Cheap Fishing Gear

If you are a mad keen fisherman (or woman), then you want the best fishing gear available. But, it can be quite pricey if you shop in the wrong stores. Thankfully, there are a few online stores that offer fishing gear at very reasonable prices. In this post, I will tell you just where to find cheap fishing gear. It is possible to save hundreds of dollars every year by finding cheap fishing gear stores online.

For Australians, try the Fishing Tackle Shop to get some of the cheapest fishing gear on the market. They have great deals on tackle, lures, rods, reels, sunglasses, wetsuits and so much more. If you know another fisherman who needs some gear, buy them a gift voucher.

For all the Americans out there, try Fishing Tackle Unlimited. They usually have the best prices of any online store. You can pick up some books, DVD's, shirts, tools, hooks, nets and lights. There is also the usual tackle, lures, rods and reels. You can pay with most major credit cards and have the cheap fishing gear delivered to your door!

If you are after really cheap fishing gear you can check out the new Discount Fishing Tackle Store, which has updated listings from all over the web to ensure you get a bargain.

Fishfinders for ice fishing

The ice fishing season is in full swing again in the northern part of the hemisphere and I get many questions about choosing a fish finder for ice fishing so I thought it was a good time to address the topic.

Which type?
There are two types of ice fishing fish finders. One is the traditional flasher and the other is the more modern fish finder you will find in most boating situations.

The Flasher
A simple depth and fish finding device that displays the bottom echo and depth as well as any other echos (hopefully fish) and the depth they are holding.

Modern fish finder
Depending on the model these type of fish finders show everything, including structure and fish. There have been special ice fishing models released fairly recently which are fantastic and can run all day on a battery.

Choosing the right one
The most important thing about choosing an ice fishing fishfinder is the ability to handle the cold conditions! After this the power of the unit should be the key consideration. If you need your fish finder to penetrate the ice you may need extra power than someone using a transducer in the water.

Other important considerations:

• Battery Life - will it last all day or more?
  
• Zoom Mode - can it zoom in on a section of the water column? How much can it zoom and is it adjustable?
  
• Color or mono?
• Can it give readings before you start drilling?
• Warranty!

Hopefully this helps you make your decision when purchasing a depth finder for your ice fishing. If you have any questions feel free to email me or leave a comment.

Great fishing holidays

Currently I am on the road and am using one of those fancy wireless internet usb connections to post this for you.

I have been on some great fishing holidays, The one where I caught my first tarpon was probably my favorite. My dream fishing destination is probably Fiji or Tonga but I would also like to fish New Zealand for the big trout that live in the many great rivers. I also would like to fish the Midway Islands (maybe I just want to fish everywhere).

Basically the point of this little post is that I am wondering what was your favorite fishing hoiday or dream destination? Please leave a comment.

Bonefish fishing video

My last post was dedicated to one of the most sort after sportsfish so I thought I would continue in that vein and post a great little angling video of one of my favorite fish - the bonefish.

These great fish are a top angling target because of the fight they offer anglers as well as the great exotic tropical locations they are caught in. They are most often targeted on fly gear, but they can be caught with most of the popular methods of fishing. Bonefish form large schools over the flats where they feed and are targeted by anglers trying to spot the fish (called flats fishing). They are not often taken for food and although they are edible they are quite bony (hence the name).

The bonefish can reach 10kg and over 100 cm and feed mainly on small crustaceans and worms living in the sand. Like tarpon, they are also known to be able to breathe air from the surface of the water.

Enjoy the video

Tarpon Facts

Tarpon are one of the ultimate fishing targets for many anglers and one I have been lucky enough to tangle with on one occasion. After landing that fish I understood why this great species is so highly prized! The fight is spectacular and aerobatics are the norm as the tarpon tries to throw the hook (quite often successfully!)

Here are some interesting facts about this species of fish:

• There are actually two species of tarpon. However, the Indo pacific tarpon are much smaller than the more famous Atlantic tarpon.
• The Atlantic tarpon can grow to up to 250 cm (98 in) and to a weight of 161kg (350 lbs).
• When water becomes drained of oxygen the tarpon can breathe air from the surface.
• Although they are rarely eaten tarpon are quite edible, but very bony. A permit is required in some places to keep them - stick to catch and release.
• Despite the popularity of fly fishing for tarpon they can be caught with most conventional fishing methods.
• The tarpon is the official state saltwater fish of Alabama