Boating and Sailing

Old School Crappie Fishing Family Secrets

Crappie fishing at night can be very rewarding if you have the proper underwater fishing lights.Underwater fishing technology has been around for a few years, and anybody who goes night fishing for crappie on a regular basis understands the importance of these lights.Underwater fishing lights plain and simple attract bait fish, and we all know that bait fish attract the crappie. You will increase your catch 10 fold by using these lights so you can have a very productive night fishing for crappie outing.

The best time to go night fishing for crappie is on hot summer nights.Crappie are cold blooded fish and the temperature of the water regulates their body heat. This means that they don't have an internal cooling system like we do. They will be easier to catch when things cool down at night when there is more oxygen in the water.

My next recommendation may cause you a bit of discomfort. Purchase at least two incandescent lights that have a clip or clamp attached (to clamp on the side of the boat) and have some type of shade that will project the light. The light and the heat will attract thousands of bugs, and you guessed it bait fish! Make sure you bring plenty of insect repellent you will need it. When you are looking in the water near where you underwater light is submerged you will see small bait fish concentrating in one area around the light, this is what is called the bait ball. Fish the area outside of the "bait ball" where there is less competition for your bait. If live minnows don't work use a jig, it will stand out.

Submerge your light source directly in the center of the Illumination area. You will still need to do your research about being at the right place to catch your limit of crappie, but if you ad a underwater light source you will increase your crappie catch dramatically.

Crappie have a distinct advantage over the bait fish at night because of their keen color vision at night. Most bait fish cannot detect color at night and do not move or react as quickly as the crappie or other game fish can at night. The crappie can wait patiently and attack the bait fish and feed at will because the bait fish cannot react quickly enough the escape from the crappie. It has been known for sometime that fish , shrimp, and insects are attracted to light at night , but you probably are asking yourself what color is best at night? The answer to this question is the color blue or green because they attract both insects and the crappie.

Incandescent lights can be purchased for under 50$ The best lights will have a clip to mount the lights and the end of the wires will need to have banana clips to mount to a battery. The best place to buy them online is Cabella's.

Now if you are going to purchase a crappie night fishing underwater fishing light do some research,the lowest price is not always the best. Well That raps up my article GOOD LUCK ! and good fishing!

Mark Fleagle is a serious fishing author. Mark Is a dedicated fisherman with 30+ years of experience and has published numerous articles on fishing. He offers free fishing information and "how to articles at his websites. Crappie Night Fishing:Visit my website oldfishinghole.com and download a free copy of his "78 fishing discoveries unleashed"

Inflatable boats first appeared in the early part of the nineteenth century when animal skins were inflated with air and used to make pontoons. However, they didn’t become truly popular until the end of the Second World War when the US military began selling surplus inflatable boats to civilian boaters. Boaters soon discovered this inexpensive means of traveling through water.

Inflatable boats have become extremely popular and readily available. Perhaps the most well-known brand of inflatable boat is the well-respected Zodiac brand. Although the Zodiac Group makes products for the aerospace and communications industry, they are known principally to consumers for their inflatable boats, also known as RIBs or rigid inflatable boats.

Inflatable boats are strong but they are not indestructible. They can experience the same issues as any other type of craft which means they require ongoing maintenance. Without proper care, an inflatable boat may not last long. It will start to lose air and it will become unusable, possibly to the point where repairing it can become as expensive as buying a new one.

So, with this in mind, one of the most basic parts of any maintenance program is an inflatable boat cover. Exposure to weather, birds and insects can cause deterioration to the structure of your inflatable boat and can affect its expected life span. To avoid that, think about purchasing an inflatable boat cover.

Where Can I Buy An Inflatable Boat Cover?

One of the first places to search for an inflatable boat cover is the Internet. There are many businesses that specialize in these products. Search for them through your favorite web browser and navigate to their sites. you have found three or four sites for comparison, send them an email.

The quality of the various responses will assist you in evaluating the business. Expert staff will be able to provide you with the necessary information on the type of inflatable boat cover you require. After you have found your preferred store, a phone call and a credit card are all you'll require to complete your purchase. Your package will be dispatched to your home or office.

If you prefer to inspect the inflatable boat cover before making a purchase, you can also search for a boating accessory store in your locality. Grab your copy of the yellow pages and locate the boat covers section. You should find at least one store or marina that can sell you a pre-made or custom inflatable boat cover.

You'll find more information at all boat covers and inflatable boat cover.

Old School Crappie Fishing Family Secrets

North Carolina Saltwater and Freshwater Fisheries Amazing! For example, if you are fishing for North Carolina's native brook trout in a cold mountain stream,The State of North Carolina lunker largemouth bass, Trophy striped bass in a river, Flounder at At Federal Point/ New Hanover County, or if you just want to take your family fishing, North Carolina freshwater or saltwater fishing waters offer diverse fishing opportunities for everyone.

In all fishing areas in the State of North Carolina there are PFA,s. These are public fishing areas The State of North Carolina Wildlife Resource Commission has designated to make fishing a reality for all fisherman. All the PFA'S in the State of North Carolina are free to fish.The North Carolina commission has done a great job. There is more shoreline available for fishing because the commission has cleared the banks of brush in the PFA's. They have constructed universally accessible fishing piers, and created graveled parking areas. To make your North Carolina fishing experience fun and productive they have even went as far as installing fish attractors and baiting areas in these designated North Carolina free fishing PFA areas.

The North Carolina fishing Wildlife Commission regulates the Mountain, Piedmont and Coastal regions.There are rivers,streams,lakes, and the intra-coastal waterway in these areas. These areas are diverse in their species of fish and include many of the known freshwater and saltwater sporting fish.

The North Carolina Mountain region has a variety of species you can fish for in the areas river and streams they include: Trout, Largemouth bass, Small Mouth bass, Striped bass,Catfish,Sunfish, Breasted sunfish. In the North Carolina Mountain Lakes Region: Trout, Black bass, Smallmouth bass, Spotted bass, Striped bass, Catfish, Sunfish, Breasted Sunfish. Yellow perch,Walleye,White bass,Crappie, and Rock bass.

The North Carolina Piedmont region has a variety of species you can fish for in the areas lakes,rivers and streams they include: Largemouth bass, Small Mouth bass, Spotted bass, Striped bass, Roanoke bass, Catfish, Redbreast sunfish, Sunfish, Yellow perch, White perch, Chain Pickerel, White bass, Crappie, American shad, and rock bass. At Federal Point/ New Hanover County a North Carolina saltwater fishing area, you can catch Flounder, Spot, Croaker, and Red drum.

The Coastal Region Sound Intra-coastal Waterway Saltwater fishing of North Carolina Offers the following Fish Species: Striped bass, Spotted Sea trout, Weakfish, Flounder, Red drum, Bluefish, Spot, Croaker, and Speckled trout.

North Carolina's freshwater coastal region's rivers and streams offer some excellent angling for the following species of fish: Largemouth bass, Striped bass, Crappie, White perch, Yellow perch, Catfish, Sunfish, American shad, Spotted bass.

In the lakes of North Carolina's coastal region you can catch the following speices of fish: black bass, Striped bass, Crappie, White perch, Yellow perch, Catfish, Sunfish, Warmouth, American shad, Spotted bass, Pickerel, Blue crabs.

We hope that this North Carolina Fishing Report article has been helpful. Please enjoy your next visit to North Carolina's Fantastic Saltwater and Freshwater fisheries.

Mark Fleagle Author A well respected fishing specialist with 30+ years of fishing experience,who has written many fishing articles. Mark has been a online presence for fishing information for going on 4 years. Visit my blog and get your Freshwater and Saltwater Fishing information in North Carolina Wow! North Carolina Fishing Reports Also visit my website oldfishinghole.com and download a free copy of his "78 fishing discoveries unleashed".

Old School Crappie Fishing Family Secrets

Crappie anglers are always looking for new and proven fishing information on how to Use Live Bait for Crappie. There are so many artificial crappie fishing baits on the market today you might ask why use live bait? My answer to you is I recommend using both In fact, on many fishing trips both artificial and live baits are on the same crappie rigs. This is the best of both techniques. My article is going to concentrate on what crappie live baits are best for different situations.

Crappie minnows: You will get a lot of controversy here so I am going to tell you what crappie minnows work best for me. One key factor in determining what minnow to use when you are fishing for crappie, will be to find out what minnows are native to the area you are going to fish. I will identify some of the species of minnows commonly used when fishing for crappie.

Shiner minnows are my favorite minnow to use, I prefer the smaller variety about 1 1/2" in length. Many Fisherman would disagree because they use larger minnows an probably have good success catching larger slab variety crappie. If you were in the large slab categories of fisherman then I would say bigger the minnow bigger the crappie (but much less on the crappie bite)Me, I just love to catch fish. The reason I like the shiner minnow is because their bodies reflect light like a mirror that attracts the crappie. Crappies are easily attracted to changes in light patterns,so these little live crappie baits will do the trick. Many times, they are attracted more to the light changes then the bait it's self. Another good minnow to use is commonly called the "Missouri minnow". i don't use them so I won't talk about them, but many fisherman swear by them.

Sometimes I will scent my crappie live bait and artificials. Get yourself a small empty pill container,chop a onion into very small pieces than fill the container about half full. Hook your minnow thru the upper and lower lip than tip the end of the hook with a small piece of onion. You will be surprised how this helps you out attracting the crappie to your bait. Not to get off the subject if you are using jigs put them in the small container with the onions and shake it up, then use your jigs.

A good worm to use is the small worms that crawl over your sidewalk after it rains, they are commonly called "angle worms" I normally do not use worms as a crappie live bait, but I have had luck with these worm.

The "maggot" is one of the most under used crappie live baits. The next little tip I am going to tell you about is not for someone weak of the stomach. Now Catch yourself a mudfish or carp and cut out a large piece from behind his head. Barry the carcass an inch under the ground. 7 days later dig him up. (Now here's the disgusting part pick the maggots off the carcass and place them in a glass jar. And some white cornmeal into the jar. Now place the jar in the freezer for three weeks. (Don't let your wife know what's in it or it will be gone! Just kidding.) After three weeks take the maggots out of the freezer the maggots will be huge! Fish the maggots using a #4 gold hook with no bobber. Let the bait fall to the bottom slowly and wait for the fun! It won't take long. Maggots are one of the best crappie live baits I have ever used but I don't use them much because of obvious reasons.

Well, that about does it for my crappie livebait tips. Have fun and good fishing! And GOOD Luck!

Mark Fleagle is a serious fishing author. Mark Is a dedicated fisherman with 30+ years of experience and has published numerous articles on fishing. He offers free fishing information and "how to articles at his websites. Live Bait For CrappieVisit my website oldfishinghole.com and download a free copy of his "78 fishing discoveries unleashed"

As a yacht Captain, returning home to Australia from the Mediterranean, Caribbean and the USA for the past seven years, I quickly found work at Brisbane Ship Yard refitting a large sloop.

I was approached by a young English Captain of a British Flag yacht called "Lord Jim", who was leaving after three years, He joined as an unpaid deck hand and ended up being the only one left on board after crossing the Pacific.

The vessel was at a marina Marina in the Whitsundays, Queensland. It wanted an available Yacht Captain take it to Thailand via The Great Barrier Reef and Cape York. The brochure looked great, as they always do.

The boat was a ketch with an old steel hull and was built in the UK by the famed Camper & Nicholson in about 1977.

A CV was submitted and forgotten about but then I received a call from the owner who consequently was a psychologist in the motivational business .Of course I was very quickly convinced and took the job.

After driving north for two days I arrived at the marina and saw the boat, I realized I'd been conned. The yacht was a mess.

The Boat was completely un seaworthy and most of the systems broken down. The Australian Cruise Permit was expired as well as the Ships Registration, the hull and crew insurance expired and the radio licenses expired. Also to this the safety equipment was way out of date.

The old Captain left two days later with the owners disputing his return ticket to England.

Being the relief captain Phuket I desperately started the rebuild paying bills using my own money to progress, the promised boat money and credit card never arrived.

About 2 Years later I arrived in Thailand. I even continued to restore the vessel to her past glory with all systems running and on a limited budget and lots of problems for several more months.

I am very proud to rebuild a part of nautical history of this great boat.

Boating terms seem to be language on it’s own. It is going to require quite a bit of studying to know all these terms but it is well worth the effort and in the end be to your advantage. To be a successful sailor you have to know the boating terms by heart. The knowledge also increases the safety awareness once you go sailing. These terms include directions, boat numberings and the meaning of the words generally used by sailors.

The first boating terms you need to know are starboard (when facing the front it is situated on the right side of the vessel), stern (the back section), bow (which is the front section) and port ( which is on the left side). Once you have familiarized yourself with those basic terms and definitions you will at least know which side of the boat you’re on. The boating term used for the physical structure of the boat is called the hull. Situated at the bottom of the hull and smack bang in the centre is the keel. It is also known in boating terms as the foundation of the boat because it strengthens the structure significantly.

The rudder is the ‘steering wheel ‘of the boat and to turn the rudder you have to use a handle that is attached to it that is called a tiller. The compartment on the boat that is either used by crew or passengers is of course the cabin. If the shelter happens to be only a tiny space it is called a cuddy. In boating terms the long pole attached to the mast onto which the sail is fastened is called the boom. The mast of course is the long pole situated near the center of the boat. Buoys are those bobbing markers found on the water to aid the sailors in navigation. You will find them in different colors.

The Language Only Sailors Use
If you hear the words ‘fore and aft’ they are talking about a line that runs parallel to the keel. Sea cock is a valve placed in the hull to drain water between the interior of the boat and the sea and when stand-on vessel is bawled out you know that the boat has the right of way to overtake another at a meeting.’ Abaft ‘is the term used to describe a situation where all problems are left behind. In that you can get lost and reach new heights in personal growth.

Old School Crappie Fishing Family Secrets

A unknown territory to most anglers, is a freshwater fisherman's dream.The state is broken up into 5 regions which include the Central Region.There is a series of fisheries around Oklahoma City which include:Arcadia, Draper, Hefner, Overholser, Thunderbird, and Wes Watkins. All these fisheries are easy driving distancefrom Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Make sure you check the fishing regulations for city lakes because there is added regulations on these lakes.

"City Lakes" Species Limits & Keep Requirements “the fishing areas classified as “city lakes” are as follows: Lake Hefner, Lake Overholser, and Lake Draper. The city of Oklahoma city also has some fishing areas they have classified as "Close to Home" A City fishing permit and Oklahoma State fishing license are required for persons ages 16 to 61 fishing on "City lakes" and "Close to Home" fishing waters.
"Close to Home"fishing waters are bodies of water designated under a cooperative intensive fisheries management program between Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.

Close To Home waters include:Crystal Lake, 6625 SW 15 (special use area) · Dolese Youth Park Pond, NW 50th and Meridian · Edwards Park Fishing Lake, 1515 N Bryant · Kids' Lake on Wilshire, 3200 W Wilshire · Route 66 Park Ponds, 3350 West Overholser Drive · South Lakes Park Ponds (East and West), 4302 SW 119 · All waters within Stinchcomb Wildlife Refuge, NW 51 & Stinchcomb Road · The Oklahoma River, extending downstream from NW 10th Street (wetlands,impoundments,ponds) to NE 10th Street. · Zoo Lake, 2101 NE 50

Keep Requirements and fish type Limits"City Lakes" Rainbow Trout: 6,Walleye: 5 (18" minimum),Flathead Catfish: 10 (20" minimum),Channel & Blue Catfish: 15,Crappie: 37,Smallmouth bass: 1 (18"),Largemouth bass: 6 (14" minimum)

Fish Type Limits And Take Home Requirements"Close To Home" Largemouth bass: catch and release Channel & Blue Catfish: 6 combined Crappie: 37 Flathead Catfish: 10 (20" minimum) Rainbow Trout: 6

Ok Folks Now I want to talk a bit about the Central Region Fisheries.

Arcadia Lake is located on The Deep Fork River and has 1,820 surface Acres, and 26 miles of shoreline. Arcadia Lake is Near the town of Edmond. For you folks without a boat Lake Arcadia has a public heated, covered dock is provided for year-round fishing for bluegill, channel catfish, blue catfish, and largemouth bass. For you boaters there are plenty of Access areas to launch your fishing craft.

Lake Stanley Draper was built in 1963.The Lake has 4 covered fishing piers for the fisherman without boats.For boat users there are numerous boat ramps.Lake Draper takes water from Lake Atoka and the McGee Creek Reservoir in southeast Oklahoma.The lake has a ave. depth of 34ft and is 98ft at it’s deepest point. Lake Draper covers 2,900 surface acres. is located in southeast Oklahoma City and is close to I-240 between Midwest Boulevard and Post Road.

Lake Hefner Lake Hefner was built in 1947 and is an excellent fishing lake.The lake has a Enclosed, heated fishing dock Near Hefner Golf Course, and a Covered fishing pier called Fisherman's Neck.Lake Hefner has a ave. depth of 29 feet average, and is 94ft at it’s deepest point. Lake Hefner covers 2500 surface acres.is Located in northwest Oklahoma City and is included in the city lakes, and has special fishing regulations.

Lake Overholser it is located on Yukon's East Side,the Lake has 7 miles of shoreline and 1,500 surface acres. Lake Overholser, owned by the city of Oklahoma City, 13ft at it’s deepest point and averages a depth of 6 feet,The lake is the city's oldest reservoir, built in 1919.

Lake Thunderbird Lake Thunderbird, provides a great spot fishing. Catch Crappie, Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Sunfish and Saugeye.Lake Thunderbird has miles of shoreline and 6,070 surface acres.is located near Oklahoma city just east of Norman.

Lake Wes Watkins located off Interstate 40 between Shawnee and Oklahoma City. The 1,142-acre lake is operated by the Pottawatomie Development Authority, which has imposed special fishing regulations on the lake. Lake Wes Watkins was Built in August of 1999. All largemouth bass fishing is catch and release only. The lake has some large bass and is the central region’s best LargeMouth Bass lake.

Mark Fleagle is a serious fishing webmaster. Mark Is a dedicated fisherman with 30+ years of experience and has published numerous articles on fishing. He offers free fishing information and "how to articles at his websites. Oklahoma Central Region Lake Hefner and get some amazing crappie fishing secrets from some good ol' boys who survived by discovering unique and brilliant methods of catching crappie. Also visit my website oldfishinghole.com and download a free copy of his "78 fishing discoveries unleashed"