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BoatUS
ANGLER's new "Catch of the Month" Fishing
Contest runs April 1 through October 31, 2008.
Submit a photo of your Freshwater or Saltwater catch and
be entered to win monthly prizes including BoatUS Visa Gift
Cards, BoatUS ANGLER logo items, and Fishing Tackle
and Gear from our Sponsors!
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Contest is open to all BoatUS
Members and non-Members - not a Member yet?
Click Here to Join BoatUS ANGLER for as little
as $19.00!
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Submit your photo and catch
info to info@BoatUSAngler.com
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Enter as often as you like
- one catch per email please.
-
 Two
prizes will be awarded each month - one for "Best
Freshwater Catch "; one for "Best Saltwater
Catch ".
Each month's winner will receive a $50
BoatUS Visa Gift Card and a Fishing
Gear Goodie Bag.
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The Grand Prize - a high-quality,
freshwater Fish Replica of your
catch from Donnie Poore, or a Saltwater
Fishing Reel - will be awarded in a drawing of
all winning entries for each category at the end of
the contest period. (Retail Value approx. $150.00 ).
Winning photos, (one for Freshwater, one for Saltwater),
will be judged and selected by BoatUS Staff.
PLUS!
Each winner will receive a "Catch of the Month"
Certificate from BoatUS ANGLER and their winning
photo will be published in BoatUS ANGLER Magazine.
 
Click
on either Certificate to enlarge
So
send in your catch today and win!
The advent of catch-and-release has been great for the sport
of fishing. It has literally re-cycled fish/opportunity
for other anglers. However, there is a proper method to
returning fish to the water after you catch them, that assures
the fish's chances of survival.
- If a hook is swallowed, cut it off
as closely to the eye of the hook as possible and release
the fish, rather than trying to remove the hook. Studies
have shown fish have a better chance of survival if you
do this.
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There is nothing wrong
with taking photos of a catch, but consider that the
fish cannot breathe out of water. Take the photo and
return the fish to water as soon as possible.
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Fishing with barbless
hooks aid in the survival rate of caught and released
fish. The same is true of anglers using circle hooks.
These hooks are designed to turn when taken by the fish
and hook it in the corner of the mouth rather than be
swallowed.
Question:
I've seen recently that pros use fluorocarbon for jerk baits
to get it deeper. I certainly see that point, but with so
much less stretch do you believe flouro can cause problems
on your hook set (even with a soft rod)? Also, rather than
using fluoro, why not just use a slightly deeper diving
bait to get deeper?
Dan,
Virginia
Answer:
Line choices involving fluorocarbon are tricky. There are
two main features of flouro that impact your bait. Line
diameter, and density (flouro sinks) allow baits to go a
bit deeper, not having to go to a deeper lipped bait...a
possible performance issue. Less flouro stretch offers better
sensitivity, more action on the bait, and better hooksets.
The disadvantage of less stretch is that it puts more pressure
on the hooks in a fish and makes it tougher to land them
if you don't have give elsewhere.
Another consideration is how suspending baits behave in
different temperatures. Some suspend, some sink, others
rise slowly. If this is a key, then flouro will definitely
have an impact on how the bait behaves. If you want to slow
the descent, then a thicker mono might help! If you want
it to sink slowly, then flouro might help. Before you use
a particular line, you must first determine what you are
trying to accomplish. There are no hard rules for fishermen...the
fish will set those!
Perhaps flouro's relative invisibility under water might
help as jerkbaits are generally a clear water bait. Another
thing to consider is many flouros are blended with other
fibers to offer a wider range...making the choice either
more confusing or more specific.
All that said, with the proper matched line, and rod, and
with an educated angler, knowing what the features offer
and what they sacrifice, flouro can be a useful tool.
Capt. Steve
Have a Question for Capt. Steve?
Click Here to browse the Question Archives or submit one
of your own
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