Category Archives: Hunting & Fishing

Should You Purchase A Fly Rod Combo Or Build Your Own

As a beginner to the sport of fly fishing you can take one of two routes when it comes to choosing your gear. You can either balance a fly fishing rod and fly fishing reel that are purchased separately, or you can purchase one of the many fly rod combos that come already balanced from the factory. For beginners, fly rod combos may be a better choice for you to help ensure you have the easiest time learning how to cast, but a separately purchased rod and reel will give you something that you can grow into rather than having to upgrade once you have perfected your cast.

Fly Fishing Rods – If you are looking for a new fly fishing rod you will first want to think about the type of locations where you will be spending the most time fishing. If it is going to be in large lakes and open rivers, you will want a longer rod that helps you cast further and more accurately.

Fly Fishing Reels – Before you try to save money on a new fly reel you are going to want to make sure that you avoid buying one that is built from plastic parts. Instead you will want to make sure that it is constructed with metal parts and that it is sealed if you are going to be using it in the saltwater.

Fly Rod Combos – Fly rod combos usually take care of the aspects of balancing the reel to the rod, and the type of line that you need. However, you still want to follow the rules of purchasing a metal reel, and matching the length of the rod to the type of waters that you are going to be fishing in. You also want to make sure that the combo comes with a weight forward or double tapered fly line to help ease your way into casting accurately.

What Causes Fishing Kayaks To Flip Over

If you have been kayak fishing for any length of time, you have probably flipped your boat once or twice. If you are just getting started in the sport, you are going to want to make sure that your gear is attached to the fishing kayak with lanyards so that when you do flip your boat, you are not going to lose anything in the water. You can also prevent flipping over the boat by understanding how so many anglers end up in the water when they’re out trying to enjoy the day.

Being Uncomfortable On The Boat – If you are on a boat that is too small for you, or that wasn’t designed for kayak fishing, you run the risk of having tip overs happen more regularly. Fishing kayaks are designed with wide specifications to help keep this from happening, but if you are jerky in your movements, you can end up flipping the boat very easily.

Large Waves And Boat Wakes – If you are planning on fishing in the ocean, or where large boat wakes are going to be present, you also run the risk of having the boat flip over. When large waves and boat wakes are present, you are going to need to be aware of the direction that they are coming at you, in order to offset your weight on the other side of the boat.

Gear Situated On One Side Of The Boat – While you are loading your fishing kayak, you want to avoid loading it all to one side of the boat, or situating the heavier portion to one side. If you lean to the same side while you are on the water, you could potentially flip the kayak. You can avoid this by loading your gear onto the kayak evenly, and by being careful when you are leaning over to one side or the other.

Fishing games—a sea of options

Fishing remains a very popular past time for many people. And, there are many reasons that people seek it out, ranging from some low-key family time, solitude on quite waters, the thrill of fighting with another species, to professional and tournament fishers interested in competition.

When you cannot get out on the water, you may be interested in a fishing game to help pass the time, and the range of titles and formats can be overwhelming. There is a tough balance to achieve in fishing games—enough action for the video gamer, and enough simulated fishing to satisfy the fishers, and this explains why there are few fishing games that have been really successful. Here, I will provide comments about a few of the best-reviewed fishing games out there today.

Atlus Pro Fishing Challenge (rating 4 out of 5)

For simulation games, an older and highly rated game is Atlus Pro Fishing Challenge (for Xbox). With the fishing rod controller, this game provides an in-depth experience, simulating a real fishing trip. The game features 4 photorealistic lakes. You create your avatar and there are many “skins” to select from, including both men and women. You gear up at the tackle shop and head for the water. The game has over 100 pieces of tackle including rods, lines, reels, and lures. As you progress in the game and win tournaments you can unlock optional gear and clothing as a reward.

You select lures, rods, reels, and other equipment and learn about water conditions as to where to find the best fish. Depth, water temperature, and other environmental variables are given for you to find the best holes. One feature that may be a plus or a negative is that the action is all viewed from above water—just like in real life you are not transported to an underwater view of the action. You cast, and trawl, and when a fish bites the real fun begins.

You cannot just reel it in—your line will break or the fish will otherwise get away. Instead, you must “play” the fish, letting it battle you until it fatigues and you can safely bring it aboard, just as in real life. You can even utilize the online gaming experience to visit a virtual lake and interact with other anglers. This is as close to a real in-door fishing experience you are likely to get.

Rapala Pro Fishing (rating 4 out of 5)

Rapala Pro Fishing (PC, PlayStation 2, PlayStation3, and Nintendo Wii) has also been around for a while, and is generally well reviewed. In contrast to Pro Fishing Challenge, it is slightly more of an arcade experience in that you do not have to fuss as much with all the variables to start fishing, but there are variables to play with. The game features 11 species of fish, 12 localities around the world, and 2 game modes, free and tournament.

You have a fishing buddy in the game that can help by pointing out various tips to improve your experience, such as changing lures and other things that can be a big help. The camera view briefly shows you underwater scenes as fish approach and takes the hook. After that, it is above water views as you fight to land your fish. If you leave too much slack in the line your fish will throw the hook. Keep the line too tight and it could snap.

Rapala Pro Bass Fishing 2010 (rating 4.5 out of 5)

One of the newest video fish games on the market is Rapala Pro Bass Fishing 2010 (Nintendo Wii, PlayStation 2 and 3, Xbox, Nintendo DS, and Sony PSP). This game comes in both a standard edition and a rod peripheral bundle edition. The game features over 25 species of trophy fish as well as many lures, boats, and other gear. There are several game modes including free, amateur, pro, and legendary, and head to head, with 4 levels of competitions at each. There are a variety of competitions styles within the game, including heaviest, longest fish, most fish caught in a given period, and so on.

This game boasts of a true tournament structure, with the action presented as a live TV event, including announcers calling the action. Being very new, many reviewers really like how this game makes use of the newest PlayStation move technology.

The game features a lot of different gear, with 49 lures, and extra rods, reels, and boats. Built-in fish-o-pedia will tell you if you have the right lure for the target species you are after. Once hooked, the view shows a split screen view of both above and under-water action. You fight your fish, working to keep it in the center of the screen so it does not snap your line and get away.

Given the diversity of formats available for this game, and the quality of its graphics, I think this is the game I would opt for, all things being equal, if I wanted just one fishing game in my collection.

Fishing Controllers

Of course, a true fishing experience involves a quality fishing controller. Here is a list of several fishing controllers you can get for your system. This section is not comprehensive, and I have not reviewed these controllers, but list them for you as a place to start if you need a controller and will not get one with the game bundle you purchase. Happy fishing!

Naki Bass Champion X Fishing Controller for Xbox

Naki Bass Champion 2 Fishing Controller for PS2

Wii Fishing Rod with Reel for Nintendo Wii

Basics Of Sit On Top Kayaks

Oh, those wonderful days of lake or ocean fishing in an old rowboat with oars that kept slipping out of the oarlocks. Actually, back then most of us never heard of a kayak let alone used one for fishing. Today, sit on top kayaks for fishing is the rage, not only for anglers and outdoor enthusiasts, but the whole family as well.

Modern kayaks today come in different shapes and sizes to cater to various water sport activities. There are whitewater kayaks which have a short and wide hull profile for stability and maneuverability. The ocean or touring kayaks are slender in shape and built for speed. Recreational kayaks are a hybrid of whitewater and touring kayaks. This model is aimed at the general consumer market and is versatile enough to use for fishing or just a great way to spend time outdoors with the kids on the weekends. These craft are made of polyethylene or fiberglass materials which make them very durable and light.

Recreational kayaks come in two configurations, sit on top and sit in kayak. Sit on top kayak is a popular choice for fishermen due to accessibility, stability and transportability. The two seat version, or tandem kayaks, are geared toward casual paddlers. They are great for leisure water activities around ponds and small lakes. Used kayaks are a great way to get into the sport and will not break the bank. The best way to know which kayak fits you most is to test it out on the water if possible.

However, before you hit the water, it is highly recommended that you take a few kayaking lessons and always go with someone else with more experience. Practice your kayaking skills in calm water like ponds and harbors. If you are planning to paddle on the ocean, ensure to familiarize yourself with the tide chart and weather report. Always wear your PDF while on the water and dress for the weather.

Quality Outdoor Equipment Tested In The Toughest Terrain

Outdoors enthusiasts, campers, prospectors and adventurers need the best equipment to explore the natural environment, but the cost of this equipment can sometimes be staggering. Even family-targeted camping equipment comes at a cost and when the expense of buying your outdoor equipment goes up the temptation to sacrifice quality can be hard to resist. But what if there was a great way to buy the highest quality outdoor adventure and camping equipment and save money at the same time? At military surplus retailers and online stores you can get the quality you need at prices you can afford.

I’ve been camping and exploring for years. It started with family fishing trips when I was young and now as a father I often take my own children outdoors on the holidays for a little adventure. Like me, my children love getting outside for fishing, hiking and prospecting. It’s a family tradition enjoyed by millions of people across the world, but it can be a costly pastime. The cost of tents, clothing, equipment and hunting and fishing gear is staggering, but since I’ve discovered military surplus I’ve been able to save a lot every year when adding to and updating our equipment.

One of the best purchases I’ve made from military surplus has been sleeping bags, tents and clothing (check out considerations for the best camping tent). The range of clothing and backpacks in particular is exceptional and my kids love to dress up in camouflage and go spotlighting at night. I admit I love the look of camouflage clothing too, but I also appreciate the quality and the durability of the materials, and the fact that I’m not going to have to replace it after every trip. I also love tucking into a warm and dry sleeping bag at night to rest after chasing after the kids all day.

But it’s not just family trips that I’ve been able to enjoy more since discovering surplus. I love hunting, and while it’s not everyone’s favorite activity, for enthusiasts like me it’s important that I can carry the right knives and guns for each outing (check out what to look for in a hunting knife, too). Military surplus is a great source of knives, sheaths and netting. The quality is made for combat so it is sturdy and reliable. The range of rifles are also impressive.

Hunting equipment is a specialized necessity for sporting enthusiasts and while many military guns are not appropriate for sporting activities it’s possible to modify some combat rifles for these purposes. I recently purchased an AR-15 builder instruction manual and have been able to adapt my rifle to suit the exact purposes I’m looking for. You can also buy handguns and collectors weapons from World War I & II.

Whether you are strictly a family camping hobbyist or adventurous outdoor explorer, military surplus stores offer a great range of supplies for any expedition. Tested in harsh environments by our brave soldiers, surplus stock is a fantastic idea for building your store of outdoor gear. Compasses, portable bathrooms, sleeping bags, clothing and more. Military surplus stores stock everything you need at prices you can afford.

Boneblogger: Science and the outdoors

Exploring the natural world