All About Pier Fishing in California

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Want to go ocean fishing, but don’t own a boat? No problem. Try California pier fishing instead. You can catch ocean fish without the hassle of having a boat.
 
Fishing in California is very diverse because of the fish migrating every season. The weather, however, is sometimes a factor that limits people from fishing. Rain, fog, and wind may occasionally be dangerous.
 
Since the fish are diverse, fishers have a lot of techniques depending on the type of fish they are targeting. They can do:

  • fly-fishing, 
  • surf fishing, 
  • bait-casting, 
  • pier fishing, and 
  • many other methods.

While a boat gives you access in California to thousands of miles of waterways and coastline fishing, it also has obstacles. Docking it, trailering it, maintaining it and paying the price of operating are all questions to take into consideration. Not every saltwater angler owns a boat. 

Now, not having a boat is a limitation for many for their ability for fishing. But, there are plenty of possibilities for pier fishing in California for people without boats.

How would you go sea fishing without a boat? 

Fishing publications highlight pictures about fishing that usually involves a boat. Some fishers might feel that the only proper way to fish is by boat.

But nowadays we see a growing community of shore-bound anglers. They don’t let the lack of a boat stop them from enjoying the fishing. 

You can find pier fishers almost everywhere. Some with fancy tackle, some shabby taped together tackles. Their fishing tackle boxes also come in different sizes and shapes, as long as it can be wheeled or carried to the pier. 

Fishing without a boat has led them to evolve their practical style of fishing, although there are lots of fishing products for pier fishers nowadays.

Pier fishing – an art of its own

You can just plunk a chair down at a pier and start hauling in fish, but can you catch anything without the skills born by experience?

Since most of the fish usually come in waves, it might be hard getting even one bite if you don’t know when and where to cast. You can typically find them bottom fishing, hauling in two or three catches at a time. 

Pier anglers just have to have a way of knowing when to reel in their line after hooking more than one fish.

And that bigger catch like mackerel and king mackerel are also reachable for pier fishers. 

You can see those fishers at the end of the pier using all sorts of gadgets intended to float live bait just under the surface.

We’ve seen kite rigs, too, so they can lure the fish as far off the pier as possible with an appliance that merits a patent. 

Fishing with two rods

Mostly these people use a method called the two-rod approach. Using two rods is relatively common these days.

They have a heavy fishing rod with the bail open and a lighter one where they attach the bait. When they cast out, they place the line many yards off the pier. When a fish bites, they pull the lighter bait rod back, leaving the angler to battle the fish with the heavier rod. Merely having two rods increases the chances of catching fish.

Anglers fishing with two rods take up more space, and there can be issues with lines becoming crossed. It is best to stick to using one rod on a busy pier to avoid any problems.

You can find more pier fishing tips from saltstrong.com.

Fish for Dinner

Most of the pier fishers go fishing for supper, so don’t expect to see them release their fish after catching them. They come to enjoy fishing and socialize with each other. 

They are a special kind and possibly have more patience, inventiveness, and endurance than any other fishing group.
 

Fishing with Children

Often as adults, we want to share our hobbies and pastimes with our children. When you take your child fishing, keep in mind the safety.

What kind of fishing trip are you trying to set up? A day of bottom fishing? Take your child deep-sea fishing ?

Does pier fishing suit your needs? Yes, it is one of the best ways to fish with children.
 
Regardless of what you decide is best, have the safety equipment with you at all times.
 

What are the best piers for fishing in California?

Majority of coastal cities in California have a public pier or pay-to-fish pier. You can usually rent tackle and buy bait at the piers. If you’re having problems, many pier anglers will help and give you tips.
 
There are over fifty public fishing piers in California. You can find information on each at pierfishing.com
 
One thing of note is that you don’t need a fishing license for public fishing piers in CA.
 
For example, in Long Beach, when they constructed the downtown marina, they built some small piers especially for fishing along the southwest side of the peninsula that divides the marina from the Los Angeles River mouth. Belmont Pier is older, and lots of folks fish there.

Pacifica pier, you can catch mackerel, salmon, rockfish, jacksmelt, crabs, halibut, surfperch, sharks, and striped bass on that pier.

Tips for fishing on a pier

Every pier is different. The best way to get information on where and when to fish, is to ask the locals. Be friendly, you can find old fisherman at the bar, in a bait store, or in the morning on the pier themselves!
 
If you go early in the morning or evening, you’re almost always guaranteed to catch something. When you arrive at the pier, you’ll see that everyone has caught something.
 
Look for the fish under the pier. There might be more than in the waters far away from the pier.
 
Bringing up big fish on a pier has always been an issue. A pier landing net (suspended by a rope) may be necessary for large fish.

Bottom line

If you do a little pre-trip planning for your pier fishing trip, you can get rewards for your effort. But it can be as simple and laid back as you want to make it.

If you’re looking for a more relaxed, laid-back type of fishing experience, pier fishing can be just that!…

Tips for Ice Fishing

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During the winter season, many fishermen want to do the one type of fishing that can only be done in the cold areas and in the winter.

Although it is dangerous, you will find many people who participate in the sport of ice fishing. There are safe ways to ice fish and some of those tips are common knowledge and some aren’t.

In the Nordic countries, temperatures in the winter are freezing, so they have lots of opportunities for ice fishing.

Ice fishing seems to be a common habit in Finland.

If you are interested in ice fishing, that is a excellent article to read about the mindset.

Ice-fishing is a state of mind

Many people don’t realize that a thin layer of ice is not enough to ice fish on, the ice must be thick, at least 4 inches of clear ice, to be safe. The first rule should be to drill a small hole near the shore to check for the thickness of the ice.

There are some safety tips concerning the ice and anyone who intends to do any sport – fishing, snowmobiling, skating should know these tips. To judge the safety of the ice follow these guidelines:

  • 1 inch of ice – Stay off of it!
  • 4 inches of ice – Safe for fishing
  • 5 inches of ice – Safe for snowmobiling
  • 8 inches of ice – supports a car or light truck
  • 10 inches of ice – supports a medium weight truck

If you are unsure about the ice, good practice is to wear a life jacket. And don’t forget the ice picks.

Anyone who intends to do any sports that involve ice should also know that ice strength can change from one spot of the lake or pond to another. Thick ice is no longer good after a rain and slush ice or ice with a current under it is also very dangerous.

A new layer of ice is always safer than an older layer. Also, people who ice fish need to know if there is a state law as to how big the ice fishing holes can be in diameter. Also, fishing shanties should always have reflector lights on the sides of them to allow snowmobiles to see them easier as to reduce the risk that they will get hit.

Some good tips for ice fishing are to go deep when fishing. Many fish will swim 50-60 feet deep in the water in the winter time. There are many electronic gadgets that will help the ice fisherman locate the fish in the water due to this problem. Sometimes, the fish will be well within just a few feet under the water due to food issues and fishing pressure.

The classic airplane jig will probably work better than the other jigs that are available. These are especially good for clear water species such as lake trout but it is easy to catch walleye and pike on these jigs too. Super lines are a good item to have available too. These have been around a while also but they are strong lines and most of them are invisible on the ice.

Quivering a jig can actually be just the right movement to attract the fish. It will give the bait the right amount of action to trigger a strike from the fish. Plastic bait can work well in the winter time too. Some ice fishermen prefer the mushroom or gumball head jig.

While fishing, look for green weeds. In the summertime, these are a common problem as they will tangle lines and are a nuisance, but in the winter time, the weeds are a sign of fish in the area. If it is a large weedbed, you should be able to locate the fish on the sides and pockets of the weedbed.

Ice fishing and other sports can be fun as long as you act safely and follow any safety tips and rules that are available.…

Catfish Fishing in the Winter

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One of my favorite hobbies is to fish. Some people like to think that fishing is only good in the warm season. However, truth be known, you can fish any time of the year.

Catfish fishing is always fun

Catfish are scavengers. They are not precise in what they eat. Their diet stays the same the year around.

The good thing about fishing in the winter is that there usually isn’t very many people that fish at that time of the year. This increases your chances of catching a good size fish.

In the winter blue and channel catfish are the most active feeders, and flatheads are less active. As the water temperature drops, the less active they are. In cold water, shad tend to die quickly, and catfish will feed on them.

Bait to use

Shad is a great bait to use when fishing for catfish in the winter. However, you can use minnows or artificial shiners, too as bait. You can normally get them at your neighborhood bait or fishing shop.

When you put the minnows or shad on your hook, you hook them through both eyes. This allows for some tail action in the water. Use a bell or slip sinker to help keep the bait on the bottom. The bait should be about 2 to 3 inches long.

Another good bait is freshwater mussels. Many times Catfish will congregate around mussel beds in the winter time. The mussels keep them supplied with fresh food.

The good thing about this is that mussels are usually found in water about 3 to 6 feet deep. Locate a mussel bed, and you will spot catfish. Mussel beds are fairly consistent each year. You can find them by taking a long pole and just dig around in the mud or near a rocky bank. Blues and channel catfish especially like mussels.

I said earlier that flatheads are hard to catch in the winter. But, I didn’t say you couldn’t find them. Flatheads don’t congregate in deep holes. They seek out areas with heavy bottom cover. It doesn’t matter if it is shallow or deep. They love logs, large rocks, and brush pile treetops.

Flatheads fishing technique

A proper technique in fishing for flatheads is to rig a shad or shiner on your line and fish vertically over a rocky bottom. Fish straight down to avoid hangups on logs or brush. Only move your bait about a foot up or down. Many times the up and down action will attract the Flathead.

Winter fishing is much like regular season fishing. You can fish from a bank, dock, or boat. You just need to pick a spot where you know the Catfish is.

Many individuals like to do drift fishing. This is where you get in a boat and motor to your favorite spot and just drift around fishing. However, you can be just as successful from a bank, if you can find the right place to fish.

Patience is the key

You have to stay calm and wait them out. Once your line is in the water, leave it in for 20 to 30 minutes before checking it. Catfish are slow feeders. Once they get attracted though to your bait, they will stay and eventually hit it.

Stay warm

Dress warmly. Take a thermos of warm drink. Relax and enjoy yourself. Don’t assume that they aren’t biting when you get no immediate hits.

It’s not the gear that does catch catfish in winter, it’s you and your patience.

Winter slows down fish feeding. But, just like all of us, they have to eat sometime.

Be prepared for hangups

When you fish for catfish, you are always going into a congested area that allows for hangups. This is where they are located.

Don’t get frustrated when you get hung up on a log or brush. Just be prepared for it. Many times you can avoid a hangup by simply moving your line up and down slowly and getting a feeling for the area you are fishing in.

To me, there is nothing so exciting as catching a big fish. I don’t care what time of the season it is. Catching a big catfish makes even more fun and challenging.

More tips on fishing during the winter season.

sources; Outdoor Guide, Jim Spencer
http://www.outdoorguide.com/…

Fish Like a Pro: Fishing Gear Information for Beginners

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So you have decided to go fishing. It’s easy to start. You don’t have to run every day to get in shape like if you should if you are aiming for a marathon. You don’t have to lift weights to build up your muscles. And how much could a rod and reel cost? All of the above is true, but not for the serious fishermen.

Choosing a fishing rod can be a little daunting for a beginner

The serious fishermen spend days and weeks perusing the internet and magazines to find the right rod. Usually, the right rod of choice is handmade, and it is ordered with specifications to the serious fisherman.

Beyond how long rod you want is how stiff or flexible you want it. It will be made of specific materials from wood to graphite. The rods will vary according to the type of fish that it will be used for.

The serious fishermen can order a rod from everything from trout fishing to deep sea fishing. And these rods are not cheap. Starting at around hundred bucks, these rods can cost upward to thousands. Aside from the handmade rods, rods in fishing stores can cost up to hundreds also.

Many recreational fishers who fish off the bank prefer to use a cane pole. It’s a long fishing pole usually without a reel. The line is attached directly to the small end of the pole. You just yank the fish up on the bank when you caught it. This is a cheaper way to start fishing.

After the rod is purchased then the decision on the reel has to be made. Basic reels are either in a closed reel box or are open-faced where the string comes off an open reel. You just control it with your thumb.

The beginning fisherman wants the one with the closed box since it will not tangle up like an open face reel. Again the reels will cost from about twenty bucks to the thousands.

Avoid getting your fishing line tangled up

The serious fisherman quickly knows which reel will hold up for hours of fishing. If your reel gets messed up, it’s very frustrating. And if you are tournament fishing you need reels that will perform perfectly when dollars are on the line for the winner.

Use proper fishing line

Along with the reel is the choice of fishing line. So when you purchase the fishing reel, load it with a proper line. You do not want the catch the big one and have the line break and you lose your catch.

Fishing line comes in sizes called strengths. It is calibrated by pounds.

This means if you are fishing for fish that are small you can use fishing line that is lightweight. On the other extreme, you can use a larger number weight to catch deep sea fish.

Here you can find information on how to put a new line on a rod.

So basically thread the new line down through the eyes of the rod and then attach to the reel. Carefully reel in the line until the reel is nearly full. Cut off the line between the last eye on the rod and the container.

Necessities when going out with a boat

If you are going to fish out of a boat, you will need all the things necessary for the boating trip.

These would include life jackets, cooler, net, maybe clothing to keep you dry and warm if fishing in wintertime weather.

And waterproof case and a backup battery for your smartphone.

And don’t forget to check about a fishing license for the area where you will be fishing and the type of fishing that you will be doing.

More about pier fishing in California.…

Fly Fishing on the Roaring Fork River

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When I think of fly fishing on the Roaring Fork River, images of Mount Sopris, brown trout eating dry flies, and cold, clean water rushing by are easy to conjure.

Throughout the Roaring Fork Valley, scenic beauty is met with fantastic and comfortable living all along its banks. The combination of reasonable pricing and incredible fishing in a beautiful setting is the way it is at the Lodge on the Roaring Fork near Carbondale, Colorado.

The Lodge is located downstream of Hwy 133 at the Carbondale Bridge, between two and a half and three hours drive from Denver.

For an oarsman like me, the Lodge is the perfect place to wake up and start the day by launching my drift boat at the Carbondale Boat Ramp a quarter mile away. Easy access to Hwy 82 is a plus when planning a short drive to fly fish the Frying Pan for the day.

The larger trout of the Colorado River west of Glenwood Springs is only thirteen miles away and rarely see hooks. But, why would you need to drive when you have the Roaring Fork in the backyard?

Guests at the Lodge enjoy over a mile and a quarter of the river to fly fish in one run after another, both public and private, each packed with many willing trout. Access to great fly fishing is what the Lodge on the Roaring Fork is all about.

The guide staff at the Lodge is patient and professional with a constant hint of freshly caught fish smell. Knowledge of the rivers fished by the guides is fortified by a lifetime of fishing, both locally and abroad.

You can choose to float or wade with your fly rod. For those who do not like to travel with their own gear, the Lodge is happy to provide Orvis and other top brands.

I decided to float in a raft on the Roaring Fork from Jaffe Park to Basalt fly fishing with dry flies, and sight fishing to feeding trout while wading on the lower stretches of the Frying Pan River.

The Lodge provides cruiser bicycles to its quests. I found those an excellent touch on a pleasant evening. The Rio Grande Trail is a smooth, paved ride to Main Street Carbondale not too far away.

After a long day of fishing and a nice dinner, the hot tub is irresistible with a glass of wine or a cold beer in the outdoor bar area. Homemade breakfast each morning inspired me to sit on the back porch, listening to the river and reading a book a little bit longer. If you are not planning to fish for a day or two, it is a quick drive to Aspen for a day on the town.

Lodge in this area is a beautiful place to stay when fishing in the Roaring Fork Valley. This is an ideal spot with the direct access to float and wade fly fishing on the Roaring Fork, Frying Pan, Crystal and Colorado Rivers.

In this Youtube video you can find out why Roaring Fork River is such a great place to fish:

You can find more info about Colorado fly fishing from this book.…

Fish Like a Pro: Fishing Tips for Beginners When Camping

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Have you been learning how to fish lately? Want to become as good as your more experienced fishing buddies? Here are some tips to keep in mind for beginners.

 

1. Be always prepared

Before you leave home, make sure that you have all the essential things you need for your fishing adventures such as a first-aid kit, a sunblock, tackle and bait, and your rain gear. Don’t forget to pack food for your trip!

2. Observe how experts do it

The best and fastest way to learn anything is to watch how the more experienced ones do it. Check out and study the fishing activities of the local fishing folks: what they do, the gear they’re using, how they catch fish, and where they usually do it.

 

3. Be patient

Learning how to fish is not a walk in the park, and mastering it does not happen overnight. Patience is also a virtue when you are actually fishing. In general, catching a fish takes hours. When you’re getting impatient, avoid moving around too much or fiddling with your fishing line because such movements can scare off fish, and it’ll be harder for you to catch one.

Sometimes, you go home without any catch at all. But that’s okay. It’s the journey that counts more than the destination, so to speak.

4. Pay attention to the environment

As you’re waiting for your first catch, look for some subtle clues that can help you move closer to the location where there’s fish. Usually, these include water splashes and birds diving into the water and feeding on fish.

5. Have fun!

Enjoy your time—relax in a lightweight fishing chair while waiting for your first bite. And remember, don’t take home more fish than you and your family can eat.…

Buying Guide: What is the Best Rain Jacket for Fishing?

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Bad weather is one of the worst letdowns for any fishing and camping enthusiast. But don’t let it rain on your parade (pun intended) by always bringing a waterproof rain jacket that’s built for fishing. It can spell the difference between an easy breezy and a nightmarish fishing experience.

 

When shopping for a rain jacket, look for the following must-haves:

Your rain jacket must be waterproof

Of course, this is a no-brainer. However, this still needs to be pointed out because not all jackets that are labeled “waterproof” are indeed waterproof. A truly waterproof jacket has passed a hydrostatic-head test—it can withstand intense water pressure to prevent any leaks.

Aside from the main jacket, also take a look at the small details like the stitching and zippers—they have to be waterproof as well so that water will not pass through doing heavy downpours.

Your rain jacket must be breathable

While most jackets offer waterproofing, the tendency is to compromise breathability. Non-breathable jackets are easily prone to foul odors because of sweat and lack of air flow. They are also very uncomfortable to wear because the lack of air circulation will make you sweat a lot.

Breathability varies depending on how a jacket is manufactured, being measured in terms of the amount of moisture that can flow into a square meter of fabric in every 24 hours. The ideal breathability, experts say, is 5,000 grams of moisture.

Make sure that you buy a rain jacket that can keep your body cool by diffusing humidity and sweat.

 

Your rain jacket must have layers of fabric

The fabric layers—ideally two to four—should all be water resistant but are breathable and can get rid of sweat from the skin.…

GoFish Cam: That Tiny and Reliable Underwater Buddy

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If you think GoPro is good enough as an underwater device for capturing your fishing adventures under the water, wait until you’ve gotten your hands on a rugged specialty camera designed specifically for fishing.

Let’s see what the GoFish Cam has in store for every angler out there.

The basic specs

This teeny weeny 1080p HD color camera is completely waterproof for up to 150 meters and stable for steady video recording under the water. It comes with a 170-degree wide lens and mounts on the fishing rod to capture the beauty and action underwater.

Its buoyancy is virtually neutral, so it will just float just in case your rod snaps. The GoFish Cam has an integrated lithium-ion battery that can last up to 4 hours, which is a much longer battery life compared to a GoPro. And when the battery runs out of juice, you can easily power it up using a mini USB.

When it comes to connectivity, the action camera features an HDMI output and accommodates microSD cards with a maximum capacity of 32GB.

The advanced features

For night fishing and low-light conditions, the GoFish cam will not disappoint, thanks to its green LED ring around the lens of the device that comes with infrared.

Similar to a GoPro experience, GoFish Cam has an app, both available for Android and Apple devices, that enables users to edit their video clips and instantly share them on social media such as Facebook and Instagram.

Not as powerful as a GoPro, but good enough for fishing purposes

The GoFish Cam works best on a taught line, which means it is ideal for casting, trolling, and bottom fishing.

…