshwater sinkers. There are different kinds of sinkers available whether you are trolling or just drifting on the ocean.
    5 Choose the right kind of lure for ocean fishing. Different kinds of fish prefer different lures so do some research on your target fish. For example, a sea trout will pounce on a heavy, chugging lure while sea salmon will prefer a hook packed with roe.
    6 Be sure to wear some good fishing gloves with a non-slip grip when ocean fishing. You will want to protect your hands when you are fighting the big ones and have a good enough grip that you won't lose your pole. Have a large net on hand also to help bag the fish when it gets close enough. Have a good knife on hand in case you need to cut your lure from the fish or rig a new line. Enjoy!

Monday, February 17, 2014

Guides to Carve Fishing Lures

Posted by Donnie On 3:50 AM No comments
The fine art of carving fishing lures by hand was all but gone until a renewed interest in antique lures revived the hobby. Catching a fish on a lure made by your own hands is an accomplishment that few know. With some basic woodworking skills, making your own lures is a worthwhile project.

Instructions

    1 Decide on the type of wood you'll be working with. Basswood and balsa are the most popular but red cedar works well and is the choice of artisans replicating the original carving art.
    2 Trace out the rough shape of the lure on a block of wood. Make sure you trace the top and sides, leaving the bottom flat for now. Cut out the basic shape of the lure with a scroll or band saw.
    3 Whittle the lure into a more defined shape, adding taper and body details to match the fish you're replicating. Experiment with subtle changes to the design until you find one that works best for your style of fishing.
    4 Sand the lure along the grain with course 100 grit paper and work your way down to 400 grit paper for the final finish. Add definition to the body taper and even out any variance between sides.
    5 Seal and prime the wood before painting. Use color combinations that mimic the feeder fish in the lakes and rivers you'll be casting the lures on. Use a fishing reference guide to help you select the best options. Use a finish of clear coat to add shine and seal the paint.
    6 Attach the treble hook or hooks along the bottom of the lures and use 5-minute epoxy to attach the line eye. Play with different weights and positions while you tune the lure. Once it's running true, you are ready to start fishing.

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