I have recently been corresponding with an old friend of mine who emigrated to Canada. He spends a lot of time fishing now and so I asked him to sum up the experience of fishing in his home country. Here is what he sent me, many thanks Dan:

If you would like to experience real adventure in fishing, then Canada is the perfect location for you. Canada has a wide area of rivers, ponds, freshwater lakes, saltwater and streams. Freshwater and saltwater fishing are the favorite pastimes of Canadians and tourists. Fish in Canada including wildlife are very abundant. Canada offers a lot of first-class fishing trips that will make the most out of your time and money. There would not be any reason that you might be disappointed.

Canada has the ideal water where the fish are abundant. There are also plenty of shops and establishments that sell fishing gear and tools for fishing. Fishing in Canada is divided in two groups. That is the Lake Water Fishing and the Salt Water Fishing. The two groups are totally different especially in Canada.

The most famous fishing in Canada is the Salmon Fishing, which is enjoying and rewarding.  Salmon varieties that are abundant in Canada are the Coho, Sockeye Salmon, Chinook and the chum. Salmon are known for their size and beauty. Many fishing guides in Canada specialize in the adventure of Salmon Fishing.

Saltwater fishing is popular in the 3 coasts of Canada. They are the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans. This is a chance for shark and tuna fishing. A lot of big saltwater fish are caught only on deep seas and that is what the 3 coasts offer.

Canada is also known for fly fishing. Fly fishing, which is an older type of sport fishing, is about catching a fish using an artificial lure called a “fly.”  Many resorts and establishments in Canada offer great packages on fly fishing.

Ice Fishing is also an option for you if you would like to experience fishing in Canada. There are also ice fishing guides that could assist you in your trip. They will ensure your safety and enjoyable experience in Canada. Ice fishing requires special gear, outfits and techniques that require the help of a skilled ice fishing guide. Many tourists who come to Canada for ice fishing can rent ice huts to keep them warm and away from wind.

For tourists who would like to experience ice fishing in Canada, it is always recommended that you come along with fishing guides that are specialized on each fishing type. It is also advised to bring a compass, cell phones and flashlights as safety device and for emergency purposes.

Thought I’d give a few pointers on how to make sure that if your looking to make a meal of your catch, then it’s going to taste it’s best. To maintain the delicate flavor of a newly caught freshwater or saltwater fish, it must be handled properly to avoid spoilage (not to mention making sure that the fish maintains a pleasant odor).  There are ways to properly prepare and maintain the quality just after the catch of the fish up until the cookpot.  Check out the tips below:

1) As soon as the fish lands avoid any contact with hard surfaces to prevent bruising.  It should be washed immediately by hosing or bucket rinsing in order to remove the slime and possible bacteria that cause spoilage.  Never use water from close proximity marinas, municipal or industrial discharges.  To make sure, always use potable water instead.

2) Chill the fish within an hour to prevent deterioration.  With a little advance planning, proper icing can be accomplished with the use of some relatively cheap equipment.  Fish should be stored in coolers and should be well chilled.  It should be at least 3″ deep to ensure covering a pound of fish with a pound of ice.  Use chlorinated water per quart of water for the final rinsing.

3) Clean the fish as soon as possible.  Their flesh is sterile but not their scales as they contain many types of bacteria.  When cleaning fish, avoid rough treatment because wounds in the flesh can allow the spread of bacteria.  Gutting the fish does not have necessarily have to take long.  It is wise to cut the belly, as it leaves no blood or viscera in the body.  Make sure not to soak cleaned fish fillets in a prolonged freshwater as this could reduce the meat texture and flavor.

4) The quality and nutritional value of fish can be maintained up to 5 days if properly cleaned.  Washing your hands before touching the fish is also important.  No matter what the fish or cooking technique used, one golden rule is to be followed always.  Whether it is whole or not, cook exactly 10 minutes for every inch measured.  15 minutes should be allotted to fish enclosed in foil or cooked in a sauce. 

Allow extra time if fish will be baked while packed in an aluminum foil and allow extra time for the cooking equipment to reach temperature. In thawing frozen fish, slowly thaw in the fridge for 24 hours or let the wrapped fish be run under cold water, not at room temperature.

Enjoy!!

There is a vast assortment of bait and it is difficult to recommend any particular color, size, or type as the best. There are more than a thousand good baits on the market, all will catch fish at some time or another.

Fishing baits usually weigh from ¼ to an ounce to three ounces. The most popular weight preferred by the majority of bait casters is the 5/8-ounce bait, while the average is between ½ and 3 quarters of an ounce. Baits can either be used as a whole or cut into chunks. Anglers can also use dead or live baits.

The Different Types of Bait

There is a wide array of creatures being used as fishing baits. Among the different types used in fishing, the commonly used are the small fishes. These consist of widely used fishing baits such as herring, anchovies, menhaden, and some others that are inborn to certain local waters. Larger fishes are usually used as chunk baits.

Fishing baits can be used whole, chunk, and strips, based on the activities of the type of fishes being chased. The size of the fishing bait is usually well matched with the size of the fish being hunted.  Other common organisms used for bait fishing are crabs, worms, shrimps, crabs, clams, sand fleas, eels, and squid. Among all of the organisms mentioned, the crabs and the shrimps are the well-liked organisms to be used as fishing baits.

Shrimp are favorably used as fishing bait and are considered to be very valuable bait for a huge number of saltwater fish, especially those that are considered “inshore fish” like redfish, speckled trout, shook, and a lot more.

Whereas, various crab species, especially the fiddler crab, sand flea, and the blue crab, are perfect fishing baits for many varieties of “offshore fish” and “bottom fish.” These crabs are usually clasped through their shell, usually on either the right or left of the head.

How to Acquire Fishing Bait

Fishermen can acquire fishing bait either buying it from bait shops or simply by hunting for it themselves.

The advantage of buying fishing bait is convenience, while catching live fishing bait is less expensive and can be more effective in luring fish.  Digging for earthworms can be a productive activity as they make an excellent bait.

Indeed, when it comes to bait fishing, using the proper fishing bait is important and imperative to success. Hence, anglers should know the basics of choosing fishing baits in order to save time and money.

You have decided that you want to learn to fish. There are several ways of learning, the hardest being trial and error. It would be best to find an instructor for one-on-one lessons.

1. Buy seasickness medication

Nothing is worse than ruining your fishing because of seasickness. Most seasickness medication e.g. Bonine would be fine. Even seasoned fishermen are known to take some on rough days. Take one before you go to sleep, another when you wake up and a third one before you board.

2. Buy a reference book

A lot of good books are available at your bookstores and online. The book should give you instructions as well as terms and definitions. Some things you may not immediately understand but you should know anyway. Learn how to tie different kinds of knots.  This knowledge will be invaluable for other purposes throughout your life.

3. Go to a party

There are party boats that carry from fifteen to as many as sixty anglers. The boat provides everything like bait, rod, reel, sinkers and hooks. They assist you in fishing and take the fish off the hook for you. Mates will spot you and will generally stay close to assist you. Party boats generally will cost you £15 - £50 a day, and the fish are yours to keep. The party boat is a bargain for beginners.

4. Pick your pier

Assuming you have already acquired skills to operate a rod and reel, you need to look for a fishing pier.
Majority of coastal cities have one public pier or pay-to-fish pier. You can rent tackle and buy bait at the piers. If you’re having trouble, there are many pier anglers willing to help and give you tips.

5. Party or pier

You may want to do either step three or four or both at this point. The best thing to do is to do both several times to really learn.

6. The reel deal

The conventional reel is probably what you’re using up to this point. The conventional reel is designed for a lot of wear and tear. You may now want to consider other types and makes of reels. Ideally you have met people and perhaps made a friend or two who can assist you in selecting a reel. You can even ask a tackle shop owner for tips.

You need to understand the mechanics of the reel and the other equipment. Learning to cast, tie knots and bait are not that complicated. Secondly, you need to learn where to fish. Successful fishermen know where the fish are located. Fish move from place to place and knowledgeable anglers understand these patterns and are able to anticipate where the fish are located.

Frustrating as it is, carp fishing can be very rewarding. Carp are masters at sucking in and blowing out suspicious baits.

Carp will happily feed on the surface as long as you keep the pellets, biscuits, chic peas, bread, and re-hydrated corn coming in; these are inexpensive baits.  Soften biscuits by dipping them in water for about 2 minutes then place them in a sealed sandwich bag for about an hour.  Since different brands have different textures, just experiment to know which is firm enough to cast. Once they get into feeding, let them feel comfortable around the bait.  This gives more opportunity for the fisherman as they start to become less cautious.

As soon as they’re feeding, cast the bait but make sure not to drop the bait directly onto the feeding carp.  Cast away from the feeding area then slowly draw it in position.  While the hooked bait is still hanging keep scattering extra bait to prevent the fish from leaving.
How to set-up
Use a hair rig to increase your chance of catching.  As carp taste food first, if they don’t like the taste, they won’t come near it.
You could use a Spider Line, 50 lb test, also use a suitable leader.

Thread the bait on a baiting needle and hook the hair loop.  You can also use foam dipped in a flavor as this enhances the attractiveness of the bait.
Make a baiting needle by just straightening a long shank hook.  Slide the bait on the shank then slide the bait from the needle onto the hair.
Using a float is also an advantage because it adds weight for further distancing and the location can then be easily identified.
A leader can be used which is attached to the swivel to its mainline of at least 3 feet length with a 10lb Drennan double strength.  A low diameter mono will do just as long as it floats well enough for visibility. 
As experts say, it is not the bait that catches the carp but the method in which the bait is introduced.  Pre-bait everyday, in one spot for a few days.  This makes the carp think that there is a regular source of food for them and there will soon be a regular school of them.  Patience is the key.

If anyone knows of any other fishing games then let me know and I’ll get them posted. 

Have you ever spent hour after unproductive hour fishing on a lake with nothing to show for it? I doubt there’s a serious angler anywhere who hasn’t had that happen to them. So, if you can relate to that, this article about the advantages of a fish finder might be just what you need.

Fish finders utilize sonar. These devices use sound waves to detect the bottom of the lake, calculate the depth, and will also detect anything between the surface and the bottom, such as fish. This technology gives the angler a huge advantage by letting you know right away whether or not there are any fish present.

Fish finders have become increasingly more sophisticated in recent years. Early fish finders simply flashed to indicate the presence of fish. But, today, with improved electronics, you can get things such as LCD’s with a wide variety of LCD types and resolution. The best fish finders today are similar to watching a colour display of the water you’re fishing in and show everything with great clarity.

Fish finders vary widely in price and, like everything else, you get what you pay for. Larger units with more features will cost more. Generally, units with higher resolution will cost more than those with lower resolution. Higher resolution will give you greater detail as to what is in the water.

Many of the most popular fish finders are wrist-mounted devices and are worn just like a wrist watch. They will only have basic functions but are very mobile and easy to use. Other fish finders utilize large displays and can be mounted to your boat.

Fish finders can be found for as little as £100 and as high as several thousand dollars. There are many brands available with a wide variety of features, so it pays to do your research before you buy. You can check locally or do what most people are doing nowadays… check them out online. It’s faster and easier.

You can also find fish finders that include a Global Positioning System (GPS). GPS technology is great for anglers as it provides accurate information about your location. This will help you to return to that great fishing spot with ease. All you have to do is simply record the GPS coordinates of any location and you can easily find it again. The accuracy of GPS is about 9 feet so that should be good enough to find those fish again.

And one of the best benefits of GPS is the safety factor. You will never get lost as you can program your starting point and then easily find your way home… even on the largest of lakes and even in dense fog. Don’t underestimate the importance of this feature.

So, having a fish finder is a great way to increase your catch each time out. It will tell you where the fish are (and are not), give you depth information, and return you to your favourite fishing hole. And, with GPS, it will get you back home easily and safely. Do your research online and find the best fish finder to suit your needs and budget. You won’t regret it.

Depending on where you live and fish, the time from mid-April to mid-June is a good time to fish for spring bass. At this time of year, there are many bass spending time on their spawning beds in breeding mode and other bass staged to begin breeding soon.

Bass that are on their beds for the spawn are not really feeding but are in aggressive defensive mode ready to attack anything that happens to get too close to the bed. These fish are in the shallows and are able to be fished by sight in many cases. The challenge is to entice them to attack your bait presentation by getting it close to their faces. These bass will defend the spawning beds!

Bass that are not quite ready to spawn yet are staged in a little deeper water but are feeding aggressively.

In order to catch as many bass as possible in the spring time, follow these seven guidelines to locate spawning and staged bass for some great bass fishing action!

Fish underwater ledges, ditches or troughs. Using a depthfinder, locate the contour changes that form these troughs or ledges. Staging bass will be there typically near cover or creek intersections. These bass can be fished for using a variety of baits. Perhaps your best chance at catching these bass however would be with soft artificial worms or lizards in pumpkinseed color.

Fish the deep grass. Staging bass often congregate along a grass bed’s deeper edge. Cast artificial baits parallel to the grass bed edge, but staying close to the edge itself. Your bait should be retrieved fast enough so not to snag on the weeds. Rattling crankbaits in crawdad color may work well here.

Fish the creek channel bend. Staging bass will locate on the deeper side of the bend. Try casting a black or pumpkinseed jig tipped with a trailer of some type to entice the bite.

Fish the points. Staging bass often congregate on the side of the point closer to the spawning area. If there happens to be any cover in the area, the spot should definitely produce well. Cast a white or chartreuse spinner bait retrieved just under the surface close to the shoreline cover. An up and down jigging retrieve with the spinner bait can also produce well here.

For spawning bass, fish the pads and the stumps. Sometimes bass will make their beds on the roots of pads or underwater stumps. These fish will be close to this structure and can be fished with a lizard or large worm in chartreuse, white or black with a white stripe. The tactic here is to cast past the bed itself, then move the bed ever so close to the bed to entice the byte.

Fish the rocks and the docks. Spawning bass naturally seek out rocky areas to spawn. Those areas are especially good for producing bass if there is overhead cover like a dock or overhanging tree limb. Try a tube bait with a jig head cast into the bed area and retrieved with a twitching motion to entice a strike.

Fish the shallow grass. Spawning bass will make their beds among patches in underwater grass beds. To catch the bass located here, try fishing with some type of swim bait as it is common for bass beds located here to be visited by other fish species like bluegill.

All in all, tailoring your strategies to catch spring bass that are spawning or that are in pre-spawn mode can produce some exciting bass fishing adventure. When you are out on the lake, pay attention to the topographical features of the lake to locate these exciting catchable fish.

For thousands of bass fishing enthusiasts the thrill of discovering a great location for catching fish can almost equal the thrill of catching one. If you are new to bass fishing or if you are planning to fish in a new location, you will find more success with this simple plan to find the best fishing wherever you go!

STEP ONE:

Research the lake. Whether you’re participating in a tournament or just spending the day fishing in a new area nothing can help you find the right spots to fish like doing a little research.

Maps of the area can give you a good start. You may also find information about your location in magazines or websites dedicated to bass fishing. The more you know about the area the better you can plan your day and (hopefully) make the best catches.

STEP TWO:

Get experienced input. Finding an experienced guide to accompany you on your first fishing day on a new body of water can provide you the optimum support for finding the best fishing spots as well as guidance for the best techniques to use in that water.

Seasons and fishing cycles will also affect the fishing and an experienced guide will be familiar with the changes that occur in fishing patterns in that water.

Don’t think that you shouldn’t use a guide simply because you’re an accomplished bass fisher in your own right. Guides who are familiar with the local area can improve your chances for success immensely. However, if you cannot find a guide you can still find good information from local fishing equipment supply stores - although they may be giving the same information to other out-of-town fishers who may crowd the same spots.

If you are preparing for a tournament you will want to have unbiased information lest the guide be in competition with you. Doing your own research and testing the lake before competition is still very important.

STEP THREE:

Know where to look. Learning about your ‘quarry’ will help you locate the best fishing spots regardless of whether you are familiar with the water or not.

Since bass like to stay close to objects rather than stay in open water you should try angling near rocks, trees or other cover.

Depending on the weather and factors such as feeding times or breeding, your fish may be more or less likely to gravitate to particular areas of the lake. Learning about their habits will help you select the best areas and techniques.

STEP FOUR:

While research, a guide and an understanding of the habits of bass will all help you locate your fish, you should still remain adaptable. Changing lures, weights and areas frequently if the fish are not biting will provide you with hands on research that will build with your experience.

Fish will not all be in the same place doing the same thing so be patient and enjoy the search while planning for the best catch yet!

Your First Pole:
The most important piece of equipment is a fishing pole of course! The best place to purchase a pole is at a real pro shop or bait and tackle shop. Pro shops usually have a generous return policy. If you get a pole that is not comfortable for you, too stiff or too flexible, too long or too short, they will generally exchange it for a pole that will work better for you. Bottom line, they want your return business for other things like bait and tackle.

The Place:
The best place to fish for salmon is in the river when they come up to spawn. The local pro shop should be happy to provide you with the best times for fishing salmon. Salmon spawn at different times and come up the rivers at different intervals throughout the season. So, planning is important if you want to actually fish when the salmon are spawning.The Boat:
Best case scenario is to have a flat bottom river boat, but those are expensive. It may not be a good idea to take a regular “V” hull lake boat into the river because the depths can be too shallow and unpredictable.

The Boat:Best case scenario is to have a flat bottom river boat, but those are expensive. It may not be a good idea to take a regular “V” hull lake boat into the river because the depths can be too shallow and unpredictable.Another wonderful way to experience your first salmon trip is by hiring a guide. You’ll learn more from the guide then on your own. It can be pricey, but it’s worth it.No boat? No worries. Fishing from shore is a wonderful way to experience this fantastic hobby as well.

The Bait:
Ask the Pro’s at the pro shop what works best in your area or the area you are going to fish. They will most likely suggest salmon eggs. They are cured in many different ways and everyone has their favourite.

You may wonder why you would want to use salmon eggs. It’s very simply really. After salmon spawn, the parent fish stay around the nest to protect the eggs from predators like trout.
The currents will also carry the eggs away. When this happens the parent fish gently pick the eggs in their mouth and bring them back to the nest. So, when you dangle salmon eggs in the water after the salmon have spawned, they will see the eggs and assume that some have floated out of the nest. When they go to retrieve them, they get hooked!

The Catch:
Take along an ice chest filled with ice to keep your catch fresh. You may want to have a couple of five gallon buckets as well. One bucket for cleaning your catch. Another bucket to keep the ready-to-eat gutted and cleaned salmon in.

If you clean it before you take it home, you avoid the smelly bloody mess in your kitchen.

A third bucket could be used to save salmon eggs gutted from a female. You can save the egg sack and cure it later. You can learn more about how to cure the eggs, or roe, online or talk to someone in your local pro shop for suggestions.

The Filleting:
You can cut your fish in two ways, steaks or fillets. Salmon steaks are the easiest way to cut them up. Filleting takes a little more practice. You will probably mangle the first few you try to fillet. Don’t let that bother you. All those little mangled pieces can be smoked and turned into a salmon dip.

The Cooking:
There are many ways to cook salmon. Pan fry, BBQ, roasted or even smoked. If you do decide to smoke your salmon pieces, be sure not to over dry them.

Here’s a simple recipe for salmon dip.

One cup smoked salmon
Two 8 oz packages of cream cheese
Half cup chopped onion
Salt, pepper, garlic, to taste

Now it’s time to stop reading about it and go out there and catch some salmon!