Sweden is the perfect goal for every fisherman.Here you find everything that an enthusiast could wish for, big fish, attractive waters and untouched nature. Regardless if you are an expert or a beginner, in Sweden there is a chance to experience the big fishing adventure.  Pike fishing in Sweden is among the best in the world. There are huge stocks of pike in countless lakes and rivers, as well as along the brackish water on the coast. And they weigh in at up to 20 kilos! All the way along Sweden's long coastline there are plenty of fighting silver sea trout. There are fantastic opportunities for fly-fishing everywhere in Sweden - above all for trout. In many areas, particularly in the north of the country, there is also rewarding fishing for grayling, whitefish and char. The salmon is often called the king of fish. The fighting sea trout is an equally strong and attractive fighter. Both provide some exciting fishing in Sweden's rivers. And trolling for large salmon and sea trout is the best in the world. New paradise for coarse anglers Dedicated coarse anglers are discovering that Sweden is a guaranteed safe bet. The fantastic fishing for large tench, bream, roach, rudd and carp brings them back year after year! We always do our best to ensure that children of all ages have a good time during a fishing holiday. There's so much to see and do that the whole family is guaranteed a memorable stay in Sweden! Seasons.From north to south it is more than 2.000 kilometres and therefore the climate can be vary extremely in different parts of Sweden. In January it can be above zero and free of snow and ice in the southern parts of the country but in Lapland it may be between 20 or 30 degrees below zero and several meters of ice on the lakes. Spring normally begins in the south around March - April, but it may be as late as June before the snow and ice begins to melt in the north. It is incredibly important to consider the great variations in the climate when you plan a fishing holiday in Sweden, especially if you are considering travelling to the north, as the waters are only ice free for three or four months each year. In the southern parts of Sweden it's possible in some waters to fish all year round. Therefore it is difficult to give general advise when it comes to season, since the climate gives very different conditions in different parts of the country. As for instance, April is normally very good for spinning for pike and trout in the south, but in the north it's the peak period for ice fishing. As a fishing tourist you should always allow good time to research your holiday and check when the best time in the specific area, is favourable for the species of your choice. |
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Fishing in Sweden
Fly Fishing – I Know Knot What I Do
When it comes to fly fishing, tying a knot is not the most glamorous of subjects. Without a knot, however, you’ll not be snatching the Muskie of your dreams.
Fly Fishing Knots
First thing first, we need to get the lingo down since we wont be using illustrations in this article. Three basic terms will cover practically any aspect of the knot tying process. “Tag end” refers to the last ten inches of so of line you are holding in your hand, to wit, the pointy part you will be pushing through and wrapping around things. “Standing end” refers to the rest of the line. Yes, very complicated and difficult to understand. “Wrap” refers to the action wherein you move the tag end of the line one full revolution around the standing end. The wrap can also be called a turn, but you have the general idea.
As with practically anything in fly fishing, there are an infinite number of variations to knots. Mysterious variations include the Steroidius Double Flip [good for catching professional athlete fish], the Marigold Hammer [good for catching the neighbor’s plants while practicing in your back yard] and the Wifeous Annoyous [a complex knot that gets you in trouble with the wife since you’re supposed to be painting the garage], but you probably start with the “Aarrgg, Dammit…” knot common to beginners.
Fisherman’s Knot
Other than tying your shoes, the easiest knot to learn is the fisherman’s knot. Get your hook in one hand and tag end in the other. And a one and a two…
1. As you proceed, keep everything slack. We will be passing the tag end through loops we create. DO NOT tighten anything until told to!
2. Pull the tag end through the eye of the hook.
3. Bend the tag end back to the standing end and wrap four or five times. Make sure you do not tighten the wrap. [You should now have a closed loop through the hook.]
4. Take your tag end and push it through the loop formed by the wrap. Do not push it through the hook eye, just the bigger loop of line.
5. You will have just created another loop and should pass the tag end through again.
6. Slowly pull on the hook and stag end until the knot is tight. Watch those fingers.
Congratulations! If you’ve tied the perfect knot, it is time to hit local fishing spot. If you’ve made a mess of it, try again. Either way, you get to avoid painting the garage.
Fly Fishing Knots
First thing first, we need to get the lingo down since we wont be using illustrations in this article. Three basic terms will cover practically any aspect of the knot tying process. “Tag end” refers to the last ten inches of so of line you are holding in your hand, to wit, the pointy part you will be pushing through and wrapping around things. “Standing end” refers to the rest of the line. Yes, very complicated and difficult to understand. “Wrap” refers to the action wherein you move the tag end of the line one full revolution around the standing end. The wrap can also be called a turn, but you have the general idea.
As with practically anything in fly fishing, there are an infinite number of variations to knots. Mysterious variations include the Steroidius Double Flip [good for catching professional athlete fish], the Marigold Hammer [good for catching the neighbor’s plants while practicing in your back yard] and the Wifeous Annoyous [a complex knot that gets you in trouble with the wife since you’re supposed to be painting the garage], but you probably start with the “Aarrgg, Dammit…” knot common to beginners.
Fisherman’s Knot
Other than tying your shoes, the easiest knot to learn is the fisherman’s knot. Get your hook in one hand and tag end in the other. And a one and a two…
1. As you proceed, keep everything slack. We will be passing the tag end through loops we create. DO NOT tighten anything until told to!
2. Pull the tag end through the eye of the hook.
3. Bend the tag end back to the standing end and wrap four or five times. Make sure you do not tighten the wrap. [You should now have a closed loop through the hook.]
4. Take your tag end and push it through the loop formed by the wrap. Do not push it through the hook eye, just the bigger loop of line.
5. You will have just created another loop and should pass the tag end through again.
6. Slowly pull on the hook and stag end until the knot is tight. Watch those fingers.
Congratulations! If you’ve tied the perfect knot, it is time to hit local fishing spot. If you’ve made a mess of it, try again. Either way, you get to avoid painting the garage.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Fly Fishing in Russia
A few years back, I spent a year living in Siberia and had a chance to head out to a town called Tinda. Much to my surprise, a couple of the locals had fly fishing on the menu.
The Siberian Surprise
Mention the word “Siberia” and most people think of bleak, frozen tundra stretching for hundreds of miles. Well, this is more or less true in the winter. In the summer, however, much of Siberia is a burst of green with temperatures in the eighties and nineties. As I had failed to bring shorts, this was a bit of a surprise to me.
Living in the city of Chita, I had an opportunity to visit the forest town of Tinda. Tinda is located about a day east of Lake Baikal and was built in the 1950s to act as a lumber town. The communist government haphazardly relocated a hundred thousand people and there they remain today. The area around Tinda is very mountainous and very beautiful. As the winter snows melt, rivers, lakes and creeks spring to life.
While in Tinda, I was invited to go fly fishing with the sons of the people I was staying with. Hilarity was sure to follow since they spoke no English and I was fluent in Russian at about a kindergarten level. Off we went strolling to the apparent local hot spot.
After a 45 minute walk, we came upon a slow moving creek that looked like something you would find in Wyoming. Trees towered over us and cast shadows across the water. Shallow pools of water formed along the bank and I could’ve sworn I saw more than a few of our slippery friends.
As every person knows, a first timer at anything will always have success. The boys had fished this spot hundreds of times, but I hadn’t. By all that is good in the universe, I should’ve caught 20 while they caught nothing. Alas, evil had the day. I caught nothing, nada, zippo. Nikoli and Oleg, on the other hand, were getting fisher elbow.
Although they caught a lot of fish, I can’t tell you what they were. The language barrier was just too much. The fisher were six to 10 inches long and appeared to be related to Mackinaws, but the vodka celebration made this pure speculation. More info here
The Siberian Surprise
Mention the word “Siberia” and most people think of bleak, frozen tundra stretching for hundreds of miles. Well, this is more or less true in the winter. In the summer, however, much of Siberia is a burst of green with temperatures in the eighties and nineties. As I had failed to bring shorts, this was a bit of a surprise to me.
Living in the city of Chita, I had an opportunity to visit the forest town of Tinda. Tinda is located about a day east of Lake Baikal and was built in the 1950s to act as a lumber town. The communist government haphazardly relocated a hundred thousand people and there they remain today. The area around Tinda is very mountainous and very beautiful. As the winter snows melt, rivers, lakes and creeks spring to life.
While in Tinda, I was invited to go fly fishing with the sons of the people I was staying with. Hilarity was sure to follow since they spoke no English and I was fluent in Russian at about a kindergarten level. Off we went strolling to the apparent local hot spot.
After a 45 minute walk, we came upon a slow moving creek that looked like something you would find in Wyoming. Trees towered over us and cast shadows across the water. Shallow pools of water formed along the bank and I could’ve sworn I saw more than a few of our slippery friends.
As every person knows, a first timer at anything will always have success. The boys had fished this spot hundreds of times, but I hadn’t. By all that is good in the universe, I should’ve caught 20 while they caught nothing. Alas, evil had the day. I caught nothing, nada, zippo. Nikoli and Oleg, on the other hand, were getting fisher elbow.
Although they caught a lot of fish, I can’t tell you what they were. The language barrier was just too much. The fisher were six to 10 inches long and appeared to be related to Mackinaws, but the vodka celebration made this pure speculation. More info here
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Fishing In Hungary
In Hungary fishing is a very popular pastime with over 3% of the population participating. Hungary has warm clean waters which result in big catches, with fish such as Carp, Catfish, Bream and Pike. The Hungarians have a tendency to eat the fish they catch so you may receive some strange looks if you throw a fish back if you are fishing in Hungary.
With many lakes and rivers you are bound to find your fishing spot, with popular areas being Lake Balaton and Lake Tisza offering a variety of fish. The fish include Perch, Pike, Carp, Crucian Carp, Roaches and Bream so fishing in Hungary gives you some variety.
Hungary hosted the 2007 World Fishing Championship at Lake Velence – an area between Budapest and Lake Balaton.
If you are looking for a property with some beautiful fishing areas nearby, get in touch with us so we can advise you on the best locations to go fishing in Hngary.
With many lakes and rivers you are bound to find your fishing spot, with popular areas being Lake Balaton and Lake Tisza offering a variety of fish. The fish include Perch, Pike, Carp, Crucian Carp, Roaches and Bream so fishing in Hungary gives you some variety.
Hungary hosted the 2007 World Fishing Championship at Lake Velence – an area between Budapest and Lake Balaton.
If you are looking for a property with some beautiful fishing areas nearby, get in touch with us so we can advise you on the best locations to go fishing in Hngary.
Fishing Equipment And Accessories
The sun is shining. The air is cool and crisp. Yes, this is a great time for fishing.
As you come to the edge of a swiftly moving stream, you see a great fishing adventure beckoning. You set down your tackle box and your rod and reel, slip off your waterproof jacket, and slip on a pair of hip waders over your fisherman's vest.
The abovementioned are just a few of the many fishing accessories that are available to you from stores, catalogs and the internet. Read on to learn more about the accessories you need to make fishing even more fun.
The Fishing Basics
The backbone of your fishing equipment is your rod and reel. For the casual fisherman, the basic rod and reel is all you need. Once you are more experienced, you will better know your tastes and can upgrade accordingly.
Tackle ranges from simple to extremely complicated. Basic tackle includes hooks, sinkers, bobbers, fishing line and needle nosed pliers.
A net is also a good addition. Choose a net size based on the fish size that you are after.
High Tech Tools
Electronics have, to the alarm of purists, invaded the fishing arena. There are devices that help you locate where the fish are located. And there are alarms to alert you when you have a fish on your line. Those poor fish won't have a chance.
Clothing For Anglers
Fishermen's clothing necessities include a fishing hat and sunglasses to protect you from the sun. A fishing vest with lots of pockets comes in very handy. A good waterproof jacket is essential for keeping you dry when the weather isn't. Waders, in thigh or chest height, help extend your reach by getting out into the water.
Other Useful Accessories
You should also consider: a tackle box, forceps, fishing knife, scissors, flashlight, wading shoes, and a fishing belt. If you are fishing from a boat, you will need a flotation vest.
Get Advice Before Buying
Before choosing expensive accessories, be sure it is right for the job and right for you. There are many factors to consider, so don't hesitate to talk for help. Someone with experience, either a friend or a salesperson, can quickly help you assemble a set of fishing accessories that will maximize your fish catching odds.
The right accessories will make your fishing experience more successful, and hence, more enjoyable.
As you come to the edge of a swiftly moving stream, you see a great fishing adventure beckoning. You set down your tackle box and your rod and reel, slip off your waterproof jacket, and slip on a pair of hip waders over your fisherman's vest.
The abovementioned are just a few of the many fishing accessories that are available to you from stores, catalogs and the internet. Read on to learn more about the accessories you need to make fishing even more fun.
The Fishing Basics
The backbone of your fishing equipment is your rod and reel. For the casual fisherman, the basic rod and reel is all you need. Once you are more experienced, you will better know your tastes and can upgrade accordingly.
Tackle ranges from simple to extremely complicated. Basic tackle includes hooks, sinkers, bobbers, fishing line and needle nosed pliers.
A net is also a good addition. Choose a net size based on the fish size that you are after.
High Tech Tools
Electronics have, to the alarm of purists, invaded the fishing arena. There are devices that help you locate where the fish are located. And there are alarms to alert you when you have a fish on your line. Those poor fish won't have a chance.
Clothing For Anglers
Fishermen's clothing necessities include a fishing hat and sunglasses to protect you from the sun. A fishing vest with lots of pockets comes in very handy. A good waterproof jacket is essential for keeping you dry when the weather isn't. Waders, in thigh or chest height, help extend your reach by getting out into the water.
Other Useful Accessories
You should also consider: a tackle box, forceps, fishing knife, scissors, flashlight, wading shoes, and a fishing belt. If you are fishing from a boat, you will need a flotation vest.
Get Advice Before Buying
Before choosing expensive accessories, be sure it is right for the job and right for you. There are many factors to consider, so don't hesitate to talk for help. Someone with experience, either a friend or a salesperson, can quickly help you assemble a set of fishing accessories that will maximize your fish catching odds.
The right accessories will make your fishing experience more successful, and hence, more enjoyable.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Champions at fishing : Ukraine
Last year's champions U.S.A. managed an eighth place finish while Poland took the silver medal and Latvia the bronze.
The final team and individual results can be found here: http://www.fsfu.kharkov-fishing.org/files/finish.pdf.
Ukraine is becoming more and more popular with tourists for their superbly serene lakes that are perfect for fishing but in winter, the lakes take on a whole new dimension. The peaceful white wonderland is an even more tranquil setting for a fishing trip as anglers can sit and practice with lines, fish hooks or spears to make a catch. There are a few things to look out for when searching for the perfect place to go ice fishing in the Ukraine.
Remote Area – When you want to relax and enjoy a peaceful setting, the best places can be found in remote areas of wilderness in the Ukraine. Look for quaint village locations that are set near river complexes within the Ukrainian National park for superb ice fishing and a chance to experience Ukrainian village life.
Species Fish – When you go ice fishing, it helps to choose a remote and relatively undisturbed lake that holds a variety of species of fish. Look for locations that include around 12 species for a more interesting assortment of fish.
Good Accommodation – When you take an ice fishing holiday, you want to spend as much time out on the lakes as possible and less time worrying about cooking and finding food in a remote location. Look for purpose built log cabins that can cater to your needs and cook your group meals in-house and even prepare your catch of the day.
Amenities – When you travel in winter, you want to ensure there are adequate facilities to keep you warm and comfortable throughout your trip. Look for accommodation that contains a sauna, electric heaters and a relaxation room to warm you up after a day on the ice.
Expert Guides – Ice fishing can be challenging and exciting, but also a dangerous sport. Ensure you visit a river complex that offers expert guides that are on hand to give you advice and training on the ice.
If you are looking for the best places to go ice fishing in the Ukraine, you could benefit from a fishing experience with Fish and Chizh. Their comfortable accommodation and expert guides can help groups up to 10 people enjoy a winter break on the ice. To find out more about their facilities, boats and resident fish; visit the Fish and Chizh website.
A good location you can find here .But also is recommend TISZA river .LYUTA river is another good place to go.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Fishing in Bulgaria
A friend from UK want to come in july in Sunny Beach (Bulgaria) on a holiday with his family.He ask me where to fishing in that country.After i speak with some old friends from there i find some resources and i will post of course on the blog,for all the people who want to go fishing there.
1. Sweet/fresh water (Siluroides) – (Alburnus alburnus), grey mullet, chub (Mugil cephalos), carp (Cyprinos carpio), sheat-fish (Silarus glanus), (Perca fluviatilis), pike (Esox lucius), pike-perch (Stizostedion lucioperca), (Salmo trutta fario), (Salmo gairdneri irideus), (Salvelinus fontinalis). Most of these fishes are over 2kg and can be prepared and eaten or returned in water depends on wish. There are lots of small kind fishes for fun and food. Harpooning in sweet water is forbidden in Bulgaria. Forbidden time for fishing concerning spawning, month May for all sweet water fishes, only for (Salmo) in mountains Oct. to Dec. For anglers Black Sea (salt water) is allowed the whole year.
2. Black Sea / salt water fishes - (Mesogobis), (Mugil cephalus), (Liza aurata), blue fish (Pomatomus saltrix), tunny (Palamis sarda), turbot (Psetta maxima maeotica), (Trachurus mediterraneus ponticus) and small dog-sharks (Squalidae). Harpooning allowed the whole year. There are no dangerous fishes in Black Sea. Also the only kind of shark, the dog-shark is small (15 kg. Max.) and never attacks people. The only way to see and catch such a shark is to go with a boot 4-5 km from the shore and to fish them in deep water.
A good map from Black sea is here.
But i also recommend Burgas Lake.I little describe by this lake.
This lake is an open firth (known also as Vaya lake) of roughly oval shape with maximum length of 9.6 km, maximum width of 4.5 km. and a surface area of 2760 ha. Its depth at places reaches 1.3 m. Thus the Bourgas lake is on the first place rated by size among the natural lakes in Bulgaria. It is separated from the sea by an extensive sand bar where the industrial sector of the town has been built on. Today the Bourgas lake is linked with the sea by a channel ending with a sluice. The rivulets Aitoska, Sandardere and Chukarska flow at the lake’s western part. There are insignificant seasonal and annual fluctuations of the lake’s water level.A rich plant and animal life is a typical feature of the Bourgas lake. It is surrounded by a ring of reed growth which forms in the westernmost part a very large bed. More than 60 species of invertebrate have been found there along with over 20 fish species. So far 254 bird species have been recorded on and around the Vaya. Many of them are rare for Bulgaria or for Europe and 9 of them are among the globally threatened species. Some of the birds like Herons, Cormorants, Black-winged Stilts, Grebes breed there, while other species, mostly Ducks, Geese, Pelicans and Swans spend the winter or roost during migration. This was the main reason to put the lake in the European IBAs List.
An area of 379.4 ha located in the lake’s western part has been designated as a protected site to preserve the breeding colonies of Night Herons, Little Egrets, Squacco Herons and other water birds. Of the wintering species of greater conservation interest are the Pygmy Cormorant – up to 5800 ind.; the Dalmatian Pelican – over 300 ind.; the White-fronted Goose – over 20 000 ind.; the White-headed Duck – over 2000 ind.; the Red-breasted Goose – up to 6450 ind.; the Pochard – over 13 000 ind.; the Shoveler – over 6000 ind.; the Tufted Duck – up to 16 000 ind. Of the breeding birds the Cormorant numbers over 200 pairs, the Night Heron numbers up to 10 breeding pairs, the Little Egret – over 25 breeding pairs, the Squacco Heron – about 10 pairs, the Grey Heron – over 15 breeding pairs, etc.
In the past the Bourgas lake was of the highest bioproductivity in Bulgaria. Annual amounts of fish harvested from Bourgas lake came to hundreds of tons. After the oil refinery ‘Neftochim’ was built the lake’s economic value was almost completely lost. Its ecosystem was especially hard hit during the 1970-ies when no treatment of the refinery effluents was even attempted. However, for several years now pollution of the lake waters has been terminated and it has started gradually to restore its former valuable biodiversity.
More than 20 types of fish and 254 types of birds can be observed in the region. Apart from nesting birds, tourists can observe some species that rest there during their migration period. As a result, Vaia was named an ornithological spot of European importance.
In 2001, the channel connecting the lake to the sea was cleaned, allowing sea fish to enter Vaia. This provided suitable fishing conditions. Yet, the fish that is most often caught there is carp.
For those who want more info about the trip or fishing can contact me at the email address.
1. Sweet/fresh water (Siluroides) – (Alburnus alburnus), grey mullet, chub (Mugil cephalos), carp (Cyprinos carpio), sheat-fish (Silarus glanus), (Perca fluviatilis), pike (Esox lucius), pike-perch (Stizostedion lucioperca), (Salmo trutta fario), (Salmo gairdneri irideus), (Salvelinus fontinalis). Most of these fishes are over 2kg and can be prepared and eaten or returned in water depends on wish. There are lots of small kind fishes for fun and food. Harpooning in sweet water is forbidden in Bulgaria. Forbidden time for fishing concerning spawning, month May for all sweet water fishes, only for (Salmo) in mountains Oct. to Dec. For anglers Black Sea (salt water) is allowed the whole year.
2. Black Sea / salt water fishes - (Mesogobis), (Mugil cephalus), (Liza aurata), blue fish (Pomatomus saltrix), tunny (Palamis sarda), turbot (Psetta maxima maeotica), (Trachurus mediterraneus ponticus) and small dog-sharks (Squalidae). Harpooning allowed the whole year. There are no dangerous fishes in Black Sea. Also the only kind of shark, the dog-shark is small (15 kg. Max.) and never attacks people. The only way to see and catch such a shark is to go with a boot 4-5 km from the shore and to fish them in deep water.
A good map from Black sea is here.
But i also recommend Burgas Lake.I little describe by this lake.
This lake is an open firth (known also as Vaya lake) of roughly oval shape with maximum length of 9.6 km, maximum width of 4.5 km. and a surface area of 2760 ha. Its depth at places reaches 1.3 m. Thus the Bourgas lake is on the first place rated by size among the natural lakes in Bulgaria. It is separated from the sea by an extensive sand bar where the industrial sector of the town has been built on. Today the Bourgas lake is linked with the sea by a channel ending with a sluice. The rivulets Aitoska, Sandardere and Chukarska flow at the lake’s western part. There are insignificant seasonal and annual fluctuations of the lake’s water level.A rich plant and animal life is a typical feature of the Bourgas lake. It is surrounded by a ring of reed growth which forms in the westernmost part a very large bed. More than 60 species of invertebrate have been found there along with over 20 fish species. So far 254 bird species have been recorded on and around the Vaya. Many of them are rare for Bulgaria or for Europe and 9 of them are among the globally threatened species. Some of the birds like Herons, Cormorants, Black-winged Stilts, Grebes breed there, while other species, mostly Ducks, Geese, Pelicans and Swans spend the winter or roost during migration. This was the main reason to put the lake in the European IBAs List.
An area of 379.4 ha located in the lake’s western part has been designated as a protected site to preserve the breeding colonies of Night Herons, Little Egrets, Squacco Herons and other water birds. Of the wintering species of greater conservation interest are the Pygmy Cormorant – up to 5800 ind.; the Dalmatian Pelican – over 300 ind.; the White-fronted Goose – over 20 000 ind.; the White-headed Duck – over 2000 ind.; the Red-breasted Goose – up to 6450 ind.; the Pochard – over 13 000 ind.; the Shoveler – over 6000 ind.; the Tufted Duck – up to 16 000 ind. Of the breeding birds the Cormorant numbers over 200 pairs, the Night Heron numbers up to 10 breeding pairs, the Little Egret – over 25 breeding pairs, the Squacco Heron – about 10 pairs, the Grey Heron – over 15 breeding pairs, etc.
In the past the Bourgas lake was of the highest bioproductivity in Bulgaria. Annual amounts of fish harvested from Bourgas lake came to hundreds of tons. After the oil refinery ‘Neftochim’ was built the lake’s economic value was almost completely lost. Its ecosystem was especially hard hit during the 1970-ies when no treatment of the refinery effluents was even attempted. However, for several years now pollution of the lake waters has been terminated and it has started gradually to restore its former valuable biodiversity.
More than 20 types of fish and 254 types of birds can be observed in the region. Apart from nesting birds, tourists can observe some species that rest there during their migration period. As a result, Vaia was named an ornithological spot of European importance.
In 2001, the channel connecting the lake to the sea was cleaned, allowing sea fish to enter Vaia. This provided suitable fishing conditions. Yet, the fish that is most often caught there is carp.
For those who want more info about the trip or fishing can contact me at the email address.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Some tips for node at fishing
Node Snood
Node Double Knotless
Node Longline
Node Palomar
Node Rapala
Node Albright
Node Butterfly Dropper
Node Double Swiwel
Node Perfect Loop
Node Snell
Node Grinner
Node Blood night
Node Uni Knot
Node Plastic Coated Wire Leader
Node Drop Loop
Node Blood
Node Half Blood
Node Clinched Half Blood
Node Centauri
Node Spider Hitch
Node Arbor
The Heaven of fish - Greece
Let's go fast in Crete ( a beautiful island of Greece) .
Crete is an island with a coastline exceeding 1000 Km and fishing was traditional occupation of its people. Today though, things are a little different. There are still plenty of fishermen, both professional and amateur, but the fish stocks, and catches, are getting lower and lower. There are a number of reasons for this including:
- Overfishing, a common problem in many countries, is the main reason for the scarcity of fish.
- Secondly, environmental damage, like the now outlawed fishing with dynamite, has also had a detrimental effect.
Many of us who live in Crete used to go fishing in the past but the poor catches have dampened our enthusiasm for the hobby and now our fishing rods lay forgotten in some storage room. There is little enjoyment in driving for one or more hours to reach the "perfect" place, spending several hours there but only to return home with a few tiny fish. Finally, like many others, I ended giving up fishing for the joy of snorkelling. Of course there are still some lucky (or perhaps they are just better than me) fishermen who continue to catch some big fish.
There are still fish in Crete waters and fishing may offer you some relaxing hours if it is your kind of hobby. And remember, though the fish of Crete may not be so big these days, they are still very tasty!
If you want to try fishing in Crete, then it may help to know what kind of equipment and bait the locals use, and the sorts of fish you are most likely to encounter.
Common baits include worms, shrimps without the shell and cut in pieces and a paste of bread and cheese.
The fisherman would fish from a dock or on a rock with this tackle and bait, holding the fishing rod steady while he is watching the float. If the float trembles on the water or starts to sink, then the fish has taken the bait and it is time for the fisherman to strike by lifting the rod and carefully pull the fish out of the water.
Catch for this method is mainly the small fish that live close to shore: mullet, boops (bream), saddled bream, bass, etc.
Fisherman, Minoan Fresco
2. The Bait
- Shrimps. Peel them off and place them on a flat pan. Add a lot of salt to them and then leave them under the sun to dry. When they are dry on top, then turn them to dry the other side too. If you do a good job then the shrimps will last several days unrefrigerated. Do not put the whole shrimp on the hook. Cut it in small pieces with a sharp knife or a razor.
- Flour and cheese paste. You will need some flour, water, butter or olive oil and blue cheese. Make a thick dough with these ingredients and keep it in the fridge until needed.
- If you want to attract the fish close to you, then mix pieces of dry, several days old bread with sea water and sand in a backet. Throw small quantities of this watery mixture into the water and close to you. Repeat this often. This is called "malagra" or "mpasmos" and it works better when the sea is rough and the water not clear.
3. Best fishing - times and sea conditions
- A common rule is that fishing is not succesful on very hot and windless days. Fishing at times when the sea is rough is more likely to lead to a good catch.
- The best hours for fishing are early morning (sunrise until 10 am) or late afternoon (17:00 - sunset).
- Underwater Fishing
If you have ever fancied your chances of snorkelling with a spear gun to catch your fish, then you will soon learn that fish scare quickly in the vicinity of a diver with a speargun. Your chances of success will increase however if you are competent to dive and fish in waters as deep as 10-20 meters. Always be careful of speedboats and other craft.
A good guide if you choose to go in Greece for fishing & travel http://www.fellowfishermen.com/fishing-spots/fishing-greece-find-best-spots-to-go-fishing-in-greece.html
Crete is an island with a coastline exceeding 1000 Km and fishing was traditional occupation of its people. Today though, things are a little different. There are still plenty of fishermen, both professional and amateur, but the fish stocks, and catches, are getting lower and lower. There are a number of reasons for this including:
- Overfishing, a common problem in many countries, is the main reason for the scarcity of fish.
- Secondly, environmental damage, like the now outlawed fishing with dynamite, has also had a detrimental effect.
Many of us who live in Crete used to go fishing in the past but the poor catches have dampened our enthusiasm for the hobby and now our fishing rods lay forgotten in some storage room. There is little enjoyment in driving for one or more hours to reach the "perfect" place, spending several hours there but only to return home with a few tiny fish. Finally, like many others, I ended giving up fishing for the joy of snorkelling. Of course there are still some lucky (or perhaps they are just better than me) fishermen who continue to catch some big fish.
There are still fish in Crete waters and fishing may offer you some relaxing hours if it is your kind of hobby. And remember, though the fish of Crete may not be so big these days, they are still very tasty!
Fishing in Crete - Tips
If you want to try fishing in Crete, then it may help to know what kind of equipment and bait the locals use, and the sorts of fish you are most likely to encounter. 1. Equipment
There are various ways of fishing but we here we will stick to the simplest and the most common one. The equipment is very simple and it consists of a pliable, telescopic fishing rod 4-7meters long, a fishing line ø0.30-0.35 mm, a float and two small hooks. The line has the same length as the rod.Common baits include worms, shrimps without the shell and cut in pieces and a paste of bread and cheese.
The fisherman would fish from a dock or on a rock with this tackle and bait, holding the fishing rod steady while he is watching the float. If the float trembles on the water or starts to sink, then the fish has taken the bait and it is time for the fisherman to strike by lifting the rod and carefully pull the fish out of the water.
Catch for this method is mainly the small fish that live close to shore: mullet, boops (bream), saddled bream, bass, etc.
Fisherman, Minoan Fresco
- Shrimps. Peel them off and place them on a flat pan. Add a lot of salt to them and then leave them under the sun to dry. When they are dry on top, then turn them to dry the other side too. If you do a good job then the shrimps will last several days unrefrigerated. Do not put the whole shrimp on the hook. Cut it in small pieces with a sharp knife or a razor.
- Flour and cheese paste. You will need some flour, water, butter or olive oil and blue cheese. Make a thick dough with these ingredients and keep it in the fridge until needed.
- If you want to attract the fish close to you, then mix pieces of dry, several days old bread with sea water and sand in a backet. Throw small quantities of this watery mixture into the water and close to you. Repeat this often. This is called "malagra" or "mpasmos" and it works better when the sea is rough and the water not clear.
3. Best fishing - times and sea conditions
- A common rule is that fishing is not succesful on very hot and windless days. Fishing at times when the sea is rough is more likely to lead to a good catch.
- The best hours for fishing are early morning (sunrise until 10 am) or late afternoon (17:00 - sunset).
- Underwater Fishing
If you have ever fancied your chances of snorkelling with a spear gun to catch your fish, then you will soon learn that fish scare quickly in the vicinity of a diver with a speargun. Your chances of success will increase however if you are competent to dive and fish in waters as deep as 10-20 meters. Always be careful of speedboats and other craft.
A good guide if you choose to go in Greece for fishing & travel http://www.fellowfishermen.com/fishing-spots/fishing-greece-find-best-spots-to-go-fishing-in-greece.html
Fishing in Aussie country
It’s an incredible feeling to fish in places where few have ever wet a line before ! To experience sportfishing that sees a hit, or a follow, every time you cast your lure. Well, it’s not a dream and interestingly its not that far away either.
I’ve known Dennis, ( Brazakka),Wallace for 27 years and we’ve been best mates since day one! Our families have grown together and often shared those special occasions ! From ‘ Santa’ landing in the chopper with his sack of pressies for our kids to watching him plant macadamia nut trees and tagging dear to release into high fenced paddocks. One thing is for sure, he’s an adventurer. One of those guys who says he’s going to do something and actually goes out there and does it! He has influenced me in many positive ways and we have shared some incredible fishing experiences…the latest one was a ‘classic’ and what made it all the more special was that it involved my son Matthew.
Cape York Peninsular is approx. 1,000 kilometres to its most northerly point from Cairns and covers an area about the size of England. What a playground! Brazakka has been exploring its spectacular waterways for almost 40 years and chartered / flown all sorts of characters to experience their ‘ultimate’ fishing adventures, from politicians to tradies to newspaper moguls. No matter who he’s with his level of enthusiasm for this pristine, unique part of our planet is the same...and he’s one of the best salesmen this Far Northern region of Queensland has ever had.
Late November is a sticky / hot time of year up in these parts. On a positive note it is also one of the best fishing times to venture out to the reef or fish rivers and estuaries. Brazakka had only to ask once if Matt and I were interested in a couple of days ‘up north’ to chase all manner of ‘tropical rogues’. You can guess my answer! So, after an early Monday morning start we headed north hugging the coast. Passing Port Douglas we skimmed over Snapper Island…then on to Cape Trib. , past Cooktown and into the wild blue! Signs of mans presence faded into oblivion as we entered some of the most remote untouched bush scapes this continent has to offer….I like to call it ‘Paradise Found’, with the sincere hope that it remains as we have found it!
Dugongs tamely feed on shallow sea grass beds oblivious to the sound of the choppers blades. Wild boar roam in mobs and barely flinch at our presence, so too the flocks of magpie geese feeding in vast swamplands. We see crocs….big fellas absorbing the suns rays as if to ‘recharge their batteries’, and dingoes prowl menacingly chasing any easy feed that comes their way. Like an open zoo this magnificent region would rival any African wildlife park…but with added greenery and so many waterways.
Looking for rivers to fish we knew it was still a run in tide, not the best time to be casting lures. To top it off it was a fairly big run in so bait would be scattered, as would the predators that usually follow them. Taking the time to find just the right spot Brazakka gave us the ‘Cooks tour’, pointing out the deeper holes that held the bigger fish, and the resident croc that patrolled his patch. We landed near a wide mouthed river with a deep gutter at its entrance and made our way through the thick mangroves to find the junction of a feeder creek.
Masses of mudcrabs scurried around in the swirling current all of which would have been easy prey if we had a landing net. Juvenile sharks sat facing into the current…hundreds of them as if they had just been conceived and were taking their first swimming lesson. We cast our F1.11 and Stealth lures across the junction of the feeder creek as 1.5 kilo size queenies latched on in quick time. Good fights and quick releases kept us in the swim with these voracious feeders, then the trevally moved in to see what the disturbance was all about. Changing to Rebel Pop R poppers we had a strike or hook up every cast….not big fish but insatiable appetites. It was soon time to leave as the tide began to slow and Brazakka had ideas where he wanted us to be for the run out.
The Robertson 44 Chopper is a beauty! It seats four, or 3 plus a heap of gear, has a piston engine so is quick to wind down and start up and can literally land on a twenty cent piece. In minutes we were flying over 1,000 feet and heading further north. Several stops and about 30 assorted jacks, trevally, queenies and tarpon later we settled at a major river mouth to fish the run out tide. Again we battled our way through wall to wall mangroves and re-tied our 40 lbs. twisted leaders that had been badly chaffed . We use an ‘Egg Clip’ , ( cross lock pattern), on the end of this double thickness leader and find them to be the best we have used for reliablility. I tied on a Manns Stretch 10+ minnow, Matt and Brazakka opted for Barra Classic 125mm. 10 foot divers. The first twenty minutes was slow and produced a couple of smaller estuary cod and a few tarpon in the 1 to 1.5 kilo bracket.
As the tide dropped the action began to go ‘ballistic’ as fish fought to claim every lure cast across the river. When we hooked one mangrove jack another 3 or 4 would follow to try and steal the lure from the hooked fish! Dozens of double and triple hookups followed as we were beaten up by ‘jacks in packs’ and the odd barra up to 70 cms. Lure fishing couldn’t be better than this and I was amazed when I hooked a good sized barra, played him for five minutes…then as he was on his last run a 1.7 kilo jack stole the lure out of his mouth and I beached the jack. How crazy is that? ( Brazakka managed to video this happening too).
When the bite slowed we changed lures .Rapala suspending X-Raps worked well, as did suspending Bombers and F.1.11 slow sinkers. Just a cast…..crank the lures down then a S L O W ‘twitch’….’twitch’….then BANG we were on again. Soft plastics were our next line of defence and the Squidgy Slick Baits did a top job of keeping the lads interested. My favourite softie was the Squidgy Stealth Prawn with a slow sinking head……amazing how fish would come back and ‘Whack’ these plastics time and time again until they were hooked.
Every fish was carefully released to fight another day, and by our reckoning we had released over 75 assorted species in just 2 hours. It doesn’t get better than that!
I could go on about the fantastic fishing the rest of that first day…..or the incredible rocky headland fishing the next day that saw us do battle with the mighty king salmon but my words would be repetitive. Let’s just say it was the trip of a lifetime, and, it was right here in FNQ. In my opinion we have the GREATEST Sportfishing on the planet, right here on our doorstep.
Source and guide : http://www.fishingcairns.com.au/
I’ve known Dennis, ( Brazakka),Wallace for 27 years and we’ve been best mates since day one! Our families have grown together and often shared those special occasions ! From ‘ Santa’ landing in the chopper with his sack of pressies for our kids to watching him plant macadamia nut trees and tagging dear to release into high fenced paddocks. One thing is for sure, he’s an adventurer. One of those guys who says he’s going to do something and actually goes out there and does it! He has influenced me in many positive ways and we have shared some incredible fishing experiences…the latest one was a ‘classic’ and what made it all the more special was that it involved my son Matthew.
Cape York Peninsular is approx. 1,000 kilometres to its most northerly point from Cairns and covers an area about the size of England. What a playground! Brazakka has been exploring its spectacular waterways for almost 40 years and chartered / flown all sorts of characters to experience their ‘ultimate’ fishing adventures, from politicians to tradies to newspaper moguls. No matter who he’s with his level of enthusiasm for this pristine, unique part of our planet is the same...and he’s one of the best salesmen this Far Northern region of Queensland has ever had.
  |   |
Dugongs tamely feed on shallow sea grass beds oblivious to the sound of the choppers blades. Wild boar roam in mobs and barely flinch at our presence, so too the flocks of magpie geese feeding in vast swamplands. We see crocs….big fellas absorbing the suns rays as if to ‘recharge their batteries’, and dingoes prowl menacingly chasing any easy feed that comes their way. Like an open zoo this magnificent region would rival any African wildlife park…but with added greenery and so many waterways.
Looking for rivers to fish we knew it was still a run in tide, not the best time to be casting lures. To top it off it was a fairly big run in so bait would be scattered, as would the predators that usually follow them. Taking the time to find just the right spot Brazakka gave us the ‘Cooks tour’, pointing out the deeper holes that held the bigger fish, and the resident croc that patrolled his patch. We landed near a wide mouthed river with a deep gutter at its entrance and made our way through the thick mangroves to find the junction of a feeder creek.
Masses of mudcrabs scurried around in the swirling current all of which would have been easy prey if we had a landing net. Juvenile sharks sat facing into the current…hundreds of them as if they had just been conceived and were taking their first swimming lesson. We cast our F1.11 and Stealth lures across the junction of the feeder creek as 1.5 kilo size queenies latched on in quick time. Good fights and quick releases kept us in the swim with these voracious feeders, then the trevally moved in to see what the disturbance was all about. Changing to Rebel Pop R poppers we had a strike or hook up every cast….not big fish but insatiable appetites. It was soon time to leave as the tide began to slow and Brazakka had ideas where he wanted us to be for the run out.
  |   |   |
As the tide dropped the action began to go ‘ballistic’ as fish fought to claim every lure cast across the river. When we hooked one mangrove jack another 3 or 4 would follow to try and steal the lure from the hooked fish! Dozens of double and triple hookups followed as we were beaten up by ‘jacks in packs’ and the odd barra up to 70 cms. Lure fishing couldn’t be better than this and I was amazed when I hooked a good sized barra, played him for five minutes…then as he was on his last run a 1.7 kilo jack stole the lure out of his mouth and I beached the jack. How crazy is that? ( Brazakka managed to video this happening too).
When the bite slowed we changed lures .Rapala suspending X-Raps worked well, as did suspending Bombers and F.1.11 slow sinkers. Just a cast…..crank the lures down then a S L O W ‘twitch’….’twitch’….then BANG we were on again. Soft plastics were our next line of defence and the Squidgy Slick Baits did a top job of keeping the lads interested. My favourite softie was the Squidgy Stealth Prawn with a slow sinking head……amazing how fish would come back and ‘Whack’ these plastics time and time again until they were hooked.
Every fish was carefully released to fight another day, and by our reckoning we had released over 75 assorted species in just 2 hours. It doesn’t get better than that!
I could go on about the fantastic fishing the rest of that first day…..or the incredible rocky headland fishing the next day that saw us do battle with the mighty king salmon but my words would be repetitive. Let’s just say it was the trip of a lifetime, and, it was right here in FNQ. In my opinion we have the GREATEST Sportfishing on the planet, right here on our doorstep.
Source and guide : http://www.fishingcairns.com.au/
FISHING IN DANUBE DELTA - The Land of Dracula
Catfish (silurus glanis)
Cat-fish is the biggest fish in the Danube Delta. The record is of 400 kg, with frequent captures between 5 and 20 kg. In August 2003 a fisherman caught on Gheorghe branch a 117 kg specimen.A fish without scales, the cat-fish prefers deep waters on Danube's branches.
The reproduction period – when fishing is forbidden – lasts from mid April till mid June. Immediately after reopening fishing in June and all the way to September you get the best results. The most frequently used bait in the Danube Delta is the black earth worm, but also the mole cricket, frog, live fish or heavy twisters have good results.
For a successful fishing party it is essential to know the fishing places. We know them, you have to bring the strongest fishing-rods and plenty line. You may need more than 200 m on the reel.
Here are 2 of our locations:
Uzlina area
Sfantu Gheorghe branch
Source: http://www.wilddanube.ro/en/pescuit_somn.html
How to Increase Your Fishkeeping Fun
Do you really get the fullest amount of enjoyment out of your
fish?, or is it hampered by little worries and anxieties?
Do you sometimes worry that you may be spending too much time
with your fish? I often hear people remark that although they
enjoy their hobby, the routine maintenance tasks involved detract
from the fun.
In this month's feature we will explore how we can increase our
fun by maybe taking a different approach to those mundane
activities that are so essential if we are to keep our fish in
tip top condition.
Create a plan
When you get some time to spend with your hobby do you go through
a sort of mental conflict wondering what to do?... and when you
finally do decide, half of your time has gone already.
WELL...you are not on your own, most aquarists share the same
dilemma. BUT... it is possible to overcome this problem, to even
double your fishkeeping enjoyment. HOW? Well, certainly not by
adding more tanks or even devoting more time to your hobby...
the answer lies in a change of mental outlook, a change of
approach.
Have you ever noticed that some people always seem to be on top
of their work?, how their fish rooms and tanks are always tidy?
how they always seem to have lots of time to enjoy their hobby?
Yet others never get a minute to live, they always seem to have
lots to do and yet nothing seems to get done.The most important
ingredient in our formula for increased fishkeeping fun is
planning.
Most of us lead busy lives, holding down a full-time job, and
taking care of family commitments etc. Without a plan it is all
too easy to put off our fish maintenance tasks until another day
when life is a litle less hectic. Unfortunately, more often than
not life doesn't get less hectic and our maintenance jobs build
up until our tank(s) become dirty and our fish begin to suffer.
That's when the pressure starts to build.
Include the family
This can be particularly difficult when your partner doesn't
share your love and enthusiasm for the hobby. It is only natural
that they will have different priorities for your time than you
and if harmony is to be maintained then some sort of agreement
must be reached. Having a plan that includes both the family
needs and your hobby needs goes a long way to ensuring that
everyone's needs are satisfied. The biggest obstacle to overcome
in any hobby is distraction. It is very tempting when we have the
time to spend with our fish to waste that time on trivial matters
or even just admiring our fish.
Now don't get me wrong... I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't
take time to admire our fish, after all that is the reason we
started keeping fish in the first place. What I am suggesting is
that there are probably more suitable times to sit and admire our
fish. We can fit in time for that when we are relaxing with the
family, for instance.
What I am saying is that during those precious occassions when
we can devote some dedicated time to maintenance, we should
concentrate just on maintenance activities.The most important
ingredient to making the best of our valuable time is one of
mental outlook and organisation. Clear thinking about your fish
is the key to getting maximum pleasure. No matter what your hobby
or interest is, there can be no pleasure in it if it causes
anxiety and frustration. Your hobby will only be pleasurable if
it brings you satisfaction and relaxation.
Be realistic
Ask yourself ... is your thinking absolutely clear about your
fishkeeping? Perhaps when you get some time one evening get a
pencil and paper and make a few notes along these lines. Have you
ever considered how much time and money you can afford to spend
on the hobby? Give it some thought and write it down. You might
think, for example, ......I can afford to work 2 evenings a week,
3 hours each evening and 5 hours every other saturday. ......I
can afford to spend £10 a month or £20 a month. Be as specific
as possible even though any one week may have to be changed. The
main thing is to have a clear idea of time and money commitment.
These will be different for every aquarist, of course. The
important thing is that they are commitments that you are
comfortable with.
One of the common traps that many of us fall into is letting our
hobby get out of hand. We become involved with fishkeeping, either
through a visit to a garden centre, pet shop or through a friend
and set up a tank in our lounge. Before long the bug has taken
hold and we introduce another tank, then another and before we
know it we find we can't cope with the water changing and
cleaning the glass etc. that we have to do just to be able to see
the fish!
One of the interim steps that we might have to consider is
shutting down one or more of our tanks, maybe just as a temporary
measure until we get better organised.
Next...
The next step is to set a specific objective for yourself and
your fishkeeping. This is not necessarily one to be achieved
immediately but it must be specific.
"To keep and breed every species of fish" is possibly a dream of
many breeders but hardly a specific objective. When setting your
specific objective, keep within your time and money commitment.
The great thing about fishkeeping is the wide range of possible
goals you could pursue. If you are a fish breeder for instance,
you could specialise in one fish and set a goal for a breeding
programme. If you are not a breeder but enjoy collecting you
could possibly try to collect every species within a genus.
Whatever your interest make sure you narrow it down to a specific
objective, one that is practical within your time and money
objective. It could be "Collect as many species of Dwarf Cichlids
as possible", "Develop a strain of albino Discus" or set up a
tank housing only the species from a particular geographical area
- a Madagascar tank for instance.
Having decided... think about your first step towards achieving
this goal. This is your short term goal, something to be achieved
in the near future."Find a good source of dwarf cichlids and buy
one pair" or "Keep adult discus alive for x months".
Give some thought to it but having decided write it down and
remember your previous decisions all the time.
OK, Next Step...
With your new goal in mind, go and look at your set up. Ask
yourself - "does everything in my current set up contribute
towards my short term goal?" The answer will almost certainly be
NO. There will probably be odds and ends of fish and equipment
that have nothing to do with your goal. NOW comes the hardest
bit....Everything that does not contribute to your goal should be
sold or traded in and the proceeds put towards your objective.
When you have achieved this you could well find that you have
doubled your tank space without buying a single tank!!....
NEXT
Create a list of priorities
Most aquarists have regular jobs that they do over and over
again. Daily jobs. Yet we regularly waste a lot of time deciding
what to do, often every day. I'm sure many of you can relate to
the scenario;
You get home from work, take care of the immediate priorities,
sit down to dinner, finishing at 7.00 pm. Perhaps you now have 2
hours to spend with your fish. So you now go through the decision
making sequence of what to do tonight. We can lose 15 valuable
minutes each time we stop to decide what to do next.
How can we overcome this? As we have identified above most
aquarists have routine jobs plus a few special ones. Keeping in
mind our short term goals, write down each job on a separate
piece of card.
For example a fish breeder might list the following 7 items:
Feed fish
Expand set-up
Cull young fish and move into a larger tank
Clean filters
Set out new pairs to spawn
Check for disease; treat any observed
Check water; change if necessary
This is not a complete list, of course, you will probably end up
with one much longer but 7 items will do for our example of how
to set priorities.
Now look at the list and re-arrange the items something like this:
Any disease can spread quickly and if left untreated could wipe
out your entire tank - it only takes a minute.
Make a visual check for unusual behaviour...hanging in corners...
clamped fins...scratching etc
So No. 1 on our list is: 1. Check for disease
Look at the remaining list. What should you do next? Feed the
fish? Well...maybe...but would you put food in a cloudy tank??
No, so it is best to check the water and if cloudy, change some
water.
So No. 2 on our list is: 2. Check water - change if necessary
You may ask, would you change water before cleaning/changing the
filters? Yes, I would. It is important to remove dissolved solids
and waste (bacteria) in suspension which can create harmful
nitrite before changing the filter media where wastes are being
partly broken down anyway. It is important to change the filter
media as time permits but not before water changes in my opinion.
We mentioned feeding the fish above and this is very important
and only items 1 and 2 above should come before it.
So our No. 3 is: 3. Feed the fish
Followed by: 4. Clean the filters
Now the last three.
-Cull young
-Set out new pairs
-Expand set-up
Having completed this exercise we now have a priority list to
work from. Having set that up, whenever we get a few minutes to
spend with our fish we start at the top of the list and work our
way through.
Check for disease; treat any necessary
Check water; change if necessary
Feed fish
Clean filters
Cull young fish and move into a larger tank
Set out new pairs to spawn
Expand set up
We have removed the delays caused by having to decide what to do
each time. In the 15 minutes that we may have wasted trying to
decide what to do we could be halfway down our list. The priority
list will be different for every aquarist but the principle will
be the same.
Finally....make a habit of keeping a diary of all your
fishkeeping activities. This will provide valuable information on
frequency of activities and when things like water changes are
due. Time has a habit of going so quickly that several weeks can
pass since our last water change but without having notes to
refer to it may, and often does, seem like last week.
Create your plan, work to it and replace the anxiety with
pleasure.
Happy Fishkeeping!
fish?, or is it hampered by little worries and anxieties?
Do you sometimes worry that you may be spending too much time
with your fish? I often hear people remark that although they
enjoy their hobby, the routine maintenance tasks involved detract
from the fun.
In this month's feature we will explore how we can increase our
fun by maybe taking a different approach to those mundane
activities that are so essential if we are to keep our fish in
tip top condition.
Create a plan
When you get some time to spend with your hobby do you go through
a sort of mental conflict wondering what to do?... and when you
finally do decide, half of your time has gone already.
WELL...you are not on your own, most aquarists share the same
dilemma. BUT... it is possible to overcome this problem, to even
double your fishkeeping enjoyment. HOW? Well, certainly not by
adding more tanks or even devoting more time to your hobby...
the answer lies in a change of mental outlook, a change of
approach.
Have you ever noticed that some people always seem to be on top
of their work?, how their fish rooms and tanks are always tidy?
how they always seem to have lots of time to enjoy their hobby?
Yet others never get a minute to live, they always seem to have
lots to do and yet nothing seems to get done.The most important
ingredient in our formula for increased fishkeeping fun is
planning.
Most of us lead busy lives, holding down a full-time job, and
taking care of family commitments etc. Without a plan it is all
too easy to put off our fish maintenance tasks until another day
when life is a litle less hectic. Unfortunately, more often than
not life doesn't get less hectic and our maintenance jobs build
up until our tank(s) become dirty and our fish begin to suffer.
That's when the pressure starts to build.
Include the family
This can be particularly difficult when your partner doesn't
share your love and enthusiasm for the hobby. It is only natural
that they will have different priorities for your time than you
and if harmony is to be maintained then some sort of agreement
must be reached. Having a plan that includes both the family
needs and your hobby needs goes a long way to ensuring that
everyone's needs are satisfied. The biggest obstacle to overcome
in any hobby is distraction. It is very tempting when we have the
time to spend with our fish to waste that time on trivial matters
or even just admiring our fish.
Now don't get me wrong... I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't
take time to admire our fish, after all that is the reason we
started keeping fish in the first place. What I am suggesting is
that there are probably more suitable times to sit and admire our
fish. We can fit in time for that when we are relaxing with the
family, for instance.
What I am saying is that during those precious occassions when
we can devote some dedicated time to maintenance, we should
concentrate just on maintenance activities.The most important
ingredient to making the best of our valuable time is one of
mental outlook and organisation. Clear thinking about your fish
is the key to getting maximum pleasure. No matter what your hobby
or interest is, there can be no pleasure in it if it causes
anxiety and frustration. Your hobby will only be pleasurable if
it brings you satisfaction and relaxation.
Be realistic
Ask yourself ... is your thinking absolutely clear about your
fishkeeping? Perhaps when you get some time one evening get a
pencil and paper and make a few notes along these lines. Have you
ever considered how much time and money you can afford to spend
on the hobby? Give it some thought and write it down. You might
think, for example, ......I can afford to work 2 evenings a week,
3 hours each evening and 5 hours every other saturday. ......I
can afford to spend £10 a month or £20 a month. Be as specific
as possible even though any one week may have to be changed. The
main thing is to have a clear idea of time and money commitment.
These will be different for every aquarist, of course. The
important thing is that they are commitments that you are
comfortable with.
One of the common traps that many of us fall into is letting our
hobby get out of hand. We become involved with fishkeeping, either
through a visit to a garden centre, pet shop or through a friend
and set up a tank in our lounge. Before long the bug has taken
hold and we introduce another tank, then another and before we
know it we find we can't cope with the water changing and
cleaning the glass etc. that we have to do just to be able to see
the fish!
One of the interim steps that we might have to consider is
shutting down one or more of our tanks, maybe just as a temporary
measure until we get better organised.
Next...
The next step is to set a specific objective for yourself and
your fishkeeping. This is not necessarily one to be achieved
immediately but it must be specific.
"To keep and breed every species of fish" is possibly a dream of
many breeders but hardly a specific objective. When setting your
specific objective, keep within your time and money commitment.
The great thing about fishkeeping is the wide range of possible
goals you could pursue. If you are a fish breeder for instance,
you could specialise in one fish and set a goal for a breeding
programme. If you are not a breeder but enjoy collecting you
could possibly try to collect every species within a genus.
Whatever your interest make sure you narrow it down to a specific
objective, one that is practical within your time and money
objective. It could be "Collect as many species of Dwarf Cichlids
as possible", "Develop a strain of albino Discus" or set up a
tank housing only the species from a particular geographical area
- a Madagascar tank for instance.
Having decided... think about your first step towards achieving
this goal. This is your short term goal, something to be achieved
in the near future."Find a good source of dwarf cichlids and buy
one pair" or "Keep adult discus alive for x months".
Give some thought to it but having decided write it down and
remember your previous decisions all the time.
OK, Next Step...
With your new goal in mind, go and look at your set up. Ask
yourself - "does everything in my current set up contribute
towards my short term goal?" The answer will almost certainly be
NO. There will probably be odds and ends of fish and equipment
that have nothing to do with your goal. NOW comes the hardest
bit....Everything that does not contribute to your goal should be
sold or traded in and the proceeds put towards your objective.
When you have achieved this you could well find that you have
doubled your tank space without buying a single tank!!....
NEXT
Create a list of priorities
Most aquarists have regular jobs that they do over and over
again. Daily jobs. Yet we regularly waste a lot of time deciding
what to do, often every day. I'm sure many of you can relate to
the scenario;
You get home from work, take care of the immediate priorities,
sit down to dinner, finishing at 7.00 pm. Perhaps you now have 2
hours to spend with your fish. So you now go through the decision
making sequence of what to do tonight. We can lose 15 valuable
minutes each time we stop to decide what to do next.
How can we overcome this? As we have identified above most
aquarists have routine jobs plus a few special ones. Keeping in
mind our short term goals, write down each job on a separate
piece of card.
For example a fish breeder might list the following 7 items:
Feed fish
Expand set-up
Cull young fish and move into a larger tank
Clean filters
Set out new pairs to spawn
Check for disease; treat any observed
Check water; change if necessary
This is not a complete list, of course, you will probably end up
with one much longer but 7 items will do for our example of how
to set priorities.
Now look at the list and re-arrange the items something like this:
Any disease can spread quickly and if left untreated could wipe
out your entire tank - it only takes a minute.
Make a visual check for unusual behaviour...hanging in corners...
clamped fins...scratching etc
So No. 1 on our list is: 1. Check for disease
Look at the remaining list. What should you do next? Feed the
fish? Well...maybe...but would you put food in a cloudy tank??
No, so it is best to check the water and if cloudy, change some
water.
So No. 2 on our list is: 2. Check water - change if necessary
You may ask, would you change water before cleaning/changing the
filters? Yes, I would. It is important to remove dissolved solids
and waste (bacteria) in suspension which can create harmful
nitrite before changing the filter media where wastes are being
partly broken down anyway. It is important to change the filter
media as time permits but not before water changes in my opinion.
We mentioned feeding the fish above and this is very important
and only items 1 and 2 above should come before it.
So our No. 3 is: 3. Feed the fish
Followed by: 4. Clean the filters
Now the last three.
-Cull young
-Set out new pairs
-Expand set-up
Having completed this exercise we now have a priority list to
work from. Having set that up, whenever we get a few minutes to
spend with our fish we start at the top of the list and work our
way through.
Check for disease; treat any necessary
Check water; change if necessary
Feed fish
Clean filters
Cull young fish and move into a larger tank
Set out new pairs to spawn
Expand set up
We have removed the delays caused by having to decide what to do
each time. In the 15 minutes that we may have wasted trying to
decide what to do we could be halfway down our list. The priority
list will be different for every aquarist but the principle will
be the same.
Finally....make a habit of keeping a diary of all your
fishkeeping activities. This will provide valuable information on
frequency of activities and when things like water changes are
due. Time has a habit of going so quickly that several weeks can
pass since our last water change but without having notes to
refer to it may, and often does, seem like last week.
Create your plan, work to it and replace the anxiety with
pleasure.
Happy Fishkeeping!
Colorado Fly Fishing – Bait Huckin' vs. Fly Fishin'
I was determined to show those meat huckers (worms and power bait) that a well chosen and strategically placed fly was as effective as anything a conventional fisherman could load on a hook and hang under a bobber. Well, no such luck, I got stomped.
The fish were rising like mad on a midge hatch, and I threw everything in the box at them. I could swear I saw a hefty rainbow nudge my fly to the side to eat the natural laying only centimeters from my damn near perfect replica. As we watched the group of 12 year olds add another 18” fish to their stringer (full loaded, I might add) I decided it must be a lake thing. I don’t fish lakes often.
I usually have good luck with a streamer in faster moving water, so I head for one on the several tributaries hoping to get the boat up far enough to make a make a few good casts. No such luck, here comes the wind. Determined and frustrated, I proceed to lose several of my best streamers in the dense shrubbery surrounding the mouth of the creek (can’t retrieve them since the current is too strong to get the boat any further up the creek).
On the way back to camp we are passed by a couple of boats with stringers of fish crashing off the bows of their boats (hmmm, are they just rubbing it my face, or are they tenderizing the meat?)Questioning my decision to become a fly fisherman, I head over to the dock to pick up my 5 year-old son and a fresh styro of night crawlers. I'll let my son fish the meat before I crumble and load one up on the spinner myself. Surprising, no luck with the meat either, and hear comes the rain. I throw my arms up and ponder my karma activity of the past year.
We charge for shore as the lake turns to white caps. The rain and lightning moves in fast. Did I mention that we got the boat for free and have no clue what to do in the rain? We pull the boat up close to shore near our camp, outside of the no-wake zone. We leave all of our gear and head for the soggy camp.
Well, apparently it’s best to leave your boat in protected cove in the no wake zone. From what we could tell, our boat was hammered with 300 to 400 gallons of water from the waves and boat wakes from boaters rushing back to the dock. Yes, it sank in 18 inches of water. I didn’t realize a boat could sink in 18” of water! All of our gear is floating around the shore. The gas tank and gear which included an Orvis waste pack with hmmmm, some 500 plus flies. Every box any fly had to be opened and dried on the dashboards of our trucks.
We bail the boat, load the truck and haul our soggy gear and crippled egos back home.
Next memorial day, it’s back to the river!!!
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