Muskie Vs Pike

Have had a ton of discussions with various fishermen about spotting the differences between pike and muskie. I’ve even been told that the pike I’ve caught are muskie, which simply isn’t true. While there are some similarities between pike and muskie, there are many differences as you can see in the image below.

It’s important to know the difference becuase fishing regulation differ greatly for pike and muskie.

via Muskies Canada

Fly Fishing Tips

I’ve watched several videos on how to fly fish, but this short video is one fo the few that has helped me cast dramatically better!

via Field & Stream

Earth Day 2009

So today is Earth Day. I wish it was a public holiday so I could go fishing, but its not. It is a good day to reflect on the impact you make on the earth though. As fishermen we spend a lot of time outdoors, and there plenty of things we can do to help the planet. Here are six green fishing ideas!

6. When packing food and drink for a fishing trip, skip the bottled water. Stick with cans or glass bottles if you can, better yet, take your own flask filled with desirable liquids. Glass and aluminum and be easily recycled over and over, where as plastic eventually breaks down during the recycling process. You can even buy bottled water in a can now! If helping the environment isn’t reason enough, think about how much money you’ll save by using tap-water.

5. Pick up used fishing line. I filled a grocery bag full of discarded fishing line (and coffee cups) last week. Most people don’t realize that the line will still be sitting there well after our grand children have passed away. Its an easy thing to do, and many fishing stores offer a recycling program for old line, so check with your local bait shop!

4. Make your own lures and tie your own flies. One of my big complaints with fishing tackle is the amount of plastic used in packaging. I’ve been making lures for a few years now, and have not only saved money, but created less waste as a result. There are dozens of great sites to buy lure parts for everything from crank baits to spinner baits.

3. Use a canoe, or downsize you boat motor. If you are a big bass fisherman, not doubt you know all about the latest high power, gas guzzling bass boats. Downsize your motor, or go with a four-stroke and you’ll be saving gas money and the environment in the long run. Even some major fishing tournaments are starting to go green, just check out the worlds first carbon neutral sailfish tourney.

2. Fish with friends! If you are going out in the boat, invite some fiends along. Call it boat-pooling – theres no need for you and your buddies to be out on the water in multiple boats, meet at the launch and fish in the same boat.

1. Try biodegradable fishing tackle. Berkley has had a line of lures called GULP! that are completely biodegradable and many other companies, such as Trigger X, are following suit. You can even switch to biodegradable fishing line!

If you have any tips for greener fishing, feel free to share them with us!

Monster Fall Muskie

Technically its winter, but there are still many areas in Canada and the US where muskies are still in season. This time of year your chances of getting a lot of muskie aren’t great, but when you do get one, chances are it’ll be big!

How To Remove a Deep Hook

Every fisherman has probably had this happen, a big fish inhales your bait and ends up with a hook deep in its throat. It’s never a good thing for a catch and release fisherman. The good folks over at In-Fisherman have but together an informative guide to removing these deep hooks. This is important stuff for any fisherman who wants to release a fish as safely as possible. Click the picture below to check it out.

(3) rolls out below the gill toward the side of the fish. At that point, amazingly, the hook, barb and all, almost always pops free from its hold in the fish’s gullet.

via OFNC