Reading Stream Basics For Trout & Salmon
Understanding how moving water shapes a stream channel and learning to recognize the resulting habitat types can improve your chances of finding trout. In good trout streams, the current creates a riffle-run-pool sequence that repeats along the course of the stream. A deep pool may hold big brown trout, but rainbows and smaller browns are more likely to be found in runs. Riffles hold only small trout during midday, but are important morning and evening feeding areas for bigger trout.
Most stream anglers know that water plunging over a falls will dig out a pool at the base. But many do not realize that the turbulence caused by the plunging water undercuts the base of the falls, forming a cave that makes one of the best feeding and resting stations in the stream.
An experienced stream angler can learn a great deal about a stream by walking its banks and “reading” the water. He observes current patterns, surface disturbances, coloration, changes in bottom type, as well as other clues that reveal trout and salmon hiding spots.
Current patterns pinpoint the location of rocks, logs or other underwater objects that shelter the fish from the moving water. Current pushing against a bank may indicate an undercut that offers cover. The seam between fast and slow current makes a good feeding station; trout hold in slower water waiting for food to drift by in faster water.
Novice anglers pass up any water where the surface is broken and ripply, mistakenly assuming it is too fast and shallow for trout. If you look carefully, this water may have slack-water pockets. A small pocket behind a rock might be home to a good sized trout, even though the water is a foot deep or less.
Bottom makeup also dictates where trout will be found. A section of stream with a sandy bottom generally supports fewer trout than a section with a rocky or gravelly bottom. Important trout foods, especially larval aquatic insects, thrive among rocks and gravel, but may be completely absent in the sand.
If possible, examine the stream from a high angle to get an idea of streambed contour and location of boulders, submerged logs, weed patches and other underwater objects. You can see most on a bright day when the sun is at its highest. Polarized sunglasses will remove the glare so you can see into the water.
Weather
When stream fishing, nothing is more important as the weather. It affects water clarity, temperature and water level of a stream, which largely determine where fish will be found and how they will bite.
One important factor is the rain. Trout often start to feed when the sky darkens before a storm. A light to moderate rain slightly clouds the water, washes terrestrial foods into the stream, and increases the flow, causing more immature aquatic insects to drift downstream. These changes make for great feeding conditions and good for fishing. A heavy rain, on the other hand, seems to turn fish off. If the downpour is prolonged, it will muddy the water so much that fish cannot see, and with rising water, they abandon their normal locations. As soon as the rain subsides and the muddy water begins to clear, the fishing action picks up.
Air temperature also has a dramatic effect on feeding. Trout and salmon feed heaviest at water temperatures from 55 deg. To 60 deg. F. On a typical stream, warm, sunny weather early or late in the season will drive the water temperature to that range by mid afternoon, triggering an insect hatch and starting a feeding spree. But in summer, the same type of weather warms the water too much by mid afternoon, so fishing is poor. Trout bite better in the morning or evening when the water turns cooler during the hot summer months.
In sunny weather, trout are extra-wary, seeking cover of boulders, logs or undercut banks. Cloudy weather makes trout become more aggressive and more willing to leave cover for food. Anadromous fish will migrate more under cloudy skies. Windy weather makes trout more aggressive. The wind blows insects into the stream and trout start feeding.
Wildturkey's Wild Outdoors Site.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Monday, February 15, 2010
Understanding Habits of Fish Part 1
Ever hear that old saying “10 percent of fisherman end up catching 90 percent of the fish.” I don’t know of anyone who has ever proven this to be fact, but the assumption is that it could be close to the truth. Many anglers head home with nothing in their creel, and many of these fisherman have one thing in common: little knowledge if fish habits. The reason I’ll be covering this topic in the next few weeks is to help readers of my articles who love fishing but have trouble catching fish, join the 10 percent who end up catching most of the fish, most of the time.
To start catching fish, you must know where to find them. So the first two subjects in this article will cover location, and reading the water. Electronics will be the only subject not covered in the following articles. We want inexperienced anglers to start using their god given senses.
Location - Location - Location
Anglers who fish in one area often learn the best locations, such as under a fallen tree, undercut banks, tangle of submerged roots, or behind a certain big rock. These places often remain good hotspots because once a fish moves on or is caught and not returned to the water, another fish soon takes up residence in that same spot. Many of these fisherman have one disadvantage. When fishing in a new area they have no idea where to locate fish in the new location they’ve never been before.
Part of the battle to finding and catching fish for anglers in a new area is that obvious spots or honeyholes are not producing fish. There first thought is that the area has no fish in it. If the water is well oxygenated , decent cover, hatches, causations, or bait fish, most likely the quarry is there or close by. If a certain spot in the new area is not producing then move to a new spot. Keep looking for deep holes, heavy weeds, overhanging limbs, big rocks. Plan your casts and your angles to certain spots. Never give up on a new pond, lake, or stream. Think about where fish are located in that certain body of water. Where are the obvious food sources, and think like a fish, if you had predators all around where would you hide.
Locating fish by their habits is also important. Many anglers have no idea about a certain fish species requirements. After learning about fish requirements and taking that practice to the water, often you will find them by understanding their habits. Each species varies in its requirements, there’s five basic ones to consider, the urge to travel ( usually once a year ) to a suitable place to spawn. Fish need sufficient oxygen in the water they live in. Fish want water to be a comfortable temperature range. They want a place to rest or hide which gives the protection. For fish who live in streams they will seek areas in the stream where the flow is moderate without always fighting with the currents. Fish want abundant food nearby, or at least convenient enough so they can get to it with a minimum amout of effort.
When you consider these five basic location requirements, you can eliminate certain areas or water levels, and work on the areas where these five basic requirements are met.
Reading The Water
This method is the ability to read water. It is most important and one of the best because it can be applied anywhere. Reading the water is the instinctive ability to select good locations from the poor.
The average person likes temperatures between the 65 to 75 degree range. When it’s too hot we seek cooler temps. When too cold we look for warmer places to be. Even more than us fish are particular about water temperature, being sensitive to changes as small as a degree. Every fish species seeks its ideal temperature, but will tolerate somewhat of a wider range. Magazines such as Field & Stream and books about fishing have water temperature tables for individual fish species. Here we will show you the optimum temperatures for a few of the most popular fresh water fish.
Largemouth Bass 65 to 80 deg.
Smallmouth Bass 60 to 75 deg.
Muskellunge 60 to 75 deg.
Shad 55 to 70 deg.
Yellow Perch 60 to 75 deg.
Walleyed Pike 55 to 70 deg.
Striped Bass 56 to 73 deg.
Lake Trout 40 to 50 deg.
Coho Salmon 45 to 61 deg.
Chinook Salmon 50 to 66 deg.
Brook Trout 48 to 68 deg.
Rainbow Trout 48 to 68 deg.
Brown Trout 48 to 70 deg.
Crappies 60 to 75 deg.
Northern Pike 60 to 75 deg.
Cutthroat Trout 48 to 68 deg.
Landlocked Salmon 40 to 55 deg.
Cutthroat Trout 48 to 68 deg.
People do not like strong winds, so they try to walk or stand where they are protected. Fish like people dislike strong currents, so they will rest in areas in moderate or broken flow. So what is moderate flow? An easy way to determine the difference from fast to moderate flow is to stand facing downstream in the fast water of a stream. Put your hand in the water on either side of your boot and you’ll notice the flow of water will be equal in strength to the current. Put your hand in front or behind your boot, you will find a more moderate current. Any obstruction in a stream such as a dead fallen tree, rock, jutting ledge, will produce the same results but at a much larger degree. Fish like to hang in these areas of moderate flow where they do not have to constantly battle the current. Fish in the current are usually on the move or feeding at certain times of the day. Trout leave their havens at certain times such as dawn or dusk for food, often in tail water or riffles.
Lakes and ponds are much different than streams and present different methods in locating fish by reading the water. Fish in lakes and ponds spend most of their time at levels where water temperatures suit them. Usually the temperature level near sides of lakes, islands, or submerged ridges or reefs. From these places, they travel to feeding areas in shallower water or rocky shorelines. Lily pad areas or similar places of abundant grasses or vegetation. Fish travel to feeding areas can be predicted. The routes they take, and the depths. When the five requirements mentioned above are met it can be predictable as to where to find the fish.
When the long summer days heat up the water, you can bet you’ll find fish at greater depths. Fish congregate along food lanes in a pond or lake, so do the birds such as gulls, they tell anglers that baitfish are below and if baitfish are there most likely the gamefish are there or not far behind. Also look for dimples in the water or rings. Fish are rising to feed and it’s a good chance some good size fish are lurking below.
As we cover more about angling in following articles, more will be discussed in reading water as well as other subjects that go hand in hand.
Looking forward to following articles Understanding Habits of Fish? Follow us and be notified by email when the next article is published.
Wildturkey's Wild Outdoors
Wildturkey's Outdoor Sports Shop
To start catching fish, you must know where to find them. So the first two subjects in this article will cover location, and reading the water. Electronics will be the only subject not covered in the following articles. We want inexperienced anglers to start using their god given senses.
Location - Location - Location
Anglers who fish in one area often learn the best locations, such as under a fallen tree, undercut banks, tangle of submerged roots, or behind a certain big rock. These places often remain good hotspots because once a fish moves on or is caught and not returned to the water, another fish soon takes up residence in that same spot. Many of these fisherman have one disadvantage. When fishing in a new area they have no idea where to locate fish in the new location they’ve never been before.
Part of the battle to finding and catching fish for anglers in a new area is that obvious spots or honeyholes are not producing fish. There first thought is that the area has no fish in it. If the water is well oxygenated , decent cover, hatches, causations, or bait fish, most likely the quarry is there or close by. If a certain spot in the new area is not producing then move to a new spot. Keep looking for deep holes, heavy weeds, overhanging limbs, big rocks. Plan your casts and your angles to certain spots. Never give up on a new pond, lake, or stream. Think about where fish are located in that certain body of water. Where are the obvious food sources, and think like a fish, if you had predators all around where would you hide.
Locating fish by their habits is also important. Many anglers have no idea about a certain fish species requirements. After learning about fish requirements and taking that practice to the water, often you will find them by understanding their habits. Each species varies in its requirements, there’s five basic ones to consider, the urge to travel ( usually once a year ) to a suitable place to spawn. Fish need sufficient oxygen in the water they live in. Fish want water to be a comfortable temperature range. They want a place to rest or hide which gives the protection. For fish who live in streams they will seek areas in the stream where the flow is moderate without always fighting with the currents. Fish want abundant food nearby, or at least convenient enough so they can get to it with a minimum amout of effort.
When you consider these five basic location requirements, you can eliminate certain areas or water levels, and work on the areas where these five basic requirements are met.
Reading The Water
This method is the ability to read water. It is most important and one of the best because it can be applied anywhere. Reading the water is the instinctive ability to select good locations from the poor.
The average person likes temperatures between the 65 to 75 degree range. When it’s too hot we seek cooler temps. When too cold we look for warmer places to be. Even more than us fish are particular about water temperature, being sensitive to changes as small as a degree. Every fish species seeks its ideal temperature, but will tolerate somewhat of a wider range. Magazines such as Field & Stream and books about fishing have water temperature tables for individual fish species. Here we will show you the optimum temperatures for a few of the most popular fresh water fish.
Largemouth Bass 65 to 80 deg.
Smallmouth Bass 60 to 75 deg.
Muskellunge 60 to 75 deg.
Shad 55 to 70 deg.
Yellow Perch 60 to 75 deg.
Walleyed Pike 55 to 70 deg.
Striped Bass 56 to 73 deg.
Lake Trout 40 to 50 deg.
Coho Salmon 45 to 61 deg.
Chinook Salmon 50 to 66 deg.
Brook Trout 48 to 68 deg.
Rainbow Trout 48 to 68 deg.
Brown Trout 48 to 70 deg.
Crappies 60 to 75 deg.
Northern Pike 60 to 75 deg.
Cutthroat Trout 48 to 68 deg.
Landlocked Salmon 40 to 55 deg.
Cutthroat Trout 48 to 68 deg.
People do not like strong winds, so they try to walk or stand where they are protected. Fish like people dislike strong currents, so they will rest in areas in moderate or broken flow. So what is moderate flow? An easy way to determine the difference from fast to moderate flow is to stand facing downstream in the fast water of a stream. Put your hand in the water on either side of your boot and you’ll notice the flow of water will be equal in strength to the current. Put your hand in front or behind your boot, you will find a more moderate current. Any obstruction in a stream such as a dead fallen tree, rock, jutting ledge, will produce the same results but at a much larger degree. Fish like to hang in these areas of moderate flow where they do not have to constantly battle the current. Fish in the current are usually on the move or feeding at certain times of the day. Trout leave their havens at certain times such as dawn or dusk for food, often in tail water or riffles.
Lakes and ponds are much different than streams and present different methods in locating fish by reading the water. Fish in lakes and ponds spend most of their time at levels where water temperatures suit them. Usually the temperature level near sides of lakes, islands, or submerged ridges or reefs. From these places, they travel to feeding areas in shallower water or rocky shorelines. Lily pad areas or similar places of abundant grasses or vegetation. Fish travel to feeding areas can be predicted. The routes they take, and the depths. When the five requirements mentioned above are met it can be predictable as to where to find the fish.
When the long summer days heat up the water, you can bet you’ll find fish at greater depths. Fish congregate along food lanes in a pond or lake, so do the birds such as gulls, they tell anglers that baitfish are below and if baitfish are there most likely the gamefish are there or not far behind. Also look for dimples in the water or rings. Fish are rising to feed and it’s a good chance some good size fish are lurking below.
As we cover more about angling in following articles, more will be discussed in reading water as well as other subjects that go hand in hand.
Looking forward to following articles Understanding Habits of Fish? Follow us and be notified by email when the next article is published.
Wildturkey's Wild Outdoors
Wildturkey's Outdoor Sports Shop
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Relax Spring Is Coming Soon!
Yes spring is just around the corner. Time to get out that fishing, camping, golf, paddling gear, or what ever it is you do come the warmer weather. The winter has as always been a real drag and you don't have to tell the folks in the Mid Atlantic States. So make yourself feel better before ole man winter releases his grip. Get out those fishing lures, tents, paddles, bats, gloves, or tennis rackets. Might make you feel better.
Breath easy spring is on it's way! Wildturkeys Wild Outdoor Sports Shop
Breath easy spring is on it's way! Wildturkeys Wild Outdoor Sports Shop
Friday, February 12, 2010
Contractors You Can Generate Your Own Leads Free.
Contractor Leads
Being a professional home improvement contractor since the late 1980’s I’ve been pretty successful over the years in my chosen field. I have had new business clients and repeat customers and have a great reputation in my area.
Five years ago a was browsing on the internet when I came across a company claiming that they could sell me qualified home improvement leads in my area. As I read on it sounded so promising, less time in the office, and finding new work. They supplied the leads and all I had to do was sell myself which I was always good at, and what every good businessman should be able to do. So I figured I’d expand the business and in time add on another skilled carpenter and a laborer. I signed on with the lead company, submitted my insurance and license documents and was ready to roll. Well the so called leads came by email, and I might of well just took a match and burned my own money to ashes.
Convinced I got mixed up with one bad apple out of the bunch I tried two more internet contractor lead companies and they were just as bad if not worst than the first. If you are a pro contractor such as a plumber, electrician, carpenter, flooring specialist, handyman, or whatever you probably know what I am talking about and have had some involvement with such online contractor lead companies. If not beware!
You may of heard about such online contractor lead companies such as Contractor Deal, Bid Clerk, Service Magic, 1-800 Contractor, and so many more. In the past few years so many of these companies have infested the internet that it boggles the mind. Their MO is all the same. Outdated leads, leads where the address does not even exist, and the phone numbers are disconnected or wrong number. Calling on a lead to arrange a meeting and that person telling you they never called for contractor estimates or even heard of the company that referred you to them. Oh and here is a good one… You just receive a lead and instructed to meet the potential client at a certain day and time, no phone # is listed, only name and address. You call the lead company and they say the lead prefers not to receive calls, that’s why there is a set date and time to meet. You set out to meet on the scheduled time only to be told by the potential client that they had already hired someone or decided to scrap the project. They also may tell you they never scheduled such a meeting. Should I go on? You get what I am driving at.
Depending on the size of the project these leads can be from $25 up to $250 or more. To make matters worse these lead companies will sell the same lead to 10 different contractors or more! Though they claim no more than 3. I found that to be a total falsehood. After handing out thousands of dollars to these companies with scant results I decided to scrap the whole idea of lead companies altogether. On average for every 16 leads I received, only 2 that are any good. To break it down in round numbers we’ll say $50 a lead times 16 leads that’s $800. 2 good leads and then competing with up to 6 to 10 other contractors for the job. On average a $50 lead (if you win the bid) job cost including materials is around $1,500. Such a deal! So in essence it’s costing you $800 to compete with several contractors for two jobs.
If you are thinking about going on with a contractor lead company or already with one, then here you can learn about a better way to get all the newest and qualified leads you’ll ever need and the leads are FREE. Since I learned of this and put it into effect my business has been as good as ever, even in these tough economic times. My phone is always ringing and I am picking up new customers almost everyday and closing on 1 of every 3 jobs I look at. Why play the game with these lead companies and waste your money on worthless leads they supply for too much money. You have the power to generate your own at no cost. Click on the link and learn how to get the free qualified leads for your service business today.
Go to: http://bit.ly/9BJLb5
Being a professional home improvement contractor since the late 1980’s I’ve been pretty successful over the years in my chosen field. I have had new business clients and repeat customers and have a great reputation in my area.
Five years ago a was browsing on the internet when I came across a company claiming that they could sell me qualified home improvement leads in my area. As I read on it sounded so promising, less time in the office, and finding new work. They supplied the leads and all I had to do was sell myself which I was always good at, and what every good businessman should be able to do. So I figured I’d expand the business and in time add on another skilled carpenter and a laborer. I signed on with the lead company, submitted my insurance and license documents and was ready to roll. Well the so called leads came by email, and I might of well just took a match and burned my own money to ashes.
Convinced I got mixed up with one bad apple out of the bunch I tried two more internet contractor lead companies and they were just as bad if not worst than the first. If you are a pro contractor such as a plumber, electrician, carpenter, flooring specialist, handyman, or whatever you probably know what I am talking about and have had some involvement with such online contractor lead companies. If not beware!
You may of heard about such online contractor lead companies such as Contractor Deal, Bid Clerk, Service Magic, 1-800 Contractor, and so many more. In the past few years so many of these companies have infested the internet that it boggles the mind. Their MO is all the same. Outdated leads, leads where the address does not even exist, and the phone numbers are disconnected or wrong number. Calling on a lead to arrange a meeting and that person telling you they never called for contractor estimates or even heard of the company that referred you to them. Oh and here is a good one… You just receive a lead and instructed to meet the potential client at a certain day and time, no phone # is listed, only name and address. You call the lead company and they say the lead prefers not to receive calls, that’s why there is a set date and time to meet. You set out to meet on the scheduled time only to be told by the potential client that they had already hired someone or decided to scrap the project. They also may tell you they never scheduled such a meeting. Should I go on? You get what I am driving at.
Depending on the size of the project these leads can be from $25 up to $250 or more. To make matters worse these lead companies will sell the same lead to 10 different contractors or more! Though they claim no more than 3. I found that to be a total falsehood. After handing out thousands of dollars to these companies with scant results I decided to scrap the whole idea of lead companies altogether. On average for every 16 leads I received, only 2 that are any good. To break it down in round numbers we’ll say $50 a lead times 16 leads that’s $800. 2 good leads and then competing with up to 6 to 10 other contractors for the job. On average a $50 lead (if you win the bid) job cost including materials is around $1,500. Such a deal! So in essence it’s costing you $800 to compete with several contractors for two jobs.
If you are thinking about going on with a contractor lead company or already with one, then here you can learn about a better way to get all the newest and qualified leads you’ll ever need and the leads are FREE. Since I learned of this and put it into effect my business has been as good as ever, even in these tough economic times. My phone is always ringing and I am picking up new customers almost everyday and closing on 1 of every 3 jobs I look at. Why play the game with these lead companies and waste your money on worthless leads they supply for too much money. You have the power to generate your own at no cost. Click on the link and learn how to get the free qualified leads for your service business today.
Go to: http://bit.ly/9BJLb5
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Lets Teach Our Young Ones To Hunt Not Poach
A father and son team are facing charges in Vermont after being involved in deer hunting poaching in the state of New York, according to he Vermont Fish & Game Wildlife Department.
Nicholas Baker, Sr, and his son Nicholas Baker Jr., were arrested by officials in December of 2009 after they illegally killed two deer in New York and brought them back into Vermont.
After game wardens on an anonymous tip heard of the activities, they went to the Baker residence where they discovered blood on the vehicle parked outside the residence. During the investigation the wardens discovered two partially butchered deer in the basement.
Both father and son were arrested for illegal possession of big game in Vermont, and they will also face additional charges for illegal importation of wildlife in the state of Vermont. For free tips, stratagies, and info. Go to: http://wldtky44.com/
Wildturkey's Discount Outdoor Store
Nicholas Baker, Sr, and his son Nicholas Baker Jr., were arrested by officials in December of 2009 after they illegally killed two deer in New York and brought them back into Vermont.
After game wardens on an anonymous tip heard of the activities, they went to the Baker residence where they discovered blood on the vehicle parked outside the residence. During the investigation the wardens discovered two partially butchered deer in the basement.
Both father and son were arrested for illegal possession of big game in Vermont, and they will also face additional charges for illegal importation of wildlife in the state of Vermont. For free tips, stratagies, and info. Go to: http://wldtky44.com/
Wildturkey's Discount Outdoor Store
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About Me
- Victor Gravano
- Great North Kingdom, Vermont, United States
- Outdoor sportsman and guide. Travelling all over North America to the most beautiful places on earth.