Flats fishing can be an exciting and rewarding experience for fishermen of all ages, whether just beginning or accomplished angler. Flats are long, level, shallow water areas next to deeper water. They are found in bays estuaries and marshes. They are also found atop reefs and atolls, and along shorelines.

The bottom of a flat may be made up of grass, sand, rock, mud, gravel, or a combination of these. Flats with grass or other aquatic vegetation offer cover and food for a variety of fish as well as shrimp and crabs. The most sought after fish when flats fishing include redfish, tarpon, seatrout, bonefish, permit and snook. Other popular catches are striped bass, bluefish, barracuda, shark, cobia and mutton snapper.

When choosing the best areas for flats fishing, look for flats that are 8 feet deep or less. More productive flats usually contain stumps, brush piles, grass beds or other types of cover. Flats that contain shallow ditches or humps are especially attractive to bass. Also look for baitfish, crabs and other “fish foods”.

Observe tides carefully when locating good flats to fish. Some will be totally dry during low tide. As the tide rises, game fish will move in to feed whereas when the tide drops gamefish will wait for crabs and baitfish to flee the flat.

Flats are usually fished with fly gear or light spinning gear. Light tackle is the rule. Fly rods should be 8 or 9 weight. If you are using a spinning outfit, load it with no stronger than 12 pound test. Live bait such as mullet, pigfish, pinfish and shrimp works well. If you are using artificial lures, any size with attractor colors may be used from May through June. If you are flats fishing during July through August, natural colored lures work best.

Other equipment to include on your fishing trip is proper footwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, a raincoat and plenty of water to drink. Hydration is important since most flats fishing takes place in sunny climates such as the Florida Keys and the Caribbean, as well as lakes and rivers across the United States and other countries.

The most important equipment required is usually a small skiff with no more than two fishermen aboard. This lets the guide pole across shallow waters with ease, to reach the best flats. Also remember to wear light colored clothing to reflect the sun’s heat, and be less visible to the fish.

By: Wayne Gilbert
Wayne Gilbert is a Florida native with over 30 years of fishing experience. His website about Flats Fishing, http://www.FishFloridaBay.com, has been providing its viewers with extensive coverage of the Florida backcountry fishing scene for a long time. Other topics include backcountry fishing, Florida Keys fishing, and individual gamefish habitats,statistics, and locations.

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The Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam is known world wide for being an exceptional fly fishing paradise. There have been many articles about the giant Cicada hatches or the blanket Blue Wing Olive Hatch in the spring. These are a couple of the things that make this river so great. Let me tell you about some of the others.

First and foremost has to be the scenery. There are many place to catch fish in the world, but none will out do the Green for beauty. Many fishermen have a hard time concentrating on the fishing because they are to busy looking up, way up. Red canyon's walls extend up to over a thousand feet. The red rock walls are truly breathtaking. Some fishermen can not concentrate because they are to busy looking down. The first seven miles of the Green have often been referred to as an aquarium. Flaming Gorge dam serves as a big filter. The water is crystal clear and you can see fish everywhere. There are an estimated 8000-22000 fish in each of the first eleven miles! They are literally everywhere. The river bed it incredible as well. It is full of rich green moss beds, boulders the size of a truck, and river rocks that might be yellow, red or orange.

The beauty does not just extend to the scenery either. The Green holds some of the prettiest trout anywhere. The colors are vibrant! With the rich colors of their surroundings, these trout camouflage perfectly. The brown trout have dark greenish brown tops with a bright golden under belly. The rainbow's have a deep pink or crimson stripe with a gorgeous blue or green top. Often the rainbow's will have bright red fins tipped white almost match the surrounding canyon walls. The fish maintain a healthy diet and average 15-18 inches in size. Fish over 20 inches are not uncommon. Fish over 30 inches are seen, but rarely caught. I know of two fish over 25 pounds that have been caught in the river. A 29 pound brown caught in 1996 is still the river record.

One thing that separates the Green from other tailwaters is the fact that you can catch fish on big dry flies. The Green has to be one the great terrestrial rivers anywhere. There are the famed Cicadas, field crickets, Mormon crickets, hoppers, ants, and more beetle species that you can count. There are also a few other that no one seems to know what they are. All it takes is a gusty summer afternoon breeze and these bugs are all over the water. The fish take full advantage and create some of the most incredible dry fly fishing you will ever be a part of.

This river is very consistent. If for some reason you can not catch fish on dries, you can always nymph. I have spent almost a thousand days on this river and have never been skunked. There are too many fish! There are always a few hungary fish looking for a good meal.

Critics will say that the Green is becoming to crowded. The truth is, at times, it is. There are also times when there is nobody there. Visiting this fly fishing mecca is best Sunday-Thursday most of the year. During the summer months I would avoid Thursday as well. If you want total solitude, fish the lower sections of the river. The lower section, known as the C section, sees less than ten people a day.

By: Ryan O Kelly
The author is a fly fishing guide on Utah's Green River. He works with Flaming Gorge Resort and is owner and writer of Green River Flyfisher.com.

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My first experience surf fishing was with my father on Wrightsville Beach, NC in the 60’s. He parked our shiny black Ford Fairlane in a gravel parking lot off the beach and we hiked over the dunes to the surf, carrying rods, buckets, tackle box and various other fishing paraphernalia. I remember him catching bluefish, croakers, puppy drum and flounder as I played in the tidal pools nearby. Later, my grandmother would fry the filleted fish to a golden brown and we would eat them with hushpuppies and coleslaw.

Years later, in the mid-eighties, I remember an early winter fishing expedition near Oregon Inlet, south of Nags Head, this time with my husband, 8-month old daughter and a Chesapeake Bay Retriever puppy. My husband had come in from duck hunting and had heard the big blues were hitting the beach! We parked our 4-wheel drive truck nearby on the hard sand and with the baby playing contentedly in her car seat and the puppy chewing on anything he could find, we lined up along the surf with a few dozen other fishermen, casting the heavy silver spoon lures into the churning waters of the big blue blitz. Cast after cast we were rewarded with huge bluefish, twelve to sixteen pounds, filling up a wheelbarrow in a pyramid of large fish. Later we filleted, boiled and ate the fish in casseroles made with mashed potatoes. Needless to say, we were eating bluefish casseroles all winter long.

Surf fishing is exciting, rewarding and accessible to all. Most locations can be reached either by car or ferry. With a basic understanding of seasons, conditions, equipment and regulations, an angler can get lucky just about any time of the year, but typically the very best times to surf fish are spring and fall.

Popular and prolific sport fish species you may catch surf fishing along the North Carolina coast include:

Channel bass (red drum, puppy drum) --
The spring season generally begins in April. This run will peak by mid May and taper off in early June. Average size in spring is 35 to 50 pounds. In September the smaller drum will enter the surf. These fish will range between 2 and 15 pounds. They are more plentiful than the larger variety and can be found in most sloughs. In late October the bigger drum (40-70 pounds) return and remain until late November. Bait of choice is fresh mullet; rods are 9 to 11 feet with medium to heavy action tips. Size allowed is between 18” and 27” with a daily bag limit of 1 per person.

Bluefish --
Blues are available in a variety of sizes from April to December to surf fishermen and boaters as well. Large size blues (8-12 pounds) arrive in May and remain until November. Their departure is generally hastened by the arrival of the fall run of 15-20 pound giant blues. These later fall visitors are plentiful and powerful. They'll take bait (mullet, spot, or menhaden) or almost any type of lure. Fishing rods 9 to 11 feet are preferred. Bag limit of 15 per day per person. Only 5 allowed over 24” total length (from tip of snout to tip of compressed tail).

Spanish mackerel --
This fish is somewhat of a tourist, arriving in June and staying until later September. The Spanish is delicious, averages 1 to 3 pounds and presents a real challenge to any angler. Spanish mackerel are usually taken on fast moving metal lures. Fishing rod of choice is a 9 foot light action. Minimum size allowed is 12” fork length (from tip of snout to middle of fork in tail). Bag limit of 15 per day per person

Striped bass --
Recently during the winter months striped bass have returned to NC waters in great numbers. October, November and December are the best times for fishing, with fish still showing up as late as February. In Atlantic waters, size limit is over 27” total length with bag limit of 2 per day. For sounds and other areas, consult the NC Marine Fisheries website.

Flounder (summer, southern)--
Flounder begin biting in May as the water warms. By June, the fishing is going strong, with both summer and southern flounder being caught. Southern flounder dominate the catch in inshore and southern NC waters, while summer flounder dominate the catch in offshore waters north of Cape Hatteras. Many flounder are caught using cut baits and some are caught using jigs. When jigs are used, they work best when tipped with fish, shrimp or a mullet minnow.

Other species available to North Carolina surf fishermen are pompano, croaker, trout, spot, hogfish and whiting (sea mullet).

Be advised that there is a proposed recreational saltwater fishing license which is scheduled to take effect January 2006. The license is still being debated by the North Carolina General Assembly and you should check the NC Marine Fisheries website (http://www.ncfisheries.net) to determine if a license is required before fishing the NC coast after that date.

Also, the size regulations and limits given above are accurate at the time of this writing (summer 2005) but are subject to change, so check the NC Marine Fisheries website to confirm these regulations before your fishing expedition.

Whether beginning angler or old salt, surf fishing is a popular and fun activity with minimal expense, no boat required, easy access to great fishing conditions and plenty of action. With a minimum of effort and expense, you can catch a variety of excellent eating fish, have a great time and start making your own memories.

By: E. A. Edwards
E. A. Edwards is a free-lance writer with a variety of professional and personal interests. You will find more information about fishing and fishing gear on http://www.fishing-rod-guide.info.

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Deep sea fishing is an exciting experience, where you're far out in the ocean and it's just you, the boat, and the fish. There are lots of deep sea fishing grounds scattered around the world's oceans. If you're keen to give it a try, a deep sea fishing excursion is probably best done through a charter.

The equipment used for deep sea fishing is quite specific, and needs to be very heavy duty, including the rods and reels. A single reel needs to hold as much as 300 yards of line, and the line will need to be between 12 and 30 pound-test, according the fish species you’re targeting. If you're inexperienced, it's best if you use the 30-pound test-line. More skilled anglers will find a 12 pound-test line a great deal more challenging. It's also important to make sure your rod, reel and line are all balanced in size. Your hook should be sized between 3.0 and 6.0. You should tie your leaders to a double line, and they need to be between 10 and 15 feet long. They should also be between 30 and 50 pound-test.

One of the best things about deep sea fishing is the huge range of fish you can target, including cod, haddock, wolf fish, Pollock, halibut, tuna, cusk, shark, swordfish, sailfish, marlin, rockfish, dorado and wahoo. If you want a good all round bait for deep sea fishing, then use live ballyhoo. Some of the larger baits you might like to try include speedos, googleyes, blue runners, cut bait, dead bait rigs and lures, although live bait is usually considered the best. You should always aim to present your fish with natural prey when you're choosing your bait. So for the best bait, use smaller fish like herring, pilchards, sand perch, threadfin, lugworms, mackerel, hermit crabs, mussels, squid, shrimp, mullets and sandeel. Kingfish, snapper, grouper, tuna and wahoo will all eagerly take these baits.

Always make sure you have your baits prepared before applying sunscreen, or else make sure you've washed your hands with non-scented soap and water first. It's important to minimize handling of the baits, and try to only use good quality bait. Avoid bait with scales missing or that had red spots around the nose. If you want to save yourself some money, you can often find good deep sea fishing baits around fishing cleaning tables, bridges, markers and docks. Keep an eye on the seabirds and you'll get a clue where to find bait. If they've found bait, they fly in tight circles and dive down to get it. Pelicans that dive and immediately lift their heads have found herring or pilchards.

When it comes to gear, your destination plays a big part in determining what you need. One thing is standard though - take rain gear to protect yourself in inclement weather. Always ask the charter company what you should bring when you first book the deep sea fishing excursion. Quite often they'll give you a list, which makes it easier to remember everything you need.

It's a good idea to ask around for referrals when choosing a charter company. Make sure they have the proper permits and insurance, and are well respected. It's best if they have been licensed for at least two years, and check their references. If at any stage they seem reluctant to provide credentials, move on. Don't feel embarrassed to ask for proof of insurance, licensing and bonds. Also make sure they have sufficient safety equipment and are fully bondable.

By: Tim Gorman
For more exciting information and reviews on the best fishing rods, fishing reels and fishing tackle visit Best-Online-Fishing-Resources.info located at www.best-online-fishing-resources.info.

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One Sale Only

A country lad applied for a salesman's job at a city department store. In fact it was the biggest store in the world - you could get anything there. The boss asked him, "Have you ever been a salesman before?" Yes, I was a salesman in the country" said the lad. The boss liked the cut of him and said, "You can start tomorrow and I'll come and see you when we close up." The day was long and arduous for the young man, but finally 5 o'clock came around. The boss duly fronted up and asked, "How many sales did you make today?" "One," said the young salesman. "Only one?" blurted the boss, "most of my staff make 20 or 30 sales a day. How much was the sale worth?" "Three hundred thousand dollars," said the young man. "How did you manage that?" asked the flabbergasted boss. "Well," said the salesman "this man came in and I sold him a small fish hook, then a medium hook and finally a really large hook. Then I sold him a small fishing line, a medium one and a huge big one. I asked him where he was going fishing and he said down the coast. I said he would probably need a boat, so I took him down to the boat department and sold him that twenty foot schooner with the twin engines. Then he said his Volkswagen probably wouldn't be able to pull it, so I took him to the car department and sold him the new Deluxe Cruiser." The boss took two steps back and asked in astonishment, "You sold all that to a guy who came in for a fish hook?" "No," answered the salesman "He came in to buy a box of Tampons for his wife and I said to him, 'Your weekend's shot, you may as well go fishing.'"

You might be a fisherman if

1) You have a power worm dangling from your rear view mirror because you think it makes a good air freshener.
2) Your wedding party had to tie tin cans to the back of your bass boat.
3) You call your boat "sweetheart" and your wife "skeeter".
4) Your local tackle shop has your credit card number on file.
5) You keep a flippin stick by your favorite chair to change the TV channels with.
6) You name your black lab "Mercury" and your cat "Evinrude".
7) Bass Pro Shop has a private line just for you.
8) You have your name painted on a parking space at the launch ramp.
9) You have a photo of your 10 lb. bass on your desk at work instead of your family.
10) You consider viennies and crackers a complete meal.
11) You think MEGABYTES means a great day fishing.
12) You send your kid off to the first day of school with his shoes tied in a palomar knot.
13) You think there are four seasons--Pre-spawn, Spawn, Post Spawn and Hunting.
14) Your $30,000 bass boat's trailer needs new tires so you just "borrow" the ones off your house.
15) You trade your wife's van for a smaller vehicle so your bass boat will fit in the garage.
16) Your kids know it's Saturday---Because the boats gone.

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When it comes to trolling striped bass, there really are but a few important facts to remember everything else is basic know how and standard trolling techniques that can be used. When you are trolling striped bass, you will want to maintain a trolling speed of between 2 and 4 miles per hour. This will keep the bass from being startled, yet will allow you to keep a good pace and entice the bass to hit your line. Should you be using a tube and worm rig in a rip or glacial esker, it would be most advisable for you to troll even slower than the 2 to 4 mile per hour recommendation.

Rips are a wonderful place when it comes to trolling bass, the waters are chilly and it is a great place for the bass to intercept baitfish as they lie in wait. This makes it an ideal location, especially for someone new to trolling all together. With all of the breaks, ridges, and cliffs that the rips entail, this area makes for a great staging ground for bass to collect and congregate. Should you encounter such a rip, more than likely you will receive many strikes on your line provided you are using the right bait.

Many anglers tolling bass use combinations when it comes to the bait that they are using. There really is no right lure, or wrong lure when it comes to trolling striped bass. It all comes down to what they like, or want an a particular day. The lure that you used yesterday, or last week may not be what will be successful this time around. Many of the best anglers use Shad Umbrella rigs, or large tube lures and spoons. All of these lures have been successful in the past, finding the right day to get lucky while trolling striped bass is clearly a matter of experimentation.

What is most important when it comes to trolling striped bass however would have to be having a strong durable rod. When trolling, you will need a rod that is capable of casting at a great distance, and should be strong enough to allow you to pull in a fish that is around 60-80 pounds. This will ensure that once you have snagged the striped bass while trolling, you will be able to bring the fish in without compromising the rod that you are using.

By: Mike Singh
Check out http://www.1-stop-fishing.com/ for more articles on fly fishing Canada and Canada lake trout fishing.

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