Fishing is considered a national pastime in United States. Many people took up fishing as a fun and tranquil sport that allow them to spend some quiet time with their friends and family.

Here are seven things you should know if you are considering taking fishing as your favorite pastime.

1. Is a license required?

You should first check your State's fishing requirements and make sure if a license is needed for you to fish. One of the easiest ways is to step into a sporting good store, which sell fishing equipment. The sales persons will be able to advise you about license requirements as well as the procedure on acquiring it. Some shops will even help you with the necessary paperwork.

2. Set a budget for fishing expenses

You will need to budget for fishing equipment purchase. Make a list of the equipment that you need and set a budget. If the total equipment cost exceed your budget, you will want to consider borrowing some equipment or buying from second hand stores. You can also go to online auction sites to look for the fishing equipment that you need. As a beginner, get only the basic things that you need. There is no need to spend too much money buying branded and expensive equipment that is usually reserve for experienced anglers.

3. Practice at home first.

If you have a back yard, mark off an area using a rope and use this as your guide in aiming your cast when practicing with your fishing equipment. Rehearse and study your movements to find a method that will work for you.

As fishing hooks are very sharp, you need to be careful when handling it avoid injury to yourself or others. Before casting, look around you and try to stay unobstructed to avoid hurting other people with your hook.

Learn to cast your line ahead of the fish, making your bait land slowly, with as little splash as possible. The fish can see well at close quarter but not behind.

4. Research the locations to fish and plan a travel budget

When the right time has come and you go fishing for real, you need to do some research on the fishing location. You can check with your state's fishing regulation authority for information about fishing locations around your state. Alternatively, you can also visit the fishing equipment stores and ask about hot spot for fishing. List down the cost of accommodations, boat rental, guide and other miscellaneous items. It may be difficult but try to keep the cost within you travel budget.

5. Go with a buddy

The fishing trip can be very fun when you can share your joy of fishing with a friend or family member. For safety reason, you should avoid fishing alone. In the event of an emergency, there is at least someone you can count on to call for help.

6. Fish in shallow water first

For beginners, it is wise to start fishing in shallow waters first. Aim your cast in shady or rocky areas where the water is deep, as this is where the fish is hiding. As your skill level improve, you can attempt to fish in deeper waters.

You can move closer to the water so you can gain better accuracy if your casts are going in a disorganized manner. Keep an eye on the bobber and watch closely for any movement. When a fish grabs the bait, the bobber will be pulled under water. Remain calm as you keep your line tight and reel in your catch slowly. You can use a net bring in the fish if you reel in enough. Remove the hook from the fish with great care.

7. Adhere to the fishing regulation

If you got an undersized fish (as noted in the state's regulation book), return it to the water quickly. Likewise, if you have no intention in eating your catch, return it to the water too. This ensures that the water has a consistent supply of fish, which will provide future fishermen the thrill to experience a catch.

Regardless of the result of your catch, remember to have fun and enjoy the calm, restful and serene view of the river.

By: Jack Greenwood
Jack Greenwood is the webmaster of BassFishingTip.net. Get more bass fishing tip and resources at http://BassFishingTip.net today.

Fishing information courtesy of Resources For Attorneys, a legal and lifestyle information portal.

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Bass fishing has become a very popular sport and is gaining more enthusiasts every day. Many people may not be aware from President Franklin D. Roosevelt was an avid bass fisherman, and it is he who was responsible for the formation of the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in 1932. He was also responsible for the construction and building of many dams, many of which were used for, among other things, to multiply the bass population so that more people could enjoy bass fishing.

The sport of bass fishing continues to grow as consumers continue to see an increase in the number and variety of tools and equipment that is used by the successful and serious bass fisherman. Today, this equipment adds somewhere around $62 billion dollars annually to the US economy, a figure that continues to grow every year. It is interesting to note that the number of people engaged in bass fishing is more than the number of people who regularly play tennis or golf.

Some bass fisherman are aiming for a particular type of bass when they embark on a fishing trip, while other just enjoy bass in general without paying much attention to the species. The most popular types are the Kentucky bass, the small mouth bass, and the type that is typically only found in large numbers, the famous large mouth bass.

Bass fishermen are serious folks about their sport, and with the introduction of various types of electronic lures, many claim that these increase their productivity by a large margin, while others prefer the more traditional approach to bass fishing.

The following bass fishing tips are sure to increase your productivity as well as allowing you to enjoy the sport of bass fishing to its greatest extent.

* Try to use only clean rods. A clean rod will have a better appearance and will allow you to cast without distractions. You can use a light grade of sandpaper when you clean your rod to keep it free of dirt and grime.

* Don't be afraid to use some high-tech gadgets. By using computers, you can more easily identify the locations where bass are likely to be, which will reduce your time in boating from location to location.

* Always be prepared. Carry spare parts and emergency equipment with you in the boat so they are easily accessible if you have problems, and you can resolve the problem without boating back to your car or base camp. Don't forget to bring spare batteries that are fully charged.

* Create a checklist and review it thoroughly before setting out. Get your bearings so that you know where your car or base camp is. Remember that how things look at 6:00am is significantly different than how it will look at high noon.

* Practice the technique of casting your rod overhead. Studies have shown that this allow you more control and more accurate casting.

Also, some common sense will go a long ways towards allowing you to enjoy the sport of bass fishing to its greatest extent.

By: Jon Arnold
For more information about Bass Fishing please visit our web site at http://www.seriousbassfishing.com.

Fishing information courtesy of Resources For Attorneys, a legal services and lifestyle information portal.

Are you looking for a few laughs? Check out our fishing jokes section. For jokes on other subjects visit the Jokes index.

In Southern California there is a group of anglers that frequently goes looking for trouble. Not with other anglers you understand but trouble for themselves! It is not that they maybe had too much beer or have some other social problem but they do have an addiction, and that is what puts them in harms way. They also have great respect for their quarry, an apex predator whose reputation of long fast runs and high cart-wheeling jumps keeps them coming back for more. One word is all it takes to get these adrenaline junkies fired up – MAKO!

The Mako Shark, Isurus oxyrinchus, is found globally in warm or temperate seas. Known as one of the fastest sharks in the ocean, this pelagic predator can reach speeds of up to 22mph. With an average size of 6-8 feet they can stretch up to around 12 feet and weigh over a thousand pounds. Dark blue above, white below and often with a black-tipped snout they are a handsome member of the mackerel shark family. The current all-tackle IGFA record is a fish of 1,221lb (553.84Kg) caught on the east coast of the USA in 2001. Here in San Diego, California they typically run a lot smaller and are more suitable for light tackle action. According to David Holts who works out of the Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, California and conducts conventional and satellite tagging studies, this region is recognized as a pupping area. “The pups are probably born just off shore and then move into the Bight. The entire Southern California Bight is well suited for them as prey is plentiful and oceanic conditions are good. Sub adults are off southern California and Baja California all year. They move north and south along the coast usually within a couple hundred miles.” It is from late spring through to the end of autumn though that fishing the inshore waters is best as one enterprising fishing guide discovered a few years back.

Conway Bowman grew up in San Diego fishing the lakes and bays and as soon as he was old enough he was out in a small boat on the ocean. Over time he found patterns in the movements of the local mako shark population and where and when they would turn up. He later started a guiding business specifically to target the sharks and as he started to take clients out and word spread about what this crazy Californian was up to he became a celebrity of sorts, especially as he favors targeting these toothy speedsters with the fly rod or light tackle whenever possible – which has to be considered one of our sports ultimate challenges! Bowman advocates catch and release, as with a growing popularity and reputation for some flavorful meat, the population and fishery needs protecting. This past summer I was lucky enough to hook up with Bowman to go see for myself what all the fuss was about.

It was a leisurely 8am start from his dock at Mission Bay, quite a nice change from the pre-dawn starts required for the longer runs to the tuna grounds for which San Diego is better known. Heading straight out of the harbor it was about a half-hours run to our first stop which was to look for some fresh bonito for the chum slick we would be needing. The last couple of seasons have seen a comeback in the numbers of this oily fleshed and therefore perfect addition to the chum bucket. We didn’t waste much time in picking up a couple on small flashy silver lures and into the fish box they went. Knowing that the tidal flow would bring us back in towards shore, Bowman motored us out beyond one of his favorite spots and laid out both some commercially bought chum and also the fresh bonito that had been sliced up to release the essential oils and blood into the water. The olfactory senses of the mako are so good that rather than just drift slowly to spread a thick chum slick, we were actually able to slowly motor down-current ‘speed-chumming’ a visibly smaller slick, but yet one that would be more than sufficient to draw in any sharks in the area. In fact even before we stopped laying the slick our first customer arrived, lazily finning along behind the boat in and out of the scent trail it was following.

Another reason Bowman has earned his reputation is that he is no sedentary shark fisherman. For him there is no joy in just placing a hunk of meat on a hook and throwing it out and waiting, it is the thrill of the hunt and actively sight-fishing his selected target which keeps him returning for more. This is achieved by working as a team with his clients. Using the method known as bait and switch, Bowman first threads a teaser of fresh bonito flesh onto a spinning rig. Once a shark is sighted, or indeed selected when more than one is present (which is often the case once the slick has been established for a while), this teaser is cast just beyond the shark and then wound back past it towards the boat. The aim is to get its attention and fire up its predator instincts so that it locks on to the bait and starts hunting it down. Depending on the mood of the mako this can take several attempts or it can be instant. There is no doubt when it happens though – just like a hunting dog that suddenly becomes alert and pricks up its ears, the posture change is very apparent. The emphasis then shifts to the angler who in this case is poised with what looks like half a bright orange chicken tied to a hook which in fact is a custom made mako fly. As the mako is teased up the angler starts to false cast the fly so that just at the point where the shark is poised to bite the teaser is pulled quickly away and the fly cast slightly in front and to one side of the shark so it sees it straight away and strikes at it instead. Bowman uses only barbless circle hooks in his flies and so as the mako turns away with its prize, the hook typically catches right in the corner of its mouth largely out of the way of its razor sharp set of teeth. A couple of good solid strip strikes to make sure the hook is set firmly and this is where the fun starts!

Once the shark feels that hook find its home be ready for its first run which will typically be long and fast. It is not uncommon as we saw on our trip, for a freshly hooked mako to run one hundred yards or more making the line zip through the water due to its speed, shedding a trail of water behind it like a jet-boat. Like a billfish, they also like to go airborne, often making several leaps in a row high into the air. This makes them one of the most spectacular fighting fish I have come across and one you won’t forget in a hurry. The rest of the fight is a mix of dogged resistance and more runs and leaps which diminish as the fight wears on. Bowman is a big proponent of what he calls “breaking the fish early” by which he means putting your back into the fight and using your gear to its best ability to show the fish who is boss. Not letting them have their way, especially the bigger fish over 100lb, allows his clients to bring fish to the boat much quicker and on relatively light line. This is also better for the mako as they have a better chance of recovering quickly compared to a longer fight which allows lactic acid to build up in their muscles. Because of the barbless circle hook used, it is quite easy to use a release stick which consists of a coil of thick wire on the end of a gaff stick, which is then slid down the line and against the bend of the hook. One quick push of the stick and the hook pops right out allowing the fish to swim away. It also keeps the shark and angler at a safe distance as putting your hands anywhere near the mouth is inviting trouble. The mako has a well justified reputation as having a bad temper and the last thing you want on deck is a live one unless you are well prepared for it. They have been known to destroy the boat cockpits of unwary anglers who brought them aboard and who then had to run for the safety of the bow as the shark went wild, thrashing around and biting anything in its path. Bowman and other regular mako anglers will occasionally pick up a small one for the camera, but even they do not recommend it!

Of course, trolling and bait fishing are also deadly techniques for mako sharks and to check out this side of the story I also fished with the crew of the Nomad, a local charter boat who specialize in big game fishing. Our day started with the hunt for fresh bait also, but this time we were looking for mackerel both for chum but also for smaller baits to be used both dead and on the trolling lures. Once we located a school it did not take long to catch all we needed on the small sabiki baitcatchers. Once the bait tank was loaded up we continued onto the shark grounds close to our position the day before. A couple of mackerel were threaded onto bait-o-matics which had been the hot lure this season, earlier in the year for thresher sharks and now for the makos. The shape of the weight at the head of the lure acts as a keel and keeps it tracking straight, especially useful when a bait is threaded onto it. Other good trolling options are hoochies and large diving lures such as Rapalas, Yo-Zuris and Megabaits which is not surprising as the major prey items of the mako are various squid and fish species according to Antonella Preti, co-author of the book “Mako Sharks” published in 2005. She has been studying the possible prey overlap between mako, thresher and blue sharks, and some preliminary data sampled from 124 makos caught by gill-nets in California showed a slight preference in total numbers for squid with 48 total items of 7 different species versus 41 fish of 11 different species.

It did not take too long for the first knock-down and not unexpectedly, it was on one of the mackerel laced bait-o-matics. Connected to a two-speed Okuma Titus Gold 50 wide there was a lot more power than we had the previous day to put the hurt to the fish that we had as yet not seen. Maybe because the bait-o-matic lure runs fairly deep, the mako did not surface or leap until it was beaten and at the boat. Then we could see it was easily the largest shark we had hooked at somewhere around 150lbs. While the skipper handled the wire leader, the mate had the unenviable task of unhooking the beast which even though it was relatively calm while it was still tired was still no less a threat. With the release stick missing in action there was nothing for it but to glove up and get close and personal with pliers. Luckily all went well and both the lure and mate were retrieved in one piece. We spent the rest of the day setting a chum slick and drifting while free-lining slabs of mackerel back behind the boat in the slick. We soon found this was just a popular with the local blue sharks as it was with the makos, catching several smaller specimens of each species. Mostly seen as a nuisance, the blue sharks are not typically as energetic when hooked and tend to just stay near the boat until you can drag them near enough to unhook them. Every now and then though a larger one would take the bait and surprise us with a run or two. What was more amazing to see was that the makos also did not tolerate the blues and we saw two instances where a mako took a chunk out of a blue’s tail as its way of suggesting it leave! This just further proves that the mako is a fish with an attitude and this is what is attracting more and more anglers to fish for this handsome and majestic predator of the sea.

By: Paul Sharman
Paul Sharman of http://www.fishandfly.com is an outdoor writer who covers all forms of angling worldwide, but particularly fly-fishing. The Fish and Fly website is aimed at providing anyone passionate about fly-fishing or wanting to learn all the information they need about knots, casting, and other instruction. There are also articles, podcasts and video.

Fishing information courtesy of Resources For Attorneys, a legal information and lifestyle resources portal.

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Are you looking for ideas to help you catch more trout? I think I've got a few for you. None of these tactics are rocket science or difficult at all. In fact they are quite simple, but very effective. Much of the effectiveness stems from the fact that they are so simple. Many times doing things that are highly technical only end up frustrating the angler. With practice, as you become more and more proficient, these idea's will become "must do's" when fishing for trout. As a matter of fact, you'll probably wonder how you ever fished without them.

Pay Attention To Your Hands - If you want to catch more trout, pay attention to the kinds of scents that might be on your hands. Trout have a very keen sense of smell and can detect these scents on your bait. So if you smoke or pumped gas recently or whatever, the scents on your hands are of the utmost importance. I grab a handful of grass or dirt and rub it in my hands before baiting up. This helps eliminate unnatural odors that may be on your hands, and in turn of whatever bait you're using.

Be Efficient - If you want to catch more trout, the more time that you spend with your line in the water, the better. You can't catch any trout without your line being in the water. This means that while fishing, you want to have your line in the water as much of the time as you can. This is where being efficient comes in. Employing an efficiency helper like a bait bag is a great idea. You see, with a bait bag you're spending much less time fumbling around for your bait, thus your spending more time with your line in the water. With a bait bag, your bait is right there "at your fingertips", waiting to be used.

Use Gang Hooks - Gang hooks are the only way to present live worms in a natural manner, rather than looking like a "worm ball". Gang hooks are simply a pair of small hooks tied in tandem. They are incredibly effective for trout fishing. Rigging a live worm on a set of gang hooks, then allowing it to tumble naturally downstream is an incredibly effective trout catching technique. Tie the gang hooks yourself or purchase them ready to fish, it makes little difference. What's important is that you begin using gang hooks as soon as possible, especially if you want to catch more trout.

Use Light Line - When fishing for trout, the fishing line that you use should be no heavier than 6 pound test. I prefer 4 pound, but 6 is tolerable. Trout (especially large, experienced trout) can see your line underwater if it's too heavy, and this will cost you a ton of bites.

These tips will certainly help you catch more trout, there no doubt about that. And remember, there's no substitute for practice. The more time you can spend on the water refining your skills, the better. These simple ideas, as you become more and more proficient with them will help you catch a lot more trout.

By: Trevor Kugler
Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country…..Montana!
Gang Hooks Tied & Ready To Fish: http://www.jrwfishing.com/gang_hooks.asp.
The Original Bait Bag... - jrwfishing.com/bait_pouch.asp.

Fishing information courtesy of Resources For Attorneys, a legal information and lifestyle resources portal.

Are you looking for a few laughs? Check out our fishing jokes section. For jokes on other subjects visit the Jokes index.

Cane poles not only are maintaining their popularity, but are actually increasing in use as the years go by. Kids use them, of course, but so do a lot of grownups. Nobody can dispute the effectiveness of a pole for producing good strings of bream, perch, catfish and many other species.

Plenty of bass are caught on cane poles too, sometimes by mistake, but often by design. And one particular type of cane pole fishing - called “jigger fishing” or “skittering” - may be the best method of all for consistently producing really big bass.

Advances in poles have managed to keep pretty well abreast of advances in rods and reels. You can still buy the old-fashioned cane pole just about everywhere, and in a great variety of lengths and strengths. You can also buy two, three and four-piece disjointed poles with friction ferrules or screw-type ferrules.

Then, of course, there are the telescoping fiberglass poles, which cost a few bucks, but which stow and transport easily, and which generally outlast far more than their equal money value in cane poles.

As a rule of thumb, you should use as long a pole as you can comfortably handle. Twelve and 14-footers are about right for most people in most situations, but a lot of fishermen like 16 and 18 footers. Of course, you might use the long poles for lake fishing, but have shorter ones too, for fishing in tight creeks or bushy spots.

For bream, perch or crappie fishing, use monofilament line of 10 to 15-pound test. First tie the line snugly around the pole about two feet down from the tip, say aground the third or fourth joint of bamboo. Then spiral the line upward around the tip and tie it again at the very end of the pole.

Why the double tie? Because it is not at all unusual for a cane pole to break at the tip, especially if you’re surprised by a husky bass or catfish. Should the tip break, you’re protected by the second tie, and may not lose your rig or your fish.

By: HJ Smith
More Fishing Facts about Tackle - Rigs - Baits at webseekdirectory.com.

Fishing information courtesy of Resources For Attorneys, a legal resource and lifestyle resources portal.

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Flippin is a quiet but powerful bass fishing technique. You use it when the weeds are thick (matted), working a reed - Kissimmee grass line or when working docks. The bait is Texas rigged worm/craw imitation and the weight size varies with the type of cover you are flipping to. For matted cover, use 1/2 - 1 1/2 ounce bullet weights. For reeds - Kissimmee grass lines, I usually use from 1/4- 3/8 ounce weights. The line needs to be at least 20 pound test either mono or braided.

The presentation starts like a slow overhead cast bringing the rod to a 45 degree angle. Pull approx. 3-4 feet of line off the bait casting reel with one hand while thumbing the spool. Keep the thumb pressure on the line and quickly dip the rod tip toward the water's surface, then in the same motion lift the rod tip back to the 45 degree angle while releasing the line. Keep your lure moving as close to the water's surface as possible. This will keep the lure entry into the water much quieter. As the lure enters the water, release the thumb pressure and allow the lure to sink vertically.

The feel of the bite when flipping is usually quite different than the casting bite. Most of the time the lure will have a mush feeling or start moving sideways. The conventional thump bite does happen, but not as often. When you feel the mush bite, drop the rod with slack line (this keeps the bass from feeling your unnatural movements), reel the slack in and set the hook. If the line is moving sideways, always set the hook in the direction opposite of the pull.

I find that most of my bites happen during the initial fall. However, I usually follow up the initial fall by jigging the lure up and down in a slow methodical fashion for 3-4 jigging motions. This jigging motion is just a slow pull up, then letting the lure fall back down. If you want to catch more bass, you have got to try this method!

By: Paul Bruessow
The Largemouth Herald- Paul Bruessow See my sites at floridabasslakes.com or floridabassfishing.us.

Fishing information courtesy of Resources For Attorneys, a legal resource and lifestyle resources portal.

Are you looking for a few laughs? Check out our fishing jokes section. For jokes on other subjects visit the Jokes index.