Check out Videos on Bass Fly Fishing

Take a look at a great way to fish for small mouth bass.

Check out these videos, I have three of them, they are well done, do not let the sample detour you, they are good quality and full of helpful hints and techniques.
Here is more information provided by the publisher.
Spend a day on-the-water with fly fishing author, educator, and guide, Chris Hanson. Chris teaches you everything you will need to be successful while chasing largemouth bass with a fly rod. Chris covers equipment selection, boat setup, casting techniques, and fly presentations. Chris fishes multiple types of cover and shows the viewers what to look for and how to approach each area. A must have for anyone interested in fly fishing for bass or fans of top water bass action.
These are low cost and very interesting.

Small mouth bass fishing videos
Resource - Small mouth bass fishing videos

Topic Tags: fly fishing, fly fishing bass, small mouth bass

Read Product Reviews to Save Money

Product Reviews of Key Products by Catagory

This is the first in a series of blogs that will cover key products used by boaters and fisherman. The reviews will be in product category sequence so you will be able to go back through blogs and find a category and then read the reviews posted in each category to find out more about a specific item.

Categories will be (not in order):

Trim Tabs
Marine Air Conditioning
Marine Electrical
Marine Hardware
Marine Instruments
Marine Safety Equipment
Marine Search and Flood Lights
Marine Binoculars
Fish Finders
GPS Fish Finders
Marine GPS
Portable Fish Finders
Marine VHF Radios
Marine AM FM CD Stereos
Marine Stereo Speakers
Marine Satellite Radios
Marine Antennas

Reviews will include:

Product Overview
Product Features List
Manufacturer
Brand popularity
Dimensions (where available)
Power ratings (where applicable)
Authors experience with returns
Ease of use
Display size and resolutions (where applicable)
Power requirements (where applicable)
Degree of difficulty for installation
Transducer capabilities (where applicable)
Depth capabilities (where applicable)
Efficiency ratings
Durability
Availability
Price range
Warranty
What is included with unit in package price
Whether or not it is waterproof or resistant
What components make up the unit
Range and depth info (where applicable)
Accessories availability
Technologies utilized
Armed with these reviews you should be able to make better buying decisions. Hopefully that will translate into more and better boating.

Topic Tags: compare fish finder, compare gps, fish finder ratings, gps ratings, review fish finder, review gps, review marine

Get the Christmas Present He Will Love

There are all kinds of gift ideas your fisherman will love.

On the top of the list for most fishermen is a GPS system to go along with the fish finder they already have. Of course if they do not have a fish finder or a marine radio, you should think about a fish finder or VHF Marine Radio.

GPS Systems

There are two basic types of GPS Systems; Fixed mount and hand held.

Fixed mount GPS marine GPS are systems that have a bracket and power cable that mount to the top of a dash or bulkhead or optionally they can be flush mounted. If you fisherman is cramped for space in the dash, the mounting systems come in handy. GPS systems normally come with built in maps which the GPS system follows as the user moves. Fixed mount systems come with external or internal antennas. External antennas work better but require about 5" of mounting space and of course they have a cable to deal with.

Handheld marine GPS systems are self-contained and are handy to have but do not get the reception of the fixed mount units. Of course they can also be used for other activities (like my favorite Geo Caching).

GPS Fish Finders

If your fisherman does not have a fish finder, consider a combination GPS and Fish Finder unit. This type of unit is not quite as user friendly as having one of each but if budget is a problem this is the right setup to get. They come in both internal and external antenna versions. When purchasing these units make sure you get all the components you need. Normally there are different configurations you select when you purchase like at this site where you select options at the bottom of the page.

Fish Finders

If your fisherman does not currently have a fish finder and fishe's small lakes or knows his way around well, then you may want to get him a stand along fish finder. Compare and rate them here.

Fish Finder Store
Fish Finders rated and compared by price range

Marine Electronics Boating Supply Fishing Gear
All types of marine equipment and supplies.

Marine VHF Radio Handheld Marine Radio
Other Marine gift Ideas at Marine Radio Store

Topic Tags: fishfinder, fish finder, gps fish finder, marine gps, vhf marine radio

Know the difference in GPS

Knowing the difference in chartplotters and trackplotters will help you select the right tool for the job.

Chart plotters and track plotters are very different in appearance and function. They both use waypoints but in a different way. A waypoint is a longitude and latitude you provide the GPs that defines a location.

Chart Plotters

A chart plotter provides a map in the background that moves as you move from one location to another. These are often referred to as moving map GPS.

Track Plotter

A track plotter provides a track from where you start a way point to where you end the waypoint.

A chart plotter will provide trackplotting but a trackplotter will not provide a chart.

Topic Tags: chartplotter, gps, gps fish finder, trackplotter

Learn What The Differences Are in Fish Finders

Of all the calls we get the number one question is help me select the right fish finder.

In this blog I want to give you some tips on how to select a fish finder. The process can be complex and so I hope this will help.

There are 5 factors to keep in mind when purchasing a fish finder.

Transducer

There are two basic types of transducers, single frequency and dual frequency. Single frequency should be used for lakes and shallow coastal fishing and dual frequency for deep sea. Dual beam (Humminbird) and dual frequency are basically the same thing. The dual beam transducer will limit the beam size for the high frequency beam so you only want to use them in deep water because the high frequency is what you see fish with.

Display resolution

Fish Finders and GPS units come in many different display resolutions. The higher the resolution the better the image will be. Color screens are better especially for direct sunlight because you can see them better.

Display size

Displays range in size from four inches to seven inches and larger. The larger the screen, the more you have to pay for them.

Power

For the most part the more power you can get the better. In lakes and shallow waters it is still important for better imaging, again, the more power the bigger the price tag.

Depth

The ability of the sonar to reach greater depths is directly related to power and quality of the transducer. The more you pay the better they will penetrate the water. Remember that the depths shown on the specifications are for clear water, saltwater and murky waters will limit the depths the sonar will penetrate.

Fish Finder Compare and Rating System
This is a handy guide to help you spot the best finder for the money.

Free ebooks site
You can get free e-books that you can download and read at this site.

Humminbird Transducer Overview
Nice writeup on Humminbird transducers.

Topic Tags: compare fish finder, eagle transducer, fish finder, fish finder transducer, garmin transducer, humminbird transducer, lowrance transducer, rate fish finder

Know How a Fish Finder Works Before You Buy

Understanding a little about how fish finders work will help you in purchasing and using a fish finder.

Understanding a little about how fish finders work will help you in purchasing and using a fish finder.

Single beam Fish Finders

The beam that is sent out from the fish finders transducer can be thought of as a beam from a flashlight. As the beam moves further from the transducer it gets wider. When it hits a target the beam is reflected back to the transducer, which in turn sends a signal to the fish finder display which computes the signals distance and shape. The distance and shape is then represented on the screen as either a Fish Symbol or an arch depending upon the fish finder and the model.

The type of beam that is sent out varies with the model and type of fish finder you purchase. Some of the fish finders or sonar's as they are sometimes called, are single beam and some have more than one beam.

Single beam units are best for lakes and shallow coastal waters. Multiple beam units work well for deeper waters. One of the beams will be a lower frequency that will produce a better picture on the bottom. The other beam will be a high frequency beam that will provide the location of fish.

Dual Beam Fish Finders



Dual beams would seem at first glance to be better for shallow water. However the beam cones for the high frequency beam are narrow on dual beam finders so they can get a better picture of deeper fish. The low frequency cones are wide angle to get better pictures of the bottom.

Some people miss this subtle difference and purchase dual frequency fish finders for use in shallow waters just to find out they do not get good coverage.

Buy the right finder for the job by checking the cone angles and understanding how they work beforehand. See the links below to find out more about how fish finders work.

How Fish Finders Work
Nice overview of how fish finders work and sonar coverage patterns.

Humminbird Website
Check out the different models of fish finders

Lowrance
Lowrance Fish Finders

Garmin
Garmin Fish Finders

Eagle
Eagle Fish Finders

Topic Tags: depth finder, dual frequency transducer, fish finder, fish finder review, how fish finder works, sonar

Avoid Glare with a Color LCD Screen

Most of the screens currently in the field are monochrome. Color is better in the sun.

Most of the GPS, fish finder and marine radio equipment sold are LCD monochrome. These screens are grayscale and offer good resolution. but they are poor in direct sunlight like you get in the early morning on a lake of the sea.

Color screens offer much better anti-glare protection. Of course they are also better at reducing the amount in your bank account. But for some the price is well worth it.

Don't be mistaken, a color fish finder will not show you underwater colors. The colors help separate structure and fish, hard bottom and soft bottom. And they are beneficial for that purpose.

GPS color is the same way, the color does not give you colored gradients, only colored maps. In other words it is the difference between a color map and a black and white copy.

Color screens typically have less resolution than LCD, however the new units are getting better, and of course as the resolution goes up so does the price.

If you are looking at a color GPS Fish Finder display weigh the cost, resolution and anti-glare features here. If you are looking at portable units compare them here.

How LCD's Work
Nice article on LCD screens and how they work

Topic Tags: color fish finder, color gps, fish finder, GPS Fish Finder, marine radio