Thursday, April 03, 2008

Spring Fishing Tips

By Trevor Kugler

There are few things that people enjoy more than the springtime. The smell in the air, the warming temperatures, the birds happily singing their songs, and of course for those of us who fish, getting out on the water after being "out of commission" for six months or so. In this article I'm going to discuss some spring fishing tips that every angler should keep in mind. These tips will not only help you catch more fish in the spring, some of them will help you catch more fish no matter what season it is.

Let's start with your gear. In the spring, many times water conditions are much different than at other times of the year. For example, in many areas of the United States, river and streams are much higher than at other times of the year. This can have to do with rain fall or run-off. When we're dealing with higher water conditions, the best thing to do is use a longer rod. As an example, in the spring I use a six-foot six inch ultra light rod, rather than my normal five foot ultra light rod. This helps tremendously with "feeling" not only my bait, but also bites and bottom. A great spring fishing tip is to employ a longer fishing rod.

How about your clothes, shadow, and yourself? Many species of fish, especially in cold clear water, are very spooky. If they detect anything unnatural, they will tend not to bite. This is why paying attention to your clothes and shadow is so important. You want to where drab clothing, rather than clothing that stands out. When fishing in small rivers and streams it's also incredibly important that you not cast a shadow on the area that you're fishing. This will "spook" any larger more experienced fish that may be in that hole.

In the spring the weather can be less than predictable. This is why understanding the ways that both the weather and moon impact fishing is so important. This may be the most important spring fishing tip. These two forces of Mother Nature have quite an impact on fish, and the more you know the better. The goal is to be on the water when the fish are the most active. This is accomplished by using these forces of Mother Nature to your advantage.

How about presenting your bait in a natural manner? This tip is true for all seasons, but seems to have more impact in the spring. As anglers, we want our bait to appear as much like it does in nature as is possible. If you ever use live worms as bait, this is why you need to use pre-tied gang hooks. You see, gang hooks enable you to present live worms in an outstretched and natural manner, which makes a huge difference in the number of bites you receive. Presenting your bait in a natural manner is always important, but especially important in the spring.

These spring fishing tips will help you be more successful on your next fishing trip. How am I so sure of this? Simply because I've been using every one of these tips for more than twenty years and know how effective they are. Give one or all of them a shot sooner rather than later. You won't be disappointed.

Trevor Kugler is co-founder of JRWfishing.com and an avid angler. He has more than 20 years experience fishing for all types of fish, and 15 years of business and internet experience. He currently raises his three year old daughter in the heart of trout fishing country.....Montana!

Become A Better Angler: http://stores.lulu.com/jrwfishing

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