Selecting an Inline Planer Board

Inline planer boards were invented years ago, but their popularity has blossomed over the past decade.  While most popular on “big water” they have found use nearly anywhere anglers troll.  As their popularity grew, many manufacturers started producing them, and now there are plenty of models for the angler to choose from.

Inline boards are designed to take the trolled lure to the side of the boat where the lure can be presented to fish that have not been spooked by the boat.  Planer boards also allow anglers to troll many more lines without tangling.  While most inline planer boards are very versatile, some are particularly useful in certain situations.

Take a Kid Fishing…Angling with Children

If you are reading this you are most likely an angler.  When you started your fishing career, there was probably someone who started you in the outdoors.  In many cases it may be your father, but often it could be your mother, uncle or neighbor.  To keep the angling tradition alive, we must pass the torch to younger anglers.

Many anglers, even experienced ones, are unsure about taking youngsters fishing.  Below are some tips for family fishing.

Twelve Months of Lake Erie, PA

Pennsylvania has approximately 45 miles of shoreline on Lake Erie.  North of the city of Erie, 5000+ acre Presque Isle Bay is formed by a penninsula that is connected to the main lake by a narrow channel.  The open waters and Presque Isle Bay are very different in habitat and species of fish.  This allows a wide variety of angling opportunities throughout the year.  Preque Isle Bay also offers sheltered water to fish in case of rough water on the main lake.  Below are some “hot bites” that occur yearly.

Choosing the Proper Bait for Spring Trout Fishing

In many states, the opening day of  Trout Season is one of the true signs of Spring.  Every Spring millions of anglers from 3 to 93 participate across the country.  Some anglers fish hard from the opening bell til dark, whereas others seem just happy being outside and watching the spectacle.  In many areas of the country, trout fishing is brought by the stocking truck, where millions of browns, rainbows and brookies are released into streams, lakes and rivers by the States and fishing clubs.  Because these trout have lived nearly all of their lives in a hatchery, their diet is much different than their wild cousins.  Stocked trout also seem to tolerate angler pressure much better and will feed in the same conditions that would send a wild trout scurrying for the nearest rock.

Just because the stocked trout are not that selective doesn’t mean that they are always easy to catch, particularly when they have been hooked and lost (or released) a time or two.  By selecting the proper hardware, processed or natural bait, and presenting it in the proper manner, catching these trout will be much easier.

Choosing a Fly Rod for Trout

There was a time when most anglers carried a cane rod 8-9 feet long with a  reel filled with 6 weight level line.  In the 1950’s fiberglass became popular, particularly with anglers on a budget, as these rods could be mass produced.  Cane rods were still mostly built one at a time.  In the 70’s and early 80’s, graphite (and boron for a time) became the new miracle fiber.  Some traditionalist scoffed, but the graphite fly rod was ingrained in the fiber of fly fishing forever.