One of my favorite pastimes is fishing. I enjoy getting out on the open water, free
from daily worries and not having a care in the world except hooking up with a big
trout or redfish. You just can’t beat heading out into the back bays, trolling along a
shoreline, sneaking up on a school of reds with their tails out of the water ready to
strike at the first thing they see that looks like a tasty meal; hopefully my lure.

On the other hand, not everyone has a boat or a friend that has a boat, and getting
to the fish may seem almost impossible. Good news… There are many piers along
the gulf coast that serve as a home to just about any species of fish that lurk the
inshore waters, and some others, but that is another story.

In the small town of Indianola Texas, located about 15 minutes from Port Lavaca,
there is a fishing center located at the mouth of Powderhorn Lake. It is a great setup
supplying food, beer, provides excellent fishing accommodations. Behind the fishing
center there is a covered patio, right on the water, which opens up to a concrete
fishing area. It is very well lit for night fishing, and it is open all night. The currents
are swift at times so don’t fall in.

Last summer, during my short break from college, I spent many nights there fishing
for trout. Some nights I caught over 40, but many were right under 15 inches, so I
had to throw them back.

After a few nights of fishing, along with a couple dedicated, fellow anglers who
seemed as mad at the fish as I was (we spent many hours out there), I figured out
how to catch the trout. All it took was a special rig that has been around for quite
some time. I mean every time I threw my lure out, worked the lure and reeled in a
few feet, I had a fish on.

Here’s the trick:

The rig consists of the highly reflective, Storm Lure’s - Rattlin’ Saltwater Chug Bug
Lure in metallic silver chartreuse, and a 4-inch trailer tied onto the split ring, which
the back treble hook attaches to. The trailer is just a 4-inch stretch of monofilament
fishing line with a treble hook and a neon pink or green skirt attached to it.

The trout were attracted to the rattle and action of the lure, but they couldn’t resist
the trailer. I was reeling in fish after fish and of course annoying my fellow anglers
because I was catching all of the fish. I did not return the day after I showed up with
the irresistible rig, but I bet they all went home and built the same rig and showed
up the next night ready to catch fish.

I am sure the rig works well during daylight, but I have not tried it. The next time
you go fishing, make sure you have one of these rigs in your tackle box. You will
thank me later.

If you find yourself needing a place to fish, remember that the Gulf Coast offers
great fishing piers, wade-fishing spots along sandy beaches, and many other places
where fish are plentiful. You do not always need a boat to get to a fishing hole, and
there are probably many great places to fish right where you live.

Aaron Ralston is the owner of Gulf Coast Guide Reports located at: http://www.gulfcoastguidereports.com. Gulf Coast Guide Reports provides saltwater
fishing reports by the best guides along the gulf coast from Port Isabel, Texas all the
way to the Florida Keys, fishing articles, tips, tournament information, and just about
anything else you want to know about fishing. Get the latest news today.

If you walk into your local fishing shop, you are likely to find a wide range of fishing gear. For the beginner, it can be hard to determine just what is out there and what you should be purchasing. While you may want to purchase products and gear that are specific to your tastes, it is much more important to purchase products that are of high quality instead. So, what do you look for and how do you know what to get? To know, here are some guidelines you should follow.

• First, determine what type of fish, what type of fishing and where you are headed to fish. Fishing gear is specific first to the type of fishing that you plan to do. You’ll need a different fishing rod for saltwater fishing than you will for freshwater fishing. Now, on to what type of fish you are after. You’ll need to know what weight of line you should purchase as well. You may need a heavier line if you are heading out for King Salmon rather than the small trout in your local pond. And, when it comes to the area, you’ll also need to know what the fish like. Some lures work on fish better than others. You can find this out by talking to the local fishing tackle employee.

• How much to purchase depends on what you plan to invest. The more that you purchase, though does nothing to make you a better fisherman. What you need is to insure that you get quality products that will withstand your adventure. Quality is always necessary.

• For the beginner, knowledge is also the key to success. If you haven’t been out there just yet, you should take along an experienced individual to help you. That way you get the best results and you get the education you need to do it on your own next time.

Fishing gear is fishing gear, right? It is not all the same and it is not easy to purchase unless you know what to get. The best way to know what to take with you on your next fishing adventure is to ask the local fishing tackle specialist in that area. They will be glad to tell you all that you need to know to head out. And, they may even tell you where a great fishing spot is located too.

This article was written by T.Potter. You can visit Discount Fishing Gear for further information about all types of fishing gear.

2512

By the time mid-February comes around on the Gulf coast,
signs of spring are usually in the air and have not gone
unnoticed by fish and fishermen alike. Now that water
temperatures have begun their climb to more
accommodating levels, gamefish will soon become more
accommodating, too, as the sun warms the shallow flats
and baitfish gather on the shorelines.

There is probably no better time of year than between
February and May to catch a trophy speckled trout - for the
wall, or a once in a lifetime photo, then quick release. This
is particularly true if you are fishing the lower Texas coast. If
it has survived in good health since its catch and release in
May 2002, when it bottomed out a 15 lb. scale, there’s at
least one speckled trout cruising the Laguna Madre that
could easily best the current 17 lb. 7 oz. world record caught
at Fort Pierce, Florida.

One of the easiest and most stealthy ways to prowl the flats
in search of heavy trout this time of year, as well as any
other season for that matter, is by way of a paddle powered
kayak or ‘yak for short. They are easy to handle both in and
out of the water and large numbers of fishermen have
already flocked to the sport. Special havens and trails have
even been created in coastal areas exclusively for the use of
unmotorized craft.

Kayaks are in demand, especially used ones if they can be
located. Reasonably priced to begin with, used ‘yaks are
highly sought after. (A friend who recently advertised his for
sale, received over 40 calls.) Used ‘yaks are often equipped
with some extras that the owner has assembled over time
and tosses in to make a full package and ready-to-fish deal
for often half the price of new. The previous owner can also
be a valuable source of knowledge for tips and tricks on use
of the craft and places to try. In addition, they may have a
wish list for gear or options to consider that will help
jumpstart your kayaking experience.

Kayak fishing is clearly the way to go if you want to combine
fun, fishing and exercise.

Gary Ralston is publisher of Gulf Coast Fisherman
magazine. For more information on fishing the Gulf coast
visit http://gulffishing.com