DATE: 12 Jan 2012, 2:57 pm / MOOD: Other

Fishing season will be coming up soon and I am currently stocking up on gear. I am sure that many of you all are too. I just hit up a sporting goods store and got some catfish bait, some circle hooks, some new fishing line and some bass fishing lures. The bass should start becoming really active in my part of the country in just a couple months and the catfish are hitting hard right now. I need to get out to the lake over the next few days and see if I can pick up some good sized catfish for the dinner table. I am also planning a few fly fishing trips for the summer and will need to pick up some gear over the upcoming months. I am hoping to take another trip to the Cancun area to fish for bonefish (and would sure love to hook into my first tarpon!) and will likely take a few trips to New Mexico and Colorado as well. So I will be stocking up on leader, tippet and flies and will need a new pair of polarized sunglasses as well. There is quite a bit of gear that I need to pick up so that I am prepared for the upcoming fishing season. It should be a great year for fishing and I am very much looking forward to it!

For my fly fishing trips I will probably use a Cabela's Coupon at Coupon Cactus. There are lots of really good deals on the site so it will be a good way to save a few bucks. I have never shopped there before but it looks like a good site and am eager to give it a shot. I would encourage the site members of fishingrecreation.com to do the same. Happy fishing to all of you in 2012!


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DATE: 12 Aug 2011, 4:15 pm / MOOD: Other

West Texas is one of my favorite places to go fishing. There are some really great lakes and rivers. One can fish for bass, catfish and other popular gamefish. Here are a few of my favorite places to fish in west Texas:

Lake Amistad – Lake Amistad is located near the town of Del Rio and is one of the top largemouth bass fishing lakes in the state of Texas. Many ten pound fish are pulled out of the lake each year. There are lots of fishing guides who will take you out. I usually fish some of the coves out of my kayak and have a blast.

The Devil's River – The Devil's River is the cleanest river in Texas and has great fly fishing for smallmouth bass. I typically like to fish the river at Baker's Crossing. The river is very wadable. There is some great fishing for large catfish in the river too. Some of the locals that I have talked to in the area say that they have caught catfish there over 50 pounds.

I am very much looking forward to heading out to west Texas for some fishing this Fall after it cools off a bit. I plan to take one of the Midland bus charters over to the area and then meeting up with a buddy of mine from Odessa. From there we will head southwest to all of the great fishing spots.


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DATE: 02 May 2011, 6:08 pm / MOOD: Other

Depending on what kind of fishing I am doing... I sometimes like to listen to music while I am fishing. If I am fly fishing a remote mountain stream then I would rather just listen to the sounds of nature. However, if I am trolling the ocean for tuna or bottom fishing for catfish then you can be sure that I will want to blast some tunes. If you are looking for some good songs to listen to then you should check out the top ten song blog.

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DATE: 24 Nov 2010, 10:52 am / MOOD: Other

I know that when I first started fly fishing I read quite a few books, and while the books certainly helped me to learn, there were some major gaps in my knowledge that I had to overcome in order to effectively catch fish on fly rod.

The fact is that some concepts or skills are very difficult to teach in a book or article. Often a video can be so much more helpful.

I recently came across a site that has great content available about fly fishing for beginners. If you are just learning to fly fish, the videos on this site will be a great resource for you.

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DATE: 08 Nov 2010, 11:23 am / MOOD: Other

I want to tell everyone about a fly fishing trip that I am taking this January that I am really excited about. A brand new lodge is opening up in one of the most beautiful and productive fishing destinations in the world in Ascension Bay on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. I have read all about fly fishing for bonefish, tarpon and permit but have not been able to experience this excitement for myself. However, when I read about the GrandSlam Fly Fishing Lodge in their press release (I posted it below) I decided that I had to make it happen and fish the saltwater flats of Mexico and experience the thrill of a bonefish taking out 200 yards of line.

I will be sure to post a report and pictures from my trip when I get back.

I uploaded several pictures of the lodge in the gallery. Be sure to check them out. Here is a beautiful picture of a bonefish caught on Ascension Bay and here is one of the luxury beachfront lodge.

You can check out GrandSlam Lodge on the web at grandslamflyfishinglodge.com.


Here is their press release:

GrandSlam Fly Fishing Lodge at Ascension Bay Set to Open on November 15 In Mexico's Most Stunning and Pristine Fly Fishing Paradise

Rare Combination of Permit, Bonefish, Tarpon and Snook Combines with Intimate Beachfront Villas and Luxury Amenities

MIAMI (October 25, 2010) – GrandSlam Fly Fishing Lodge in Ascension Bay, Mexico has announced its grand opening on November 15, 2010. Surrounded by natural beauty and white sand beaches, GrandSlam Fly Fishing Lodge is Mexico's premier boutique fly fishing destination. The oceanfront, deluxe lodge is completely isolated and located in a virgin area at the end of Riviera Maya, which is teeming with permit, bonefish, tarpon and snook, affording fisherman an opportunity to achieve the elusive Super Slam.

"There are very few places in the world that can offer the stunning surroundings, seclusion, incredible fishing and luxury accommodations and amenities that we have at GrandSlam Fly Fishing Lodge," said Alessandro Spineli, general manager. "As an avid fisherman myself, I am very pleased to invite others to experience this one-of-a-kind destination, which will impress both the avid beachcomber and fanatic fly fisher."

The secluded GrandSlam Fly Fishing Lodge is a fishing haven, located on a narrow peninsula between the Caribbean and the lagoon flats an hour south of the Tulum ruins. GrandSlam is a pristine fishery, part of the Sian Kaan Biosphere Reserve, named an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. This 1.3 million-acre estuary is teeming with fish, birds and other wildlife.

Commercial fishing here has been prohibited for decades, and catch-and-release is the reserve rule, so the fish naturally populate without human intrusion. Ascension Bay hosts some of the biggest permit in the world and enormous schools of bonefish. With tarpon and snook also on hand, it is one of the world's best places to go for a Grand Slam – landing a bonefish, tarpon and permit in the same day. Anglers can add a snook to the trio for the most coveted fly-fishing achievement, the Super Slam.

GrandSlam Flying Fishing Lodge provides a private guide for each angler, and guests share a boat with one other angler-guide team. One team wades the flats while the other team fishes from the boat, and the teams switch off. Both fly fisherman and spinning enthusiasts will find the expansive flats of Ascension Bay a thrill. Guests can also try reef and offshore sports fishing. The GrandSlam Shop offers fly and spinning combos that include rod, reel and leader and all the lures and flies that work in the waters of Ascension Bay, plus materials for guests to make their own flies at personalized fly tying station.

The permit in Ascension Bay are among the largest in the world, as 16- to 20-lb. permit are frequently found here. The estuary in the area is a breeding ground for crabs, the permit's main diet. Bonefish are among the strongest fighting fish in the world pound-for-pound, and they are plentiful in parts of the Mayan Riviera. The bonefish in Ascension Bay are typically 1 to 3 lbs., but can often be found in the 5- to 8-lb. range. The young tarpon found in the bay year-round are in the 5- to 30-lb. range, although huge migratory tarpon up to 70 or 80 lbs. are in the bay during the summer. The snook and barracuda in Ascension Bay range in size, but once hooked they both put up quite a fight.

The intimate accommodations at the GrandSlam Fly Fishing Lodge feature six beachfront villas, each with two bedrooms, meaning there will never be more than 24 guests on the property at one time and there are no other hotels in sight. The villas have a contemporary, Mexican Caribbean décor, and are complete with either one or two king beds, air conditioning, king-sized beds, flat screen television with satellite service and DVD player, iPod docking station, wraparound deck with a two person sofa, private bathrooms with shower, interior Jacuzzi, daily housekeeping, hammock and spectacular views of the Mexican Caribbean Sea.

Guests can enjoy the beachfront swimming pool or the beach itself on king-sized Bali beach beds. As part of any stay at GrandSlam, breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided at the Kai Restaurant, featuring exquisite local cuisine and traditional preparations on the daily changing blackboard menu, or a built-in alfresco barbeque. The chef prepares meals that are hearty and satisfying using fresh local ingredients. Box lunches include generous portions of meals that also use fresh ingredients along with fruits, coolers, and beverages, ensuring guests will never go hungry while at sea.

The main lodge has a tropical thatched-roof design with natural flair. It features a social area where fisherman can talk about the day's catch, a bar with swings for seats, and Kai Restaurant with an air-conditioned dining room, covered beachfront deck and mini lounge area where guests can enjoy cool cocktails. There is a library, computer and fly tying station as well.

Rates begin at $467 per person based on double occupancy, which includes deluxe beachfront accommodations, all meals and box lunches upon request, nonalcoholic beverages, use of boats with guided fishing and fishing license (three nights' minimum). GrandSlam Fly Fishing Lodge rates are based on lodging combined with fishing; rates are available for non-fishing couples or individuals as well. Reservations, package details and more information are available at www.grandslamflyfishinglodge.com or by calling (888) 484-8448.

# # #

Media contact: Jenn Myres, Amie Rubenstein, or Dana Pelfini at Glodow Nead Communications, (415) 394-6500 or jenn@glodownead.com.

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DATE: 01 Nov 2010, 2:03 pm / MOOD: Other

Greetings site members! Today I want to tell you about a really great looking fly tying contest that I recently found out about. The flies that are submitted will be auctioned off at the end of the competition and the money that is generated will benefit a non-profit organization that is devoted to protecting and restoring rivers.

Check out this site for more information on the rules and prizes:

http://www.andrestouceda.com/contenidos/concurso2011/EN/concurso.php

I strongly encourage any of you who tie flies to participate in this competition and help this great cause!

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DATE: 20 Sep 2010, 1:58 pm / MOOD: Other

I mostly wade or fish from shore, but there are times when it is of tremendous advantage to have a boat of some sort. A boat, kayak or float tube can help you to access parts of the ocean, lake or river that you are fishing that you would not otherwise have access to. On this site we have reviewed a number of popular boats and kayaks such as the Sea Eagle, the River Tamer Pontoon Boat and the Outcast Fat Cat Float Tube.

I recently became aware of another company that looks good called Manitou Pontoon Boats. Some of their boats look really nice.



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DATE: 02 Sep 2010, 7:26 pm / MOOD: Other

I took a fly fishing trip up to the San Juan last weekend and I had absolutely no luck. Sometimes the San Juan River makes me think that I am the best fly fisherman alive and sometimes it makes me think that I am the worst. This past weekend was very humbling and I did not have much luck.

Most of the time I can go up there and catch lots of big rainbow trout, but this past weekend I only landed one. I hooked into a few other big ones but they slipped the hook.

I never really keyed into what the fish were feeding on. For the most part my flies were completely ignored, despite my best efforts to match the hatch. A few fishermen caught some fish but no one was hooking into fish with much regularity. The next time I might hire a guide from the View Entry | Leave A Comment

DATE: 19 Jul 2010, 10:34 am / MOOD: Other

Review Of Trusty Marine GPS

Electronics have revolutionized fishing and boating. Fishfinders, GPS and navigation systems have made it a lot easier to find and catch fish. I do a lot of kayak fishing for bass and I could easily locate fish in the spring time when the fish hang out near the shore, but in the summer months when the fish move to cooler, deeper water I had trouble finding them. It can be difficult to find schools of fish and position your bait at the correct depth. Once I got a good portable fish finder it solved all of my problems and I had a lot more luck bass fishing in deeper water.

A great place to buy your fishing electronics online is Trusty Marine Electronics. They have really great prices on lots of the most popular fishing electronics, many of which have been reviewed on this site. The website sells fish finders, chart plotters, marine radios and GPS systems. One of my favorite aspects of the Trusty Marine Electronics website is that there is free shipping on orders over $75! That is something that not a lot of online retailers offer.

So the next time you are looking for a great deal on your fishing and marine electronics be sure to check out Trusty Marine GPS.

This is a sponsored post

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DATE: 25 Jun 2010, 3:54 pm / MOOD: Other

Are you looking for a good place to take a summer fishing trip? If so, then I would recommend considering New Jersey, which I believe to be an underestimated fishing location. New Jersey has some amazing saltwater fishing for striped bass, cod and other popular game fish. New Jersey has some of the best ocean fishing in the northeastern United States. While you are there, you should definitely check out the Ghost Ship at Morey's Piers, an amazing seaside amusement park.

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