Proper clothing and wading gear is extremely important to successful fishing. Without the proper clothes and gear, a fishing trip can be made less successful or you may become injured during the trip. Here are a few basic tips on what to wear when you go out wade fishing.

1)      Species of fish like trout or muskies flee at the slightest movement or flash of color. When wading for these fish, the best thing to do is to blend in with your surroundings by wearing drab colors like blue or light brown.

2)      Always remember to dress for the weather. In cold weather dress in synthetic materials or wool. In hot weather wear thin light clothes and bring sunscreen.

3)      Polarized sunglasses are a must. Not only do they protect your eyes from the sun and the glare of the water, but they also protect your eyes from lose hooks. For an overcast day or later on in the day it is best to use sunglasses with an amber tint. Make sure they also block UV rays so your eyes are extra protected.

4)      Make sure you also wear a hat. The most popular are baseball hats but these have no back flap. A back flap will protect your neck from sun and hooks. A full brimmed hat will also protect you from the rain. Having a hat reduces glare and makes it easier to spot fish.

5)      Always make sure you carry rain gear on you, especially if the local weather reports are calling for rain. The best materials are lightweight and breathable but are quite expensive. Even rubber rain is suitable enough; it will keep you warm and dry and is inexpensive.

6)      A good fishing vest is a must have. Make sure it is lightweight, yet large enough to fit over a sweater and carry an assortment of small gear. Make sure the vest comes with a lot of pockets in small sizes and that these pockets either zip up (preferable) or have Velcro.

Wading Gear tips:

Your actual choice of wading gear depends on how deep you are planning to fish and the temperature of the water you are going to be fishing in. Also, wading gear is dependent on how much traction you need. What ever gear you end up choosing, make sure it fits well, keeps dry and allows you to move comfortably.

Wading gear comes in two basic types: hip boots and chest waders. Hip boots are best for shallow water fishing, anywhere where the water will not reach your mid-thigh. Chest waders are best for deep water fishing where the water will go past your hips. Both come in boot-foot and stocking-foot styles and are available in many different materials.

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Now that you know a bit about color and how it can effect lure choice from the articles ‘Does Color matter?’ and ‘The Science of Color’ here are some useful tips on what colors to choose and why to choose those particular colors.

1)      To increase visibility: Patterns and colors are created for high contrast in certain situations. The more visible your lure is; the more fish will attempt to bite at it. For example very dark colors are used for night baits because they provide the best shadow in the water and therefore are the most visible.

2)      Match the bait: Basically what this means is the lure is colored to duplicate baitfish that gamefish normally feed on. Fish are used to feeding on a certain look, so they will strike if they see something that looks like what they normally eat.

3)      Something different: Sometime when matching the bait does not work, offering a fish something they have not seen before will cause them to strike. This is why anglers will choose to pick up that bright pink minnow colored lure.

4)      Dark colors at night: Always go for a darker pattern at night, as previously stated, dark colors create the best silhouette and will be the most visible to fish underneath the lure.

5)      Winter no-so-wonderland: When there are more particles in the water, the first colors to be filtered out are the reds and oranges. The best solution is to use fluorescent yellows or lures with plenty of green.

6)      On bright summer days, it is best to go with what the fish tell you. If they are not biting at a particular color – even though it makes perfect sense for them to – then use the color they seem to be striking at.

7)      The only time changing color will not affect how many fish you are catching and how fast you are catching them is when you are deep trolling or when you are fishing skimming the surface of the water. If you look at a lure in these conditions it will appear black, so as long as you have good action and can create a flash, you can catch a fish.

      Red, orange and fluorescent colors are best in stained waters.

Always remember to chose a lure based more on what kind of action it has and if it can produce a flash. If those two factors are not working, then change up your colors. The only time you have to stop and think seriously about color is when you are fishing in shallow waters on a clear day. Always go with what the fish seem to be striking at. If your fishing buddy is succeeding more with a blue lure and it does not make sense, use the blue lure.

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The color is bright enough, why aren’t the fish striking at it?

Some fishers ask themselves this all the time. If you do not, you might want to consider asking it sometimes when you are having a really slow day. Just because the color looks good to us on the surface, does not mean it is going to look good underwater to fish because water changes color drastically. To fully understand this, we have to understand the science behind light and how light is affected by water. This may not seem important but how light acts underwater determines how well a fish can see the color of your lure.

The Science

We will start with a very basic physics lesson. Most people are aware that white light is really made up of different colored lights, as known as wavelengths. When these wavelengths strike something, some colors are reflected and some are absorbed. The wavelengths that are reflected are what our brain uses to determine the color of an object. A white object reflects all wavelengths.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, an object that absorbs all color is seen as black. Between the two extremes most objects reflect and absorb different wavelengths and different amounts of wavelengths to get the color we see. For example if you look at a red car the wavelength reflecting off it would be red, all other wavelength colors are being absorbed.

Color underwater

White light passing through perfectly clear water will lose its wavelengths at different depths. The longer wavelengths like reds and oranges will be the first to be absorbed. The shorter wavelengths like blues and purples will be the last to be absorbed. In lamest terms, brighter colors will be absorbed faster while darker colors will still be seen deeper in the water.

Reds go first, followed by orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. This occurs on a clear summer day however. For example if you were trolling a red lure at 15 meters (convert to feet) it would be seen as black since the wavelength was absorbed much higher up.

Color and Water Clarity

In the deep waters of lakes, oceans and rivers there are two main factors that will effect how well light will penetrate the surface of the water: color and clarity.

Color is not referring to the color of the lure in this case. It is referring to the actual color of the water. Water can have its color changed by any dissolved materials, especially organic acids from decaying marine or land life. Think of what happens when you aid a drink mix to clear water. You can still see through the water but it is now colored. Mind you the coloring will not ever be as drastic but it is the same kind of principle. Color will reduce light penetration and will affect blue and green wavelengths, making your blue, green and purple lures disappear from sight.

Clarity refers to how many suspended particle matter, like algae and slit, there is in the water. The more particles, the more light will be scattered because of them. The longer wavelengths like red, orange and yellow are affected the most.

What the water looks like on that particular day will determine what color lure you should be using.

Timing and Color

If all that was not enough to remember, things get even more complex during different times of the year. Season cycle and turn-over can affect how well a lure is seen. In a lake with a lot of algae bloom, light penetration is reduced because of the algae population. Since algae bloom the most in autumn, all wavelengths are affected by the lack of light penetration, especially the red, yellow and orange wavelengths. Once the algae start dying out in the winter due to the cold, light penetration is better.

It made seem odd that the color of your lure will change depending on the time of day. To make this easy to understand, think of how we see colors on a clear day in the afternoon compared to a cloudy day at dusk. On a clear day there are fewer airborne particles and gases in the air so the sky is blue. As the sun sets light will travel through more gases and airborne particles until the bright blue fades away and we see reds, yellows and oranges. Then these three wave lengths will drop off and be replaced by darker blues and purples. Time of day will also affect how we see the color of an object.

Why is that important? Because water not only copies what is happening about the wave line, but it also magnifies this effect. Meaning, the bright blue wavelengths will disappear even faster under water then above water.

Other influences can also affect color. If there is a ripple on the surface of the water it can cause light to scatter more and reduce light penetration in the water. Pollution in the water and in the air can also affect light penetration and therefore affect the color of your lure.

No matter what you do, always remember that sometimes a subtle change, like color, on a really slow day can bring you a better catch. With all this information about color in mind, selecting the right color for the time of day, day of the year and body of water should be a breeze.

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It has been said by a lot of fishing experts that lures are colored more to attract the fisher then the fish. While this is true to a certain extent, sometimes the right color lure at the right time of day can make a difference. To understand why lure color is important, you should understand how a fish sees and reacts to color.

A fish eye is no different from a human eye in how it picks up color. Fish have rods and cones just like we do. Rods are for determining intensity of a color, cones are color receptors. Shallow water fish have more rods and cones then deep water fish. To make things even more complex; some fish species have a different number of cones. For example, walleye can only see shades of reds and greens and catfish can not see color at all. It is a fact; however, that some fish can see a wider variety of colors then humans.

They are able to see this wider spectrum of color because of evolution over time. It benefits them because their favorite food is mainly other fish and these other fish come in a wide variety of colors. Baitfish have evolved over time as well to come in this wide array of colors so that they do not become extinct.

Fish have a wide field of vision but can not see straight back or straight down. In order to calculate the distance between them and their prey, a fish must turn its head and use both eyes. Fish can see above water objects depending on how light is shining and bending in the water. If it bends just right, then a fish might be able to see you or your boat while you are trying to catch it.

Another aspect to remember is that colors appear differently at different water depths and different clarities of water. Eventually disappears leaving only a dark object. Hence it’s perception of a baitfish that would be swimming above it must be enhanced by the light flashing off of the baitfish’s white belly as it rolls from side to side in its swimming action. More on how and why colors appear the way they do in water will be discussed in “The science of color”. The deeper you go, the more colors that will disappear. Red goes first, followed by orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and finally ultra-violet. This may not seem important but if a red lure can not be seen at a certain depth in murky water and appears to be black, you may not catch any fish. Fish are most attracted by action, but if they can not see your lure, then they will not be able to see the action of your lure.

Research has shown that at times fluorescent colors can work really well on some species of fish and yet at other times do not work at all for the same species. This can be true for other colors and patterns as well. Color is seen much differently by fish then by fishers. It really all depends on the fish though some basic tips discussed in “Catching fish using color” can help you chose the right color for the right time of day and become a more successful fisher because of it.

Color may not be the most important thing to consider when purchasing or using a lure, but sometimes it can make a difference. Do not fall into the trap of buying a lure just because of its color. Yes, some colors are better then others but sometimes a nice finish and paintjob could be masking an ordinary lure that you all ready have and use. 

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Lures come in all different shapes in sizes, makes and colors. When it comes to choosing the right lure, there is a lot of choice out there. The best lures have a wiggling action, roll but do not turn over and perform well no matter what speed you pull them at. What kind of lures are the best, homemade or store bought?

Store bought lures have the advantage of being pre-tested. You know the lure is going to work when you buy it. You do not have to worry about re-making the lure body over again because it does not do what you want it to do. It has all ready gone through rigorous testing to be sure it does what the package says it will do.

But there is nothing like the feel of knowing something you created will catch fish just as well, or better than, anything on the shelves. The testing and the carving of it may be difficult, but the final result is a one-of-a-kind lure that no one else has. A lure that catches fish and was made by your own hands is just as effective as something bought from a store.

A homemade lure may not have the advantages of being pre-tested in a tank in front of fishing experts and the like, but it has the advantage of being completely different and possibly better then anything any of your fishing buddies will have.

Store-bought lures may look pretty and may have all ready been proven to work, but they always look the same. They all mainly have the same shape and overall design. Fish are used to seeing these lures and may shy away from something they have seen before, just with a different pattern or color combination. Looking through fishing magazines and fishing lure encyclopedia’s, you can see this simple fact: all store-bought lures look almost identical. Except for a minor change in the head shape or a lengthening of the body, they are all the same.

That is the homemade lures greatest advantage, they can look anyway you want them too. Homemade lures will not look like any lure you see one the shelves on a day to day basis. They will be unique to how you made them. They may not be professionally tested but they will still work.

So fishers, what type of lure do you prefer?

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Which is better?

Some fishermen and women do both, they will spend some of their annual fishing time on a boat and some on the land fishing from shore. But which is actually better?

With boat fishing, you are out in the middle of a body of water, so you have more opportunities to catch fish. You can easily change your location by starting up a motor and moving along the water to find a better spot where there may be more fish. There is a lot of storage room on a boat; you can pack the boat with all the things you need then be off instead of having to carry all your gear and supplies by hand.

Some downfalls include the extra money you spend on fueling your boat. Also the noise and vibrations of a moving boat may scare away the fish you are trying to catch. You have to watch the weather much more carefully because it takes time to get back to your vehicle, hitch up the boat and leave the area. Boat fishing also has the extra costs of actually maintaining your boat.

Land fishing is more convenient; you can pick up and walk along the shore at any time. The distance you can fish is limited by how far you cast so there are fewer opportunities to catch fish. The only fuel cost is the fuel for you vehicle to get where you want to fish. It is a bit inconvenient to have to carry all your gear but this means that you will not be rooting through bags upon bags of gear to search for the right lure.

With land fishing you just have to maintain your gear instead of a boat, the cost is much less and it is more convenient to gather gear, hop into a car and drive down to your favorite fishing spot and start fishing right way.

However you fish is up to you, there are tips and trick for both. Good things and bad things about either can sway your decision as well, but ultimately, it is up to you as the fisher. So, which do you prefer?

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There is no right or wrong way to organize your tackle bag or tackle box. It is completely dependant on you and your own personality. By following these tips, you will be on your way to an organized tackle box or bag and on your way to a better fishing trip.

1)      Having a tackle box is great but some do not offer versatility in the way of sizes and types of lures. Tackle bags offer removable plastic utility boxes that can offer more room and you can chose not to take a utility box with you on a particular fishing trip.

2)       Dedicate each utility box to a different type of fish and store them until you need them. This way you do not have to carry all your gear with you on one trip or spend a lot of time hunting through a full tackle box or bag to find the right lure.

3)      Spinner baits take up a lot of room. A good way to save room is to use specialized pouches that resemble sandwich bags. Because of their small size and softness, these pouches can easily fit into the external pockets of your tackle bag. You can also us these specialized pouches to organize and store soft-plastic baits.

4)      Some tackle boxes come with plastic dividers that can be moved to customize the inside o0f your tackle box. By using clear hockey tape, you can hold these dividers in place.

5)      If your tackle box does not come with plastic dividers, do not fret, you do not have to buy a new tackle box. Clear plastic film containers can be used as dividers, you just have to trim them so they are the same depth as your tackle box. These containers will separate lures and can be used as storage containers for smaller equipment like splitshot.

6)      More than one lure will fit into a compartment but the hooks will get tangled and jumbled as you know. To prevent this, use elastic bands to secure the hooks against the body of the lure. This will prevent tangling and you will be able to fit more lures in to the compartment.

7)      You can also use smaller utility boxes to store your terminal tackle that can be stored in external pockets.

      If you constantly fish in both saltwater and freshwater, it may be best to organize two different tackle boxes this way you do not have to carry all your gear with you on a fishing trip.

The best time to organize your tackle box or bag is on a rainy day or a day you know you are not able to get out on the water. You should do it in a large room with lots of light so that you can see the color of your soft plastic lures well and be able to organize them for color if you want. With this newly organized tackle box or bag you can spend more time on the water and less time untangling the gear you need to fish with.

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A fisherman’s tackle box is like his or her office. You need to be able to get to all your tools quickly and easily in order to do your job successfully. Having an organized tackle box helps to get the job done. There are a lot of advantages to having an organized tackle box, here are a few:

1) Organizing your tackle box to suit what condition you are fishing in may make or break your fishing trip. If you are a fisher who changes location every time you go out it may be best to have a tackle box for freshwater and for saltwater fish.

2) If you have organized your tackle box right you will not have tangled lures. This means you will have more time for fishing and spend less time untangling your lures.

3) Being able to exchange your lures quickly goes hand in hand with an organized tackle box. Keeping your lures organized according to size, type of fish or however else you want will let you spend more time enjoying the trip and less time finding the right lure. You can find organization tips in the article “Tips to Organize you Tackle Box”.

It is great to have a tackle box organized but if you do not have the right type of tackle box or a reliable tackle box then the organization falls short. There are a few things you have to keep in mind when buying a new tackle box. Remember as with most things, you get what you paid for.

Durability: Fishing is not a sissy’s sport, so why carry around a sissy tackle box? Get a tackle box made of a strong plastic or a rust-proof metal this way your nicely organized tackle box will not fall apart on you. If you opt for a tackle bag, make sure it is made from a strong water-proof fabric so that it cannot be punctured and will not fall apart. Make sure that the stitching in the bag is sturdy and reinforced.

Waterproof and watertight: A waterproof tackle box or tackle bag is great, even better if your box or bag is watertight. If water seeps into cracks and is left for awhile it could cause mold to grow all over your gear. If you cannot find a watertight box or bag, make sure that it comes with removable parts so you can dry your gear and let water escape if it does seep into cracks.

Size: If you are a shore fisher or a tournament fisher it is better to have a lighter tackle box since you would be carrying it around. If it is lighter, it means it will have less equipment, giving you faster access to lures and other gear. If you normally fish on a boat and store your tackle box on your boat, you can allow yourself a bit more weight and a bigger box or bag.

Space: Make sure you always have extra room in you tackle box or bag for extra lures, a pair of pliers or even a flashlight.

Whether or not you chose a bag or a box, organization is ideal to your success in the water. The more time you spend with your line in the water the more of a chance you will get to actually fish.

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There is a choice fisher’s have to make when buying a new tackle kit. Should you buy the traditional hard tackle box or the soft tackle bag? No matter what you chose to buy, buying a box or bag larger than the one you have is a good investment because you know as time goes on your lures will grow in number.

Hard Tackle Boxes

These are the traditional tackle boxes most fisher’s use, they bring back childhood memories of going fishing with your parents and caring a big metal box full of brightly colored lures. The basic design has changed a bit over the past few years to make refinements so tackle boxes can be even more useful and compete better in the market.

These tackle boxes offer solid and sturdy design. Hard plastic with a resin coating will resist cracking and can be handled roughly, so there is no need to worry if they accidently get dropped.

Some models will have fold out trays on the inside allowing the user to store gear in different compartments. There trays should be classed as worm-proof (most are) this way your plastic worm baits will not melt. Other models will have adjustable and removable utility boxes for customizing your lures into different compartments. Both work well but it is up to you which you will choose.

Another great feature of these boxes is the top-loading compartments. These compartments allow the storage of larger items in an easily accessible place, saving time and effort when you are trying to find a spool or larger item. Some models will come with jig and spinner bait racks. These plastic racks will allow you to store jig and spinner baits easily and keep them tangle-free.

When buying a tackle box there are some things you should keep in mind. Make sure it has strong sturdy handles, secure latches and roomy compartments that will allow you to store over-sized lures. If it has a deep base it will be able to hold a variety of gear.

A downside to a hard tackle box is its weight. Because of the material they are made of they are much heavier then the soft tackle bags. This added weight does increase protection for all you gear though so sometimes the extra weight is a good thing.

Soft Tackle Bags

These are starting to take the fishing world by storm because they provide an innovative way to store your gear. Soft tackle bags are light weight, with water proof shells that can hold many utility bags to store your lures. If the dimensions are right, the utility bags can number anywhere from two to six or more.

The main feature of these tackle bags is their utility bags. These utility bags make the tackle bag more convenient if you organize and store your lures properly. You will not have to take all your gear with you on a fishing trip if you make good use of these utility bags. This can take away on weight and you can find the lure you are looking for with ease.

Another great perk is the storage pockets. These can hold an enormous amount of equipment; anything from lures to spools to flashlights and even cameras. A fisher can never have enough storage pockets and these tackle bags provide a large amount of them in all different shapes and sizes. Another interesting feature to tackle bags are the padded shoulder straps which makes carrying them a lot more comfortable.

When buying a tackle bag, inspect it to make sure there is strong secure stitching that may be reinforced for extra toughness. Make sure all the straps and handles are strong and sturdy, the last thing you need is your tackle bag falling apart. A waterproof bag is a must and make sure it is made from a strong fabric so you can avoid it getting punctured.

One of the negatives with tackle bags is the fact that they will not provide as much toughness as tackle boxes. They are not built to be banged around or handled roughly and may not last as long as a tackle box.

No matter which you chose, make sure the box or bag is strong, sturdy and secure. How and where you fish will determine which is best for you.

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Are you a safe fisher?

Even if you answered yes, there may be a few things you are missing. Sometimes the most experienced anglers can make a mistake. You never know what might happen as you fish. Even though fishing is not a particularly dangerous spot compared to other sports out there, it does have its hazards.

Here are some basic tips that you should know:

• Prepare for the unexpected: bad weather, too much sun, bugs and stray hooks.
• Try to foresee the unexpected by watching weather reports, bringing sunscreen bug spray and a first aid kit.
• Stay with your rod or pole at all times.
• Always wear shoes even when wade fishing.
• Always test your footing before moving forward, be wary of rocks and loose sand.
• Stay away from overhanging power lines (if any).
• Always watch for clearance on your backswing when casting.
• Always wear a life jacket in a boat, especially if you are a weak swimmer.
• When baiting your line, always keep a firm grip on the bait.
• When you land a fish, ease it out of the water slowly. Jerking it out of the water could result in flying hooks if your fish comes loose.
• When fishing with children, always keep an eye on them.

Being prepared for the unexpected means taking a few extra items along with you, besides your gear. These items include: sunscreen, insect repellent, sunglasses, soap, a first aid kit, food and water for longer trips and life jackets for boat outings. Always be prepared for anything that may come your way. A safe fisher is a happy fisher.

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