Top 10 Things To Stock Your Fishing Vest With

If you're anything like me, you where a fishing vest to carry all of your fishing gear. If you do any walking during your fishing trip, a tackle box just doesn't cut it. So you need to wear a fishing vest. You can find them at any decent sporting goods store or of course on the internet. I believe this idea began with fly fishermen (or flea flickers as my mentor used to refer to them), but I'm not positive about that. In any case, it's a very convenient idea, and if flea flickers are the reason for it, god bless 'em.

So what do you need to carry in your fishing vest? Pretty much anything that you think you may need on a given fishing excursion. This will vary depending on the type of fish that you're fishing for, but there are some basics. I'll begin with them.

1) Weights and swivels - your going to need weights and swivels of various sizes. I keep them in empty film containers. They are a very convenient way to carry both weights and swivels.

2) Hooks - the same deal on this one, unless you know exactly what type you're going to use. The important thing is to have some back-ups.

3) Spinners/Spoons - your going to want a few small plastic boxes (that fit in the pockets of the vest). Then stock said boxes with spinners and spoons of varying sizes. Make sure you have at least 2 of each option that you choose to carry. Just think of Noah. If the fish are biting on a certain lure, and you get snagged and lose that lure, you'll be glad you have a back-up.

4) Stainless steel pliers or hemostats. This is obviously to remove hooks from the fish's mouth. When I trout fish, I prefer hemostats, but it's totally a preference thing. Just make sure that you carry one of the two.

5) A bait bag of some sort. This is the easiest way to carry live bait. You just hook it on your vest, and you're good to go. If you don't want to buy one from somewhere like JRWfishing.com, just read my other articles to find out how to make one.

6) Matches and/or a lighter in a Ziploc bag. You just never know when you might need a fire. Better safe than sorry.

7) A power bar of some sort. Just like the matches, better safe than sorry when you suddenly get hungry enough to eat a dead horse.

8) A small waterproof flashlight. Just like the previous two, better safe than sorry. If you're 2 miles from your vehicle and it's suddenly dark, you'll be glad you have a flashlight with you.

9) Nail clippers on a retractor. This way your clippers are always right there and ready to go. Your dentist will thank you as well. Dentists aren't too fond of fishermen biting their excess line.

10) A wader repair kit - You only need to pop a hole in your waders one time, when you're 2 miles from your truck and it's 40 degrees and raining outside to know that this ones true. Just take my word for it.

If you have at least these 10 things in your fishing vest, you should be safe and good to go. Of course, you may add things to your hearts desire, but these basics should get you through and make for a very safe and happy fishing trip.

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!

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Rubber Bands and Fishing - Another Fishing Tip

Don't throw away anything that even looks as if it can be used when fishing! All fishermen have a collecting "gene" of some sort. And if it is not a collecting one, then it is definitely a "might come in handy" gene. When the fishing season is over but you are feeling nostalgic, get your gear out and go through it. If you like you can even pretend you are cleaning and sorting everything out.

When you do this you should find rubber bands in your 'might come in handy" section - and if not, get them. Beg, borrow or steal them, as they say. Just make sure you have a few on hand the next time you go fishing. In fact why not use them to hold together some of your fishing items before putting them away again. There are many items that go beyond the typical gear (hook, line and sinker types of things)and one of the most useful ones is a rubber band. Always have a few handy in your tackle box and a couple in one of your vest pockets will do nicely.

Rubber bands can hold your fishing rod together and so reduce accidental breaking. This also makes for much easier carrying, setting up and storing after you finished fishing for the day. What about your monofilament? Both for the spare line and the line that you have on your reel. A rubber band will keep your line in order so you wont have to spend precious fishing time unwinding and sorting out twisted lines and knots.

Sometimes you overestimate the carrying size of your tackle boxes so they are all but bursting open. A rubber band will hold it together for you. Or perhaps your nail clipper is lost in one of your many vest pockets - a rubber band through the end hole and fastened to the outside of the vest will help you out (just make sure you remember there is a limit to its elasticity before you pull it out).

In time other practical uses will come to you, like the double rubber band round your knife so it wont slip out as you bend down to clean your fish. A rubber band is not exactly a fisherman's best friend, but it certainly is a great little item that provides useful service.

Philip Robinson is happily married and a father of five. One of his passions is fishing and much of what he writes originated while teaching his children to fish. You can visit his latest fishing related website on fishing tackle boxes and fishing backpacks (as well as other fishing accessories).

Sure Fire Bank Fishing Technique for Steelhead

OK so I have been talking a lot about fly fishing lately so I thought I would change subjects and talk about some of the techniques that I use when I am bank fishing.

I know a lot of hard core Fly Fisherman will have a fit to hear that I do still use a spinning real for catching fish but I just love fishing of any kind.

Taking many of my less experienced friends and some for first time Steelhead fishing I have found a way to get them hooked into a fish without much coaching. This technique is simple to learn and if done properly losing gear is at a minimum. This is great for the first timers or the less experience because it lets them spend more time fishing and less time tying up rigging's. This system is also very productive if done properly and I have caught quite a few steelhead using this method myself.

Using a slip bobber or float is one of the easiest ways to take steelhead that I have found for the bank fisherman this method is also used by boaters since it is so productive. With the slip bobber you are able to adjust the depth of your jig or bait so that it drifts just off the bottom of the river. I have seen this method used by fishermen fishing off of a jetty or pier and they too had very good success while using this method.

One of the best place to use this method is in a slow flowing section of the river the depth of the hole is not important since you are able to adjust the depth of the jig easily. As long as the current is slow enough to allow the jig or bait to drift naturally and the depth remains constant at least through a portion of the hole it should be a good place to try this method.

Knowing where the steelhead like to lay is the key to this system as with any fishing technique, and the easiest way to find this out is to watch where others are fishing if any are around. Once you learn how to read a river you will be able to use this technique in a number of spots, learning how to read a river will come with time. If you are new to the sport most fisherman will be glad to give you some pointers just be courteous when joining your fellow fishermen on the river.

When you find that place where you are going to fish the technique is simple cast upstream from where you are standing watch the corky once your line hits the water. Make sure the corky is on top of your float if it's not you may have to give your line a sharp short jerk to get your jig to flow freely through your float. Let your float drift naturally through the hole and keep up the slack in your line. Most of the time when a fish hits your jig your float will go under, however watch your float closely and if it should make any unnatural movement set the hook.

Items Required:

Slip bobber

Barrel swivel

Jig

Egg Sinker

Corky

Bobber Stop

Setting up your line:

1st slip on the bobber stop then bead and run it up the line about 5 feet or so

2nd Thread on the corky

3rd Thread on your float

4th Thread on the Egg Sinker

5th Now tie one end of your swivel to the end of your line. (I like to use the double cinch knot)

6th Take your jig and tie it to your leader which should be between 12 to 18 inches long.
The leader should be lighter then you're main line.

7th Tie the jig and leader to your swivel.

Once you have this tied up set the depth you want your lure or bait at and you are ready to start fishing

http://www.steelhead-gear.com for all your fishing needs

Ice Fishing Teaser

This is a quick teaser from a 4 hour ice fishing trip to Antero Res in CO. We'll be covering all aspects of ice fishing including the spots, fish and gear you'll want to know about. Remember to check out our radio show during ice months for updates on conditions and techniques. Ceck the schedule at www.milehighsports.com



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlH8KgU1pl4&hl=en

Ice Fishing - Down Below

Early ice fishing action down below.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LM9iAKVARAU&hl=en