One of the great things about RVs and motorhomes is that you can take your home with you as you travel instead of staying in a series of hotel rooms. However, you will have to arrange a place to park your RV though and most often that will be in a campground. So these are some rv camping tips that you will need to know to be able to camp successfully as you travel, and here they are:

* Probably the smartest investment that you can make for RV travel is to buy one or both of the major campground directories and use them regularly to map out your overnight stays in advance. It’s a good idea to make your camping reservations in advance just to be sure that you have a place waiting for you when you arrive, and both Woodall’s and the Trailer Life directories have loads of campgrounds listed that you can choose from. Quite a few are not repeated in both books, so it may be very advantageous to have them both if you are on the road quite a bit of the time.

* If you aren’t already familiar with a particular campground, it can be a wise move to only arrange a one night stay there even if you plan to be in the area for several days. The one night stay will help you decide if this campground is a good fit for you. Many RVers have bought multi-night packages to save money only to find that the campground was not what they had originally thought. So just making a one night reservation lets you become familiar with your camping arrangements and if all is well you can always get a multi-night package afterward. If the accommodations are not up to scratch, then you can just look elsewhere for the second night.

* You really should have a membership to the Good Sam Club for many reasons, but one of the big ones is that a membership in their club can get you 10% off on overnight fees at most campgrounds across the country. This essentially means that you would be staying free for every 10th night or so and if you travel a lot that can add up to quite a bit of money.

* For those that are over 62 and like to visit our country’s national parks, you can get a Golden Age Passport that costs only $10 for processing and will entitle the carrier to free entry to any national park across the country for life. It also gets you 50% off on all usage fees if you decide to stay overnight. Again, if you like to visit the national parks this can result in considerable savings over time.

Using these rv camping tips can help you save money and time and help you focus on the thing that you really want to do, enjoy yourself as you travel this great country.

A float when fishing does two jobs: it lets the angler know when his bait has been taken, giving him a visual point where the line enters the water. It also dangles the bait at a pre-determined distance between the top of the bottom and the bottom. As with every other piece of tackle, the angler must know what fish he is after and what the characteristics of that fish are in order to select the correct tackle.

Some fish are naturally suspicious of bait attached to a float. Although it appears to float invisibly in the water, the bait resists attempts to move it or swallow it. Some fish, particularly a luderick, will immediately release bait from its mouth when it feels the drag of a float from above. A float should bob on the surface in a state of neutral buoyancy. The slightest tug from below will be transmitted to the angler and will not alert the fish to its presence. The ideal use of the float therefore requires a careful balance between the weight of the float and the use of a splitshot sinker or weight.

The difficulty of using a line with a float is usually in the length of line between the float and the hook, which is hard to manage during casting. Ideally a float should be rigged so that it runs along the line and stops at a pre-determined point on the line with the use of a splitshot sinker or swivel. This point is the desired depth at which the angler would like his bait to dangle underneath the water.

The shape of the float is almost as essential as the weight or buoyancy of the float. The bobbing cork of the rock fisherman must be able to support the weight of the bait as well as the turbulence of the water washing back from the rocks. There is no need for it to as sensitive as the float of the estuary fisherman who would use a long slender float with a sensitive tip.

The bubble float is a favourite among trout and mullet fishermen. It is a clear, plastic ball with plugs, which allow the angler to partially fill the ball with water and hence regulate its weight and where it sits on the surface of the water. Some floats are designed to lie straight on the surface of the water and only stand upright when registering a bite from below. These floats are not popular however as they are difficult to locate and track before the bite. Luminous floats can also be used, however these are not popular either as the luminous fades after a short time.

Colours of a float are important only to the individual angler and the best is determined by their ease of sight in various types of water.

With the exception of the lying-down type of float, all other floats should ride upright in the water. If they don’t, it is because they are either out of balance, or need an extra weight affixed to the line underneath them to draw them into an upright position. The bait may also be resting on the bottom, the water being shallower than anticipated by the angler.

To thread the float, simply pass the line through the eyelets of the float and then at the depth at which you want your bait to dangle, affix a splitshot sinker or other device to stop the running of the float along the line beyond that point. There should be just enough pf the float above the water to make it visible to the angler. Too much and the wind will catch the stem and blow it away. Experienced anglers can then watch their float and know instantly what is happening beneath the surface where their bait is. The float disappearing from view is a good indication the bait has been taken and time for the strike.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Fishing

Imagine enjoying a beautiful peaceful sleep in your ten only to be woken up at 5am by a man on a power mower mowing the grass on the adjacent golf course.

This actually happened to 200 campers at a campground in Washington, some of whom have claimed “It was our worse camping experience in the USA so far.”

His response was, “this is the only time that there are no golfers around”! (Lucky for them, I’d say!)

This proves one thing. It doesn’t matter how beautiful the campground is and how scenic the view is. If you’ve set up camp in the wrong location your trip could turn into a nightmare.

Planning is critical when camping.

Planning starts at home, before you’ve even left, and doesn’t stop until you make your weary way home again.

Part of your planning involves getting the very best camping site to meet your needs this weekend. That is the best way of ensuring a pleasurable experience is had by every member of your group.

There are a variety of campgrounds, each offering different facilities, and thereby a different kind of holiday. These are private parks, state park campgrounds and state or national forest campgrounds.

Most parks have a designated area for a campsite. Reservations can be made often for a fee which is highly recommended.

Some campgrounds allow you to choose a site before making a commitment. Some even allow you to change your mind so if your chosen site turns out to be a nightmare check with the park managers if there are other sites available.

Here are a few tips for getting the best camping site this weekend:

If you’ve arrived at an unfamiliar campground ask the campground hosts for a detailed map and have a quick drive or hike around and make a list of some possible campsite locations.

Do not take a site that has camping items but no vehicle as it could belong to RV owners who aren’t on site for the day.

Always arrive before dark. You can rest assured that the best campsites will be taken if you arrive late in the afternoon.

Camp at least 200-300 feet away from water.

Make sure there are trees to hang your garbage and food upwind outside of camp.

Set up camp away from other campers and away from any trails.

If you love the idea of waking up in a warm location set up camp under the morning sun. You will also have the advantage of being shielded from hot sun later in the day.

Avoid setting up camp in tall grassy locations as they are a wonderland for insects.

Never camp at the bottom of cliffs with loose rocks.

Become familiar with flora and avoid all areas with poison ivy.

Get the best protection from lightning by camping near a dense grouping of trees, all the same height in a low area away from water.

Make sure the site is large enough to meet all your needs. Think about what would happen to your site in the event of a storm.

Consider the location of bathroom facilities (if applicable).

Water is absolutely critical for camping. You will need it for washing, drinking and cooking so ensure that you have a water source nearby to your camp site.

If rain is expected locate your campsite in a flood free area.

Never modify an area by removing vegetation and rocks to create the perfect campsite. The perfect campsite is never created by man but has already been made by Mother Nature.

Find an area free of tree roots and rocks. If you’ve found the perfect location but there’s a problem with small rocks gently rake them away to create a smooth level for sleeping on.Never camp on a ridge. You are too exposed to severe wind and lightning conditions.

Avoid sharing a site with campers who are not part of your group. There’s plenty of land to go around and every camper is entitled to some personal space.

Look for a campsite that has some shelter from the sun. But if rain is expected never set up camp under trees. There’s the danger of lightning plus the fact that the trees will continue to rain on your site long after any rainfall has stopped.

Keep insects at a minimum by setting up your campsite in a dry area not too close to water.

Make sure that you set up camp where water naturally flows away from your site.

Respect wildlife. Campers are venturing into the natural habitat of many animals. Don’t set up camp close to wildlife food sources or any animal trails. We are their guests. Treat your hosts with respect.

Avoid parking too close to RVs and noisy neighbours.

If you have a large group consider a group campsite.

In Autumn and Summer look for sheltered spots along shorelines and protected in bays.

Trips located on islands and points in summer will offer calming cool breezes.

Some sites have flat, cleared spots all ready for your tent so look out for these or ask your friends of great campsites they’d recommend.

If you’re canoeing a good spot for loading and unloading your canoe is critical.

Avoid camping where trees are leaning over your campsite.

Avoid camping near big pine trees as they act like lightning rods when lightning strikes.

Avoid sites around marshes etc as they are a breeding ground for insects like mosquitoes.

Find a flat camp site to ensure no slipping and sliding downhill.

Make sure there’s a convenient location for relaxing in your kitchen.

Make sure there’s good drainage.

Having a reasonable source of firewood in the vicinity is not a necessity but recommended.

Finding the best campsite possible is a crucial part of your camping experience. It is not the time to be impatient, tired, or hurried. A poor campsite will cause unlimited problems on your trip. With a little planning, patience and preparation your perfect campsite is waiting at a campground near you this weekend.

Copyright 2006 Karin Manning